Aging out of Foster Care

1. Aging out of Foster Care Transitions to Adulthood

2. Facts • Approximately 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year. • With the exception of incarcerated youth, foster youth are the only group that is involuntarily separated from their families through government intervention.

3. Facts • The primary purpose of this separation is to protect youth from harm by their caregivers, • State decides when these 20,000 foster youth are ready to be on their own

5. Who are youth in foster care? • Roughly 500,000 youth live in foster care • 3/5 children of color • 51% male • Median age of 10 • Half in non-family, 24% kinship, 17% group homes

6. Why do they enter? • State decision due to • Abuse • Neglect • Dependency • Typically try to intervene before removal • Prior to removal there’s a “permanency plan” • If impossible, find home

7. What happens to youth in foster care? • Vast majority find permanent home • 85% adopted or w legal guardian • Some are emancipated into independent living, usually b/c they reached 18

8. Ouctomes • 37% of foster youth aged 17–20 had not completed high school degree or received a GED. They more often • suffer fmmental health problems • become involved in crime • are victims of crime • frequently homeless. • former foster youth are more likely to • be employed than their peers • rely on public assistance; and • Live in poverty • Have children outside of marriage • Have marital problems.

9. Implications for Policy • Given prolonged transition to adulthood, states should provide extended assistance • Parents provide 38K between 18-34. Unwise to cutoff at 18 • Extending care past 19 results in improved educational, health, and mental health outcomes

10. Older youth in Foster Care • majority are in care for a relatively short time • Only about 7% of youth in out-of-home care “age out” of care

11. But different from younger… • Older youth (aged 16–18) are • more likely to be living in group homes (the least “family-like” settings). • Youth in these settings are also less likely to form the kind of lasting relationships with responsible adults • care facilities are typically staffed by relatively young shift workers with high turnover.

12. Chaffe Act • The main program that supports youth during this transition is the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, • commonly known as the Chafee Act, it provides $140 million in funding per year. • (mental health services • life skills • Mentoring • employment preparation • education, and others), • stipends for housing, • extended Medicaid eligibility • through age 21 at state option. • valuable to foster youth, who often must contend with mental health issues arising from their traumatic pasts

13. Chaffe (1999) • Medicaid was only available to prior • provides states funding for vouchers for education and training to youth who • have aged out of foster care • have been adopted from the public foster care system after age 16.

14. In reality... • Uneven use of services • Not much $ per youth ($1400) • Programs reinvent the wheel • Target population, program misses: • many foster youth who are discharged from care before age 18 to their family of origin, usually a parent. • Some of the most vulnerable, given their longer turbulent family histories. • ruaways from foster care before they turn 18.

15. Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act • Signed into law in 2008 (went into effect 2011) • extends federal support for youth to age 21

16. Lack of Safety Net • Since 1985 policies have given states more flexibility and money for youth 18-21, but most don’t provide past 18 • 90% still don’t receive services permitted by law • Often lose health care at 18

17. Foster Connections Act • Provides care, housing, and federally distributed financial support to all youth 18-21 so long as youth are • Completing high school or equivalent • Employed • Enrolled in a vocational program • Requires that youth meet with caseworker prior to exiting the system