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The purpose of this project is to examine the connection between foster care and homelessness and to determine whether or not there is an over-representation of people with a foster care history in the homeless population. In order to examine this issue, the project used four sources of information: (1) existing research on the connection between foster care and homelessness; (2) data collected from organizations which serve homeless people and which gather information on their clients' foster care history; (3) data obtained directly from a sample of homeless people; and (4) case studies of people who are or were homeless and who have a foster care history. Complete listing and access info »

A continuation of the 1997 study funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this collaborative effort with the National Resource Center for Youth Services presents findings of a study of approximately 100 independent living and transitional living programs. It identifies "promising practices" linked with positive outcomes for youth leaving foster care-and presents information drawn from interviews with program staff and participating youth. Complete listing and access info »

National data suggests that young people transitioning from wardship to adulthood experience the expectation of self sufficiency as too fast, unplanned and unexpected, making them feel "dumped" by the system, helpless to take control of their lives, and unhopeful about the future. Id. In Illinois, approximately 2,000 youth spend their seventeenth birthday in foster care. The picture of youth aging out of the system in Illinois is no more hopeful than the national picture, as shown in a recent study of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, in which caseworkers responded to questions about a sampling of 580 older youth living in substitute care. Only 52% of the wards age 18 and older had a high school diploma. Only 12.8% were working full time. Complete listing and access info »

The Fall 2001/Winter 2002 issue of AdvoCasey focuses on foster teens in transition. It highlights what communities and child welfare agencies are doing (and not doing) to help them. It includes a fact sheet, case studies, and an interview with Gary Stangler, director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. Complete listing and access info »

Virtually all youth not connected by age 25 begin the process of disconnection much earlier, usually before age 19. In our society, almost all youth require support until they have connected successfully with the labor force, which generally does not occur until their mid-twenties. Most young adults experience detours on the road to economic independence, including periods of unemployment and periodic interruptions in their education. In this paper, we address several issues relevant to developing such a system of services. We begin by identifying those groups of youth at highest risk of long-term disconnection.

This is critical for developing policies and programs and for deciding how to target such rograms. Research indicates that those youth who are unable to make a successful ransition differ in important ways from other out of school/unemployed youth. Complete listing and access info »

The transition from childhood to adulthood is often a precarious journey -- filled with opportunity and risk. Adolescence can be a time of tremendous discovery, growth, and developing independence. With proper guidance and support, young people explore their unique talents and interests; develop knowledge, skills, and aspirations; and acquire the relationships and connections that they will depend upon for a lifetime. Most young people, with the support of their families and community networks, make this transition successfully. Unfortunately, there are also many young people in our communities who lack adequate nurturing, guidance, and support. For these youth, the risks of adolescence often overshadow the opportunities. And for too many, the result is that they enter adulthood with little hope or preparation for a successful future. Developing a strategy for public- and private-sector investments to help youth in foster care become connected by age 25 poses a significant challenge. Foster youth not only have to cope with the trauma of separation from families unable or unwilling to provide proper care, but they also must live within a child protective system that is overburdened and, in many cases, ill-equipped to provide even a basic level of stability, safety, and nurturing. This investment plan calls for government, foundations, community organizations, and individuals to mobilize their energy and resources with a greater focus on the future of foster youth and those aging out of foster care. This is not to deny the urgent need to provide basic protections for those in care. Rather, it is to emphatically assert that it is not enough to address risks and remediate problems; it is also essential to build on individual strengths and develop personal assets in order to help young people acquire the motivation and the means to be successful throughout their lives. Accordingly, this plan outlines five strategies aimed at helping foster youth to achieve economic success, which is a critical building block for future success in a number of fundamental aspects of adult life, including housing, family stability, safety, health, and social well-being. We hope that it leads to increased investments and supportive policies that have a significant positive impact on the future economic wellbeing and financial success of the thousands of young people who spend time in the child welfare system. Complete listing and access info »

This CPYP publication reports on nine exemplary permanency programs throughout the U.S. and explains the critical elements of such programs. Complete listing and access info »

"What do foster youth think about permanency?" CPYP, in partnership with the California Youth Connection (CYC), held interviews and focus groups with several foster youth to talk about this question. This document explores some of their answers. Complete listing and access info »

A phone survey was conducted with State Independent Living (IL) Coordinators in December 2003 through April 2004 to gather information regarding discharge policies, funding, and housing options available to youth aging out of the foster care system. A total of 38 State IL Coordinatos (including the District of Columbia) participated in this project.

Although it is recognized that young people aging out of the foster care system confront many challenges upon discharge, this report is specifically focused on the sissue of housing for young people transitioning out of the foster care system. Complete listing and access info »

In our research for this publication, we identified successful programs, policies, and strategies that have been helping older children find permanent families.We then examined how lessons learned from each effective program or policy change could be distilled into a number of action steps that others might follow. Finally, we created a series of overall recommendations and spelled out how advocates can learn from others to create an integrated system of programs and policies that will help older children and youth find permanent families. Complete listing and access info »