Erin Russ, Program Associate
This reading list provides a sampling of resources available about the population of youth in transition from foster care. AYPF has found these resources to be tremendously valuable to our own thinking and work on this topic. Be sure to check out our forthcoming issue brief available online this Wednesday, December 10th.
What do older youth in foster care need in order to be successful, independent adults? The Youth Transition Funders Group answers this question in “Connected by 25: A Plan for Investing in the Social, Emotional, and Physical Well-Being of Older Youth in Foster Care”. This resource is especially important for funders considering how their investment can make the greatest impact on this population.
The Chapin Hall “Midwest Study of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth” provides longitudinal data on the outcomes of 700 youth from foster care across multiple domains. This is a valuable research study for informing policy and practice that influences youth in transition from foster care. Mark Courtney and Amy Dworsky are the researchers leading this ongoing study.
In 2005, the Institute for Higher Education Policy published “Higher Education Opportunities for Foster Youth: A Primer for Policymakers”. This brief, aimed specifically at policymakers, lays out the challenges youth from foster care face as they attempt to transition into higher education.
Engaging youth voice in the transitional process is important, and Foster Club provides resources and a place for youth in foster care to connect with one another. Contributors are current or former foster youth from across the country who share their experiences.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has made older youth in transition from foster care a priority. Their 2014 convening brought together leading practitioners, researchers, and youth advocates from around the country who shared resources and best practices for engaging this population on the path to success.
These are some of our must-reads. What are yours?
Erin Russ is a Program Associate with the American Youth Policy Forum
