Foster Care – Background Research

Avery, R., & Freundlich, M., (2003). Deleterious consequences of aging out of foster care, 2nd National Youth Permanence Convening.
There are a considerable amount of negative consequences of aging out of foster care in a number of areas: economic instability, education, crime, victimization, homelessness, health problems, substance abuse, and parenthood. This briefing reviews the research around these areas.

Connected by 25: A plan for investing in successful futures for foster youth (2004). The Youth Transition Funders Group Foster Care Work Group, The Finance Project.
http://www.aecf.org/publications/data/connected_by_25.pdf
Adolescence can be a time of tremendous discovery, growth, and developing independence. 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. Recognizing the high costs and the devastating consequences of failing to support vulnerable young people through this period, The Youth Transition Funders Group (YTFG) was formed in 1995. It brings together leaders from foundations dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable youth. Program staff and other representatives of foundations participating in YTFG work together to ensure that young people are connected by age 25 to institutions and support systems that will enable them to succeed throughout adulthood. In 2003, the work groups examined research and strong practices, sought input from the field and young people, and assessed other information in order to develop an investment strategy in each area.

Courtney, M. E., Piliavin, I., Grogan-Kaylor, A., & Newsmith, A. (2001). Foster youth transitions to adulthood: A longitudinal view of youth leaving care, Child Welfare League of America.
The Foster Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study tracked the experiences of 141 young adults who left care in Wisconsin in 1995 and 1996. This article describes these youths and their experiences in the first 12 to 18 months after leaving care. The findings suggest that the transition to independence is a difficult time for youth leaving the out-of-home care system.

Courtney, M., et al. (2005). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago.
http://www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1355
This evaluation reports the first findings from the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth, a longitudinal study of youth aging out of foster care and transitioning to adulthood in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. “Outcomes at Age 19” compares the outcomes of the 282 young adults who were still in care at age 19 to the outcomes of 321 young adults who had already been discharged; it also compares the study’s sample to a nationally representative sample of 19-year-olds. The results suggest that youth making the transition from foster care to young adulthood face a number of significant challenges, including mental health problems, and fare worse than their same-age peers. The results also suggest that allowing foster youth to remain in care beyond their 18th birthday may confer some advantages during the transition to adulthood, such as access to health and mental health care.

Drais-Paririllo, A. A., et al. The Odyssey Project: A descriptive and prospective study of children and youth in residential group care and therapeutic foster care. Child Welfare League.
http://www.cwla.org/programs/research/odysseyfinalreport.pdf
The Odyssey Project was a multiple-site study of children and youth in residential group care and therapeutic foster care. The study was conducted by the Child Welfare League of America in cooperation with and with support of 22 of its members, the Odyssey Project Consortium. A fundamental aim of the Odyssey Project was to describe more accurately the children in residential group care and therapeutic foster care programs and to determine what differences exist in services and outcomes for youth placed in each setting.

Dunne, L. (2003). Effective approaches to supporting youth aging out of foster care: A review of research that is currently underway. Issue brief. Washington, D.C.: Voices for America’s Children.
http://www.voicesforamericaschildren.org/Content/ContentGroups/Policy/Child_Safety/Member_Mailing1/
Supporting_Youth_Aging_Out _of_Foster_Care_What_Does_the_Research_Tell_Us_/issue_brief_8-04_c.pdf
This brief addresses the need to support foster youth who are leaving the foster care system to independent adulthood and concludes that more research on this issue is needed to determine which support services should receive more funding. It discusses the methods and procedures of three studies in progress: the “Casey National Alumni Study,” the “Multi-Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs Study”, and the “Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Conditions of Youth Preparing to Leave State Care.” “The Casey National Alumni Study” has identified factors related to success for transitioning foster care youth; initial results indicate that education appears to be the most important of these factors. “The Multi-Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs” is comparing various outcome measures for four independent living programs. “The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth Study” is examining the types of services that transitioning youth receive, and which services facilitate adult self-sufficiency. Early results indicate foster care youth often receive little or no formal services to support their transition to independent living.

Mech, EV (1994), Foster youths in transition: Research perspectives on preparation for independentlLiving, Child Welfare, 73(5), 603-623.
Adolescents in out-of-home care comprise approximately 35% to 40% of the placement caseload. The majority need help in making the transition from a dependency status to self-directed community living. Research areas discussed include education/school-to-work, formal assessments of readiness for self-sufficiency, provision of transitional supports, support networks, and caregivers and placement settings as developmental resources.

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. (2005). National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster.cfm
This factsheet provides the most recent national statistical estimates for children in foster care from fiscal year 2003 and also provides earlier data from FY 1998 to allow for some estimate of trends over time. Data were obtained from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. AFCARS collects case-level information on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have responsibility for placement, care, or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State’s public child welfare agency.

Skyles, Ada, Smithgall, Cheryl, Howard, Eboni (2007). School Engagement and Youth Who Run Away from Care: The Need for Cross-System Collaboration. Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago.
http://www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1454.
In an effort to better understand individual and system factors that may impact the educational experiences and choices of youth in care, this paper presents the voices of a group of youth who ran away from their foster placements and the perspectives of adults who care for or work with these youth. Qualitative data from two earlier studies were re-analyzed in an effort to better understand the complex set of factors or systems--including individual, biological family and foster family experiences, and experiences within the larger child welfare and public education systems--that influence school engagement for youth in care, particularly youth who run away from their placements. Findings reveal missed opportunities in helping support the educational aspirations of a vulnerable group of youth--missed opportunities for foster parents and professionals, for the child welfare and education systems, and most importantly for the youth themselves. These supports and opportunities, coupled with highly motivated and committed adults, are key factors in increasing the likelihood that foster youth will have positive academic experiences and outcomes.

Statement: Children of Color in the Child Welfare System: Overview, Vision, and Proposed Action Steps (2003). Child Welfare League of America.
http://www.cwla.org/programs/culture/disproportionatestatement.pdf
In this statement, the over representation of children of color in the child welfare system is analyzed and puts forth a series of action steps to resolve this issue. The statement calls for collaboration among all child welfare providers, and charges that any action taken must be proactive.

Time for Reform: Aging Out and On Their Own – More Teens Leaving Foster Care without a Permanent Family (2007). Pew Charitable Trust.
http://kidsarewaiting.org/reports/files/AgingOut.pdf
Drawing on findings from focus groups conducted with youth who aged out or expect to age out of foster car, research studies and interviews, this report describes how the current foster care system fails to provide a permanent family for every child and the difficulty children have staying connected to family and friends while in foster care. The report also presents the latest state-by-state data on the number of youth who have aged out of foster care, and, in the words of former and current foster youth, describes the problems young adults have when they have to face the future without a permanent family to support them. The report briefly discusses the history of permanency in child welfare policy and why one never grows too old to want and need a permanent family. The report concludes with recommendations for public policy reforms that could decrease the number of youth who age out of care each year by improving the federal foster care financing system.

Wertheimer, R. (2002). Youth who “Age Out” of Foster Care: Troubled Lives, Troubling Prospects. Child Trends.
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2002_12_01_RB_FosterCare.pdf
This research brief examines foster care trends in the United States and the troubling numbers of youth who “age out” of the system as they are not able to return to their biological families or are not adopted. The report recommends strategies to reduce the number of young adults aging out of the system, and to help those youth who do “age out” to positive outcomes.