Youth in out-of-home care
Youth in out-of-home care
Youth ages 11 to 20 make up about 36% of all young people in out-of-home care. About 20,000 youth “age out” of foster care each year. Like all teens, youth in out-of-home care need compassion and support to navigate school, health and wellness, personal identity, and social connections, and hone the skills needed to transition successfully into adulthood. When working with older youth, emphasis should be placed on family reunification, finding permanent families and creating a circle of caring adults who can provide love and support through their transition to adulthood — and for a lifetime.
Older youth who have lived experience with the child welfare system possess unique insights on how to improve the ways they receive and experience support, and they are uniquely suited to be part of developing solutions. Resources on this page focus on engaging with older youth, lifting up their perspectives and ideas, and discussing strategies and policies that can best support them.
FEATURED RESOURCES
What are some best practices for recruiting and working with youth advisory boards?
How do jurisdictions ensure that youth in care receive the academic credits they have earned when they move?
How can child welfare agencies effectively support LGBTQ+ youth in care?
Please explore the related resources below and at Questions from the field to learn more about youth in out-of-home care.