Thickening the Safety Net: Key Elements to Successful Independent Living Programs for Young Adults Aging out of Foster Care
St. John's Journal of Legal Commentary, Vol. 23, p. 447, 2008
30 Pages Posted: 5 Nov 2008
Date Written: 2008
Abstract
Every year, almost 25,000 children in foster care across the nation turn 18 and "age out" of state custody. They have been raised by the state because their own families were unable or unwilling to care for them, and they have never been adopted nor have they found a permanent home to spend their childhood. The challenges facing these youth at age 18 are enormous; many studies document the poor outcomes they experience. This Articles analyzes the reasons that the child welfare system is failing so many adolescents, identifies some basic principles for reform, and describes some innovative social service programs that, adhering to these principles, are worthy of replication.
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