Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purpose: This study explores the challenges that state agencies face in extending care for foster youths entering adulthood. While most states allow for the extension of care beyond the age of 18, most nevertheless leave care at the age of 18. Chapin Hall's Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth (“Midwest Study”) has provided strong evidence that the foster youth who remain in care at 19 tend to experience better outcomes than those who leave care. Illinois, one of the three states examined in the Midwest Study, has a policy of extending care up to age 21, and has demonstrated more success than others across the country in doing so in practice; the state accounts for a considerable proportion of the country's youth in care beyond 18 (Bussey et al. 2000). Even in Illinois, however, many youth “age out” of care at 18. Departure around age 18 is much more common outside of Cook County, the state's most populous jurisdiction. This study identifies and explores the factors associated with retaining youth in care beyond the age of 18.

Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Part I of the analysis employed logistic regression modeling of Midwest Study data and hierarchical modeling of state agency data between 1996 and 2006 to identify regional (including county-level) trends in the retention of youth in care past 18 and individual- and aggregate-level correlates of youth remaining in care. Part II involved direct collection of data from those involved in the decision to keep young people in care: a web-based survey of 1100 caseworkers involved with these cases (96% response rate), site visits to six county courts involving interviews of judges and advocates, and a total of ten focus groups with foster parents and foster youth.

Results: The study found clear regional and county-level differences, which remained highly significant even after accounting for an array of individual-level characteristics. Moreover, these results seem to be relatively stable over the ten-year period of analysis. Survey data, interviews, and focus groups indicate a widespread lack of awareness of the law and the child welfare agency's policy of extending care among all of those involved in the decision to extend or end care. Ending care at age 18 tended to be framed as a product of choice by youths, but professionals acknowledged that service availability, advocacy in court, and judicial leadership often worked to engage youth and keep them in care.

Conclusions and Implications: This study highlights the complex nature of post-dispositional decisions, which involve professionals and clients in complicated ways. It illuminates the challenges presented to states considering extending care beyond 18, and presents a preliminary list of factors that can help or hinder such efforts. The findings suggest that stability among court personnel and caseworkers, coupled with available services, may be keys to extending care to this vulnerable population.