Abstract: Characteristics of Youth Remaining in Foster Care through Age 19: A Pre and Post-Policy Cohort Analysis of California Data (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Saturday, January 14, 2017: 2:40 PM

Preservation Hall Studio 2 (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Andrea Lane Eastman, MA, PhD Candidate, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Emily Putnam-Hornstein, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Joseph Magruder, PhD, Research Associate, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Michael N. Mitchell, PhD, Senior Statistician, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Mark E. Courtney, PhD, Professor, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Background and Purpose:

Youth in foster care have historically aged out at 18, but a recent federal law provides funding for foster care services through age 21. Improved understanding about youth who age out of care is essential because the outcomes for youth who age out are often poor. The present investigation describes how the profile of youth eligible for extended foster care services has changed over time, highlights changes that may be associated with the implementation of recent federal policies, identifies characteristics of youth who may be at increased risk for ageing out by age 19, and provides an early examination of the population attributes of older youth remaining in foster care as nonminor dependents.

Methods:

Deidentified administrative records for all youths who turned 17 while in a child welfare-supervised placement between 2003 and 2012 were extracted from California's statewide child welfare data collection system (N = 64,724). We identified annual cohorts of youth in foster care at age 17 from 2003 to 2012 and assessed changes in demographic characteristics and foster care experiences over time. Multivariable generalized linear models with cohort interaction effects were specified to document factors associated with the likelihood of remaining in foster care at age 19 during the pre- and post-policy periods.

Results:

Findings showed that the population of youth in care at age 17 decreased over time and recent cohorts of youth are qualitatively different. Data from the 2010 and 2011 cohorts suggest that numerous youth are remaining in care through age 20. Multivariable generalized linear models were specified to document factors associated with the likelihood of remaining in care at age 19. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine confounding by stratifying the data by county in a fixed effects model. Focusing on the cohort effect (2012 vs. 2009), among youth who were in care at age 17, the likelihood of remaining in care through age 19 was significantly greater among those in foster care in 2012 (full implementation) relative to those in care in 2009 (pre-implementation; RR = 8.57; 95% CI = 4.85, 15.11; p < .001). Differences between those who remained in care and those who did not diminished over time.

Conclusions and Implications:

States that have accepted the federal option of providing extended foster care to young adults are in particular need of information about population changes (such as size, demographics, and needs) that can help inform policy and program development at the state and local levels. Because transition-age youth in foster care today may have different needs and system experiences relative to those in care a decade ago, it is critical that services evolve to meet these unique (and perhaps changing) support requirements. This study suggests there are opportunities for enhanced support and targeted outreach for high-risk subgroups of transition-age youth in foster care, including those with mental health disorders, who may benefit most from extended care and yet are remaining in care at lower rates.