Session: Advancing Research and Support for Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care across Context and Youth Characteristics (Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference)

Transitioning to adulthood is challenging for foster youth, many of whom come from marginalized backgrounds and lack family support. Previous research indicates that transition-aged youth (TAY) in foster care often face worse outcomes compared to non-foster peers in areas like education, employment, mental health, physical health, housing stability, and social support. The 2008 Fostering Connections Act addresses this issue by allowing states to claim federal reimbursement for foster care costs for eligible youth until age 21. California, with the largest foster care population in the US, adopted an ambitious and inclusive approach, making it a crucial case study. Child welfare agencies, courts, public institutions, and service providers are adjusting to caring for adults despite limited experience. However, there is a scarcity of research on the needs and experiences of young adults in foster care.

The California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH), the most comprehensive longitudinal study of TAY in foster care, evaluated implementation of California's foster care extension. The CalYOUTH study interviewed TAY in foster care at ages 17, 19, 21, and 23, surveyed caseworkers, and analyzed government administrative records on youths' maltreatment and foster care histories, education, earnings, and public aid. Baseline interviews were conducted in 2013 with a stratified statewide sample of 727 youth aged 16.75-17.75 with at least six months in care (95% response rate). Follow-up interviews were conducted with 84% (n=611) in 2015, 85% (n=616) in 2017, and 86% (n=622) in 2019-2020 of baseline sample. The CalYOUTH study concluded data collection in 2022, but ongoing data analysis continues to yield valuable insights on the experiences and outcomes of TAY in foster care. These findings inform policy and practice improvements to better support this population.

Building on these achievements while housed at the University of Chicago, the CalYOUTH study has transitioned to the Transition-Age Youth Research and Evaluation Hub (TAY-Hub) within the California Child Welfare Indicators Project at UC Berkeley, bolstering California's capacity to generate and analyze data on TAY in care. The TAY-Hub successfully launched a publicly available data portal on outcomes of TAY in California, which enables access to vital descriptive and outcome data about TAY currently or previously in foster care. The TAY-Hub specializes in research related to policies and practices affecting transition-age youth by monitoring outcomes and through applied research. This work is grounded in engagement with members of the child welfare services community, including those with lived experience of foster care.

This symposium features presentations led by affiliates of the TAY-Hub in addressing longstanding gaps in policy and practice, as identified by communities of interest, including: youth satisfaction with foster care, the relationship between the timing of incarceration and adult outcomes, predictors of postsecondary credential completion, socioeconomic outcomes for non-heterosexual TAY, and educational attainment of youth experiencing (dis)abilities. The studies in this symposium employ survey and qualitative methods to delve into the experiences of transition-aged youth (TAY) in foster care. Findings have implications for implementation of the Fostering Connections Act and for targeting services to transition-age youth with experience in care.