Authors: Lisa Han, Vivian Hsu, Derek Ishikawa
Date: April 1, 2009
Project: [wpv-post-link id=”$project”]
Foster care youth who “age out” of the system achieve lower levels of educational attainment, employment, and stable housing compared to the national averages. Aging out is a term used to describe foster youth who leave court and child welfare jurisdiction, commonly at age 18, after the foster care system has failed in the goals of reunifying a child with the biological family or finding a permanent placement for the youth. (Some individuals refer to this as “emancipation” from foster care.) In addition to a lifelong connection with a stable adult, these youth need support and services to provide them with the skills necessary for a successful transition to independent adulthood.
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