What available supports and resources are in place for youth transitioning from foster care?
Answer
States offer an array of services and resources designed to assist youth in foster care as they work toward self-sufficiency.
Educational and training vouchers (ETVs) are grants, funded by the federal government, administered by the states, and awarded to eligible youth currently and formerly in foster care. ETV coordinators are responsible for helping youth in foster care obtain funding for postsecondary education.
Independent living programs are federally funded programs designed to help eligible youth make successful transitions from foster care to independent living. Independent living coordinators in each state are responsible for assisting youth in foster care access services geared toward achieving self-sufficiency prior to exiting foster care.
Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children's Bureau, provides the following lists of organizations and resources that focus on emancipating youth:
- Organizations Supporting Youth Involved With Child Welfare
- State Youth Advocacy/Advisory Boards and Foster Care Alumni Associations
- Resources for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
Young adults transitioning from foster care may also find the following information helpful:
- Medicaid & CHIP Coverage (Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services)
- "Financial Empowerment for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care " (moneygeek)
- Get Help Paying Rent and Bills (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)
- HUD Resource Locator (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
In addition, the following websites provide relevant resources:
- The iFoster portal features educational, employment, health, and recreational products, services, and opportunities for young people aging out of care.
- The Get My Future website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, delivers easy-to-understand workforce information to help students, workers, and others seeking employment.
- The Youth.gov website highlights internships, job opportunities, youth-specific programs, tools, and guides.
- Having a mentor in a child or youth's life contributes significantly to a child's well-being and positive outcomes. Information Gateway provides state-specific information on mentoring programs in the National Foster Care & Adoption Directory's Foster Youth Services and Supports option.
- The Foster Care Transition Toolkit (PDF), developed by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Labor, provides information to help transitioning youth and young adults enhance their social, emotional, educational, and financial skills.
Finally, 2-1-1 is a free confidential information and referral service for quick connection to health and human services programs and benefits in each state.