Children's Bureau Express

Improving Independent Living Services

The National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD) recently released two more publications in its series of Promising Practices Monographs dealing with foster youth transitioning to independence. The series was developed in response to the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, which mandates improved independent living programs for these youth (ages 18 to 21 years old), as well as greater accountability.

The monographs released to date include:

Aftercare Services, released in 2003, addresses the myriad support services agencies can provide, including help with housing, jobs, and education. Numerous examples describe the innovative practices of local agencies in meeting these needs.
Tribal Approaches to Transition, released in early 2004, provides information for practitioners who work with Tribal youth preparing to transition to independence. Programs are described that provide transitioning services to Native American youth while adhering to the Federal mandates of youth development, cultural competence, permanent relationships, and collaboration.
The Transition Years: Serving Current and Former Foster Youth Ages 18 to 21, released in April 2004, provides insight into the needs of older youth aging out of care and the current trends in transition among the general population. Structured around the four core principles--youth development, collaboration, permanent connections, and cultural competency--this monograph describes available services and current barriers to serving this population.

The NRCYD is scheduled to release a fourth monograph in this series (Collaboration) this summer. Current monographs can be downloaded from the NRCYD website at www.nrcys.ou.edu/NRCYD/publications.htm.

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