For some youth, the transition to adulthood presents a number of challenges in meeting their basic needs. They may not be able to find employment that offers health benefits, no longer be included in their parents' insurance, or have become too old to qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP. Finding safe, affordable housing can be a challenge. For youth leaving foster care or juvenile detention facilities, youth who have run away from home or dropped out of school, or youth with disabilities, the challenges can be even greater.
Burt, M. R. (2007). Understanding homeless youth: Numbers, characteristics, multisystem involvement, and intervention options. Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/901087_Burt_Homeless.pdf (PDF, 14 pages)
English, A., & Grasso, K. (2000). The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999: Enhancing youth access to health care. Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, 34, 217-232. Retrieved from http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/child/PublicDocuments/englishgrasso.authcheckdam.pdf (PDF, 16 pages)
Fernandes, A. L. (2008). Youth transitioning from foster care: Background, federal programs, and issues for Congress. Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.fosteringconnections.org/tools/assets/files/CRS-older-youth-report.pdf (PDF, 82 pages)
Gardner, D. (2008). Youth aging out of foster care: Identifying strategies and best practices. Washington, DC: National Association of Counties.
Greene, J.M., & Ringwalt, C.L. (1998). Pregnancy among three national samples of runaway and homeless youth. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 23(6), 370-377.
Levin, H. M. (2005). The Social Costs of Inadequate Education. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University. Retrieved from http://www.tc.columbia.edu/i/a/3082_socialcostsofinadequateEducation.pdf (PDF, 24 pages)
National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/
National League of Cities. (2005). Reengaging disconnected youth: Action kit for municipal leaders. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.nlc.org/File%20Library/Find%20City%20Solutions/IYEF/At-Risk%20Youth/disconnected-youth-action-kit-apr07.pdf (PDF, 14 pages)
Podmostko, M. (2007). Tunnels and cliffs: A guide for workforce development practitioners and policymakers serving youth with mental health needs. Washington, DC: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, Institute for Educational Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.ncwd-youth.info/tunnels-and-cliffs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCAR). Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/systems/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). Preventing Suicide: Program Activities Guide. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/PreventingSuicide-a.pdf (PDF, 8 pages)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families/Family and Youth Services Bureau
Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
Eligibility: Youth aged 16 to 22 who are unable to return to their homes
Focus: Life skills training
Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs that serve transition-age youth include the Transitional Living Program and the Maternity Group Homes Program.
The Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth promotes the independence of youth between 16 and 22 years old who are unable to return to their homes. Grantees provide housing and a range of services, including life skills training, financial literacy instruction, and education and employment services. Youth might live in group homes or in their own apartments, depending on the program and each young person's independent living skills.
The Maternity Group Homes Program, part of the Transitional Living Program, supports homeless pregnant and/or parenting young people between the ages of 16 and 22, as well as their dependent children. Services are provided for up to 21 months.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Family Unification Program
Eligibility: Youth aged 18-21 who have aged out of foster care
Focus: Housing
The Family Unification Program provides Housing Choice Vouchers to communities to help assist in the transition of youth out of foster care. The Public Housing Authority administers the vouchers and the child welfare agency provides supportive services to youth. Vouchers are used to provide rental assistance to youth aged 18 to 21 who transition from foster care or who leave foster care at age 16 or older. The voucher subsidizes the rent of eligible youth for up to eighteen months.
Map My Community is a tool designed specifically to assist you in locating resources in your community to help you build and strengthen your youth program. Get ideas for new partnerships, identify gaps in your community, and learn about resources to avoid duplication of effort.
FindYouthInfo.gov is the U.S. government Web site that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep up-to-date on the latest, youth-related news.