Preparing for a "Next Generation" Evaluation of Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care

Download or read book Preparing for a "Next Generation" Evaluation of Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care written by Marla McDaniel and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 10 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood need multiple supports to navigate the challenges they face. Over the past three decades, federal child welfare policy has significantly increased the availability of those supports. In 1999, the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program was created, increasing the amount of funds potentially available to states for independent living services. As part of the process of planning for evaluation of these services, these authors developed a conceptual framework outlining the core developmental assets youth need to succeed as adults and the ways the foster care system can help facilitate their preparation. They also created a typology of existing independent living programs, identifying 10 different domains and describing available research evidence on each. To further aid research planning in the three key areas of education, employment, and financial literacy and asset-building, the authors gathered current evidence for program effectiveness and identified potential programs for serving youth in foster care. This brief presents the conceptual framework, typology, and central conclusions from these efforts to inform future program development and evaluation. [This brief series is a product of the Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Project, contracted by the Administration on Children and Families and led by the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.].