Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth:

Outcomes at Age 19

Chapin Hall Center for ChildrenUniversity of Chicago

Why Study Youth Aging Out of Care?

• Their well-being, or the lack thereof, is a good indicator of how effectively the needs of foster youth in general are being met

• They are a good population to study to better understand the transition to adulthood for “vulnerable” populations

• U.S. social policy regarding the transition to adulthood focuses specifically on this group

Purpose of Study• Gather information about services provided to

foster youth in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin• Measure the young adult self-sufficiency of

former foster youth • Provide guidance to 3 states regarding their

compliance with and implementation of the John Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999

Study Design and Sample

Longitudinal study: survey data collected at three points in time

Foster youth in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa who: • Were still in out-of-home care at age 17• Had entered care before their 16th birthday• Had been placed in care due to abuse and/or

neglect

Study Design and Sample (continued)

Wave Year Number Interviewed Age at interview

1 ’02 – ’03 732 17 – 18

2 ‘04

603

47% still in care

53% already discharged

19

3 ‘06 ? 21

Demographic Characteristics

Wave 1

(N = 732)

Wave 2

(N = 603)

Gender Male

Female

48.5

51.5

45.9

54.1

Race Black

White

Multi-racial

Other

57.0

30.9

9.7

2.5

56.7

30.8

10.3

2.1

Ethnicity Hispanic origin 8.6 8.3

State Illinois

Wisconsin

Iowa

64.8

26.6

8.6

64.0

27.0

8.0

Living Arrangements at Wave 2

Still in Care No Longer in Care

Own place ---- 28.7Supervised independent living 49.6 ---With biological parents ---- 16.8

With other relatives 19.1 17.8With unrelated foster parents 20.2 10.1Group quarters 6.7 9.0Homeless ---- 0.6*Other 4.3 17.1

But 13.8 percent of youth no longer in care had been homeless at least once since they were discharged

Educational Risk Factors at Wave 1

• Placed in special education 47.3• Repeated a grade 37.3 • Due to changes in foster care

− Missed at least one month of school 24.5− Changed schools at least 3 times 53.9

• Median reading score on WRAT 7th

grade

Yet, despite their educational risk factors:

• Many youth set high educational goals− Wanted to graduate from high school 95.8− Wanted to graduate from college 71.4

• Many youth had high educational expectations− Expected to graduate from high school 88.1− Expected to graduate from college 60.2

Educational Attainment at Wave 2

Total Still in Care

No Longer in Care

No high school diploma/GED 38.2 38.2 36.1

Enrolled in school 47.7 66.7 30.8

High school/GED program 15.2 20.9 10.1

Vocational training 8.8 8.5 9.1

2 or 4 year college 23.7 37.2 11.7

Employment and Earnings at Wave 2

Total Still in Care

No Longer in Care

Worked during past year 67.0 61.0 72.3

Currently employed 40.5 33.0 47.0

Median hours worked per week

35 30 35

Median hourly wage $7.00 $7.00 $7.00

Pregnancy and Parenthood at Wave 2

Total Still in Care

No Longer

in Care

Ever pregnant (females) 48.2 46.6 49.7

Any living children

Males 13.8 15.1 12.7

Females 31.6

31.3

31.9

Criminal Justice System Involvement

Wave 1 (N = 732) Wave 2 (N = 603)

Ever arrested

Male 61.8 68.6

Female 41.2 46.3

Ever convicted

Male 27.8 37.9

Female 15.2 19.3

Ever incarcerated

Male 43.5 52.0

Female 24.5 28.8

Criminal Justice System Involvement Since Wave 1 Interview

Total Still in Care No Longer in Care

Arrested

Males 38.9 25.2 49.6

Females 20.7 21.0 20.4

Convicted

Males 19.3 9.1 27.3

Females 7.4 6.9 7.9

Incarcerated

Males 31.2 20.9 39.4

Females 11.1 11.0 11.2

Criminal Victimization Since Wave 1 Interview

Total Still in Care No Longer in Care

Threatened by knife or gun

20.7 20.2 21.2

Shot or stabbed 5.0 3.9 5.9

Beaten up 8.6 9.9 7.5

Any of the above 24.2 23.8 24.6

Foster Care Independence Act of 1999

• Requires states to use some portion of their Chafee funds to provide assistance (including room and board) and services to former foster youth who have aged out of care until age 21

• Allows states to extend Medicaid coverage to former foster youth until age 21—but few states have exercised this option

Receipt of Independent Living Services at Wave 2 by Care Status

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

No longer in care Still in care

Youth Development

Health Education

Housing

Financial Management

Employment/Training

Education

Independent Living Subsidy

Physical and Mental Health Care Service Utilization at Wave 2 by Care Status

Still in Care

No Longer in Care

No health insurance 1.8 52.9

Did not receive needed medical care 4.6 21.4

Received psychological or emotional counseling

28.5 13.7

Participated in substance abuse treatment

7.4 7.5

Prescribed psychotropic medication 15.6 15.3

Received family planning services 15.2 7.5

Prevalence of Mental Health and Substance Disorders by Care Status at Wave 2

Still in Care No Longer in Care

Mental Health Diagnosis 16.8 20.1

Substance Diagnosis 12.9 28.2

Mental Health or Substance Diagnosis

26.4 39.3

However, the youth who were no longer in care were MORE likely to meet the criteria for a mental health or substance disorder diagnosis

Conclusions and Implications

• Every year, nearly 20,000 youth who do not achieve permanency age out of foster care (DHHS, 1999)

• These youth face considerable challenges including educational deficits and significant psychosocial problems

Conclusions and Implications

• The needs of these youth must be addressed by state child welfare agencies if the youth are to make a successful transition to early adulthood

• What is less clear is how states can best prepare these youth for the challenges they will face- i.e., what independent living services or subsidies should be provided and to whom?

Conclusions and Implications

• However, our research suggests that youth may benefit if states allow them to remain in care until age 21

• States could increase access to health and mental health care services by extending Medicaid coverage to former foster youth until age 21

Results from Wave 2

Midwest Study of Foster Youth

Transitions to Adulthood:

Outcomes at Age Nineteen

Available at www.chapinhall.org