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Better results for kids and families through research-informed policy

Create Opportunities for Youth to Be Listened to, to Be Informed, to Be Respected, and to Exert Control over Their Lives

What Can Policymakers Do?

· Require that young people lead the development of their case planning, including permanency planning and transition planning that address education and employment goals. States should require that all case planning is finalized during the 90-day period immediately prior to leaving care.[1] Michigan is piloting a new youth service delivery model featuring youth-driven teaming to define and achieve goals for permanence and preparation for adult living.

· Provide young people opportunities for leadership and community involvement, including opportunities for advising system partners on policy and practice. Involving young people in their own transition to adulthood improves their sense of mastery, health and compassion and enhances adults’ perceptions of young people’s competence.[2] The State of Michigan’s Voice 1 and Voice 2 documents were produced by representatives from county youth boards across the state. The Voice documents address the progress made and work left to do in the Michigan foster care system as expressed by youth and alumni.

· Implement NYTD Plus to find out from young people how they are doing after leaving foster care so that policy and practice can be improved. NYTD on its own will help states begin to understand outcomes of young people transitioning from foster care. NYTD Plus, for negligible extra investment, will add several questions that will provide policymakers with rich information, particularly around permanent relationships. The state of Florida is implementing NYTD Plus annually, which exceeds Federal requirements. Florida will also be surveying all young people that leave care rather than sampling as the regulations require.

· Collect and analyze outcome and administrative data to identify racial disproportionality and act to assure that services provided are free of bias and provided by culturally competent staff. The Texas State Legislature signed Senate Bill 6 into legislation in 2005. The legislation required the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to analyze data regarding child welfare actions to determine whether Child Protective Services (CPS) enforcement actions were disproportionately initiated against any racial or ethnic group. The legislation required a report of the findings, an evaluation of policies and procedures and a remediation plan.


[1] The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351.

[2] Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and The Center for the Study of Social Policy. What We Are Learning About Young People Transitioning From Care. Toolkit for Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Partners. (St. Louis, Missouri: 2010).

California’s Senate Bill 933 established the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman to advocate for the interests of children and youth in foster care, provide means for foster children and youth to file complaints without fear of retribution, independently investigate and resolve complaints, make referrals, educate youth and children about their rights and maintain a toll-free telephone for California’s foster children and youth to express their concerns. The Ombudsman’s Office compiles reports all complaints to the state legislature annually. More than half of the staff members at the Ombudsman’s Office were formally in foster care. [1]

[1] Issue Brief : State Policies to Help Youth Transition Out of Foster Care. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.

Youth Voice. Foster Club is a national network for young people in foster care. The organization supports youth engagement and involvement, and their website provides a safe and monitored environment for young people across the country to communicate with each other. The website also provides valuable resources to young people about topics related to foster care.