My Path Forward Research

My Path Forward: Supporting Youth Transitioning from Foster Care

In Virginia, over 400 youth age out of foster care each year. Each youth that ages out costs society an average of $300,000 over the course of their lifetime.

CHS Panel of Experts Developed a Range of Policy Recommendations

Children’s Home Society of Virginia and Better Housing Coalition led a panel of local, state and national experts to identify legislative and administrative policy recommendations to support those youth. These recommendations are rooted in research and best practices, promoting permanency and normalcy for youth in foster care and successful independence for youth who have aged out of foster care.

We believe that allocating adequate resources is a necessary investment in the lives of children and youth in foster care.
Click here to read the CHS Panel of Experts Policy Recommendations Brief.

Children’s Home Society and Better Housing Coalition commissioned ChildTrends to conduct nationwide and Virginia-centered reports on extended foster care services

According to recently completed research, some states are providing young people who have aged out of foster care support services, but this is not happening consistently nor effectively. Children’s Home Society of Virginia, in partnership with the Richmond-based Better Housing Coalition, is changing the paradigm. MPF is on the forefront of research and best practices in this field.

With support from the Robins and Brookfield Foundations, MPF commissioned nationwide and Virginia-centered reports on extended foster care services to strengthen and inform its practices. Conducted by Child Trends, a leading nonprofit research organization, the reports will be utilized by practitioners, program providers and policy makers throughout the state and nation.

To apply the findings of this important research, MPF has launched The Task Force on Transitioning Youth to make policy recommendations for improving access and services provided to youth aging out of foster care. The task force is comprised of experts from across the six key support areas, in addition to aged-out foster youth. Click here to review our panel of experts.

Sign up here to keep informed of the progress of the Task Force for Transitioning Youth and other developments with My Path Forward.

DOCUMENT PORTAL:

• CHS PANEL OF EXPERTS BRIEF– Panel of Experts Policy Recommendations
• RESEARCH SUMMARY BOOKLET– The Possibilities Project: Creating a New Path to Independent Adulthood for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care
  
• THE CHILD TRENDS COMPLETE REPORTS, Supporting Young People Transitioning from Foster Care:
  • NATIONWIDE REPORT– Findings from a National Survey
  • VIRGINIA-CENTERED REPORT– Virginia Findings from a National Survey and Policy Scan
• CHILD TRENDS PRESS RELEASE- Spotty Programs Constrain the Potential of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, National Survey Finds
  • NATIONWIDE PRESS RELEASE
  • VIRGINIA-CENTERED PRESS RELEASE
• VIRGINIA-CENTERED RESEARCH FLYER– Virginia as the Nation’s Model for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY from Partnering CEOs– The Possibilities Project Announces New Research on Services and Supports for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
• THE POSSIBILITIES PROJECT Overview Flyer
• TPP/CHILD TRENDS REPORTS FAQ
• TPP/CHILDTRENDS SHARE GRAPHICS
  • Foster Youth Can Struggle to Become Independent Adults
    
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  • Six Crucial Support Areas for Transitioning Youth
     
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MEDIA COVERAGE:

• Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star/fredericksburg.com: “Virginia has high percentage of youth aging out of foster care”
• WTVR 6 CBS Richmond: “Two Richmond-area organizations announced the results of a nationwide study into the challenges facing the foster care system.“
• Richmond Times-Dispatch: “Patchwork services fail youth aging out of foster care, national survey concludes”
  
• YouthToday.org: Study Finds Foster Care Youths Leaving the System Before They Age Out 
• Richmond Times-Dispatch Op-ed: Nadine Marsh-Carter and Greta Harris: Virginia must do better for our aged-out foster youth
• Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star EDITORIAL: Helping foster kids transition to adulthood
• Kat Simons iHeartRadio/mix 98.1 interviews Bruin Richardson about TPP Research Findings and Adoption
• Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star: “Patchwork services fail youth aging out of foster care, national survey concludes”
• Politico includes the report in its Education Newsletter under REPORT ROLL CALL
• WRVA- 1140AM interview on The Jeff Katz Show
• WCVE/PBS NPR Megan Pauly “1 in 5 Youth Age Out Of Foster Care in VA Without Adult Connection, Study Finds”