TIme for Reform: Aging Out and On Their Own

Summary

This report gives a background of foster care issues in need of reform from the kids’ perspective while outlining what policy reforms make sense. Included is a history of child welfare legislation that makes a case for permanency. 

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• In Urgent Need of Reform
• Being in Foster Care
• Who Are The Youth?
• Facing the Future
• A Brief History
• Never Too Old For A Permanent Family
• Conclusion and Recommendations
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D

Key Takeaway

For many agencies, Finding permanent families for foster kids is not the goal

A troubling aspect of today’s child welfare system is that thousands of foster care youth are assigned the goals of “emancipation” or “long-term foster care”, not the goal of actually finding them a permanent family. And yet, a permanent family is what research shows they need to become caring kids and responsible adults.