The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative leverages its hands-on work across 16 states, the latest adolescent brain research and direct feedback from young people to drive state policy and practice improvements that help young people make successful transitions from foster care to adulthood. Our expertise is grounded in the following areas:
- Adolescent Brain Development
Research on the resiliency and potential of the adolescent brain means that no young person is a lost cause.
- Authentic Youth Engagement
When young people are active participants in planning their own lives, they develop leadership skills, improve their self-esteem, and form critical social connections.
- Equity and Inclusion
The Casey Foundation centers racial and ethnic equity and inclusion practices across all areas of its work to ensure all young people in and transitioning from foster care experience equitable outcomes.
- Expectant and Parenting Youth
The Foundation builds the capacity for public systems to meet the needs of youth in foster care, if and when they decide to become parents.
- Extended Foster Care
Extending foster care services to young people beyond age 18 and doing it right helps young people and the communities in which they live.
- Financial Capability
Financial capability — built in developmentally appropriate ways — prepares young people to make financial decisions that are critical for the transition to adulthood.
- Research and Evaluation
Self-evaluation is necessary to measure progress toward improving systems and outcomes for young people.
