Teens who age out of foster care face significant challenges.

Finding one’s “place in the world” can be challenging even if you are not in foster care.  We are hoping that you can buck the statistics, which say that kids aging out have more mental health issues, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, homelessness, involvement with the criminal justice system, medical problems, and academic challenges.

Additional Resources:

TeamChild (Atlanta Legal Aid) 404-524-5811

'Represent' is a national magazine written by and for young people in the foster care system.  http://www.youthcomm.org/Publications/FCYU.htm

The national network for young people in foster care http://www.fosterclub.com/

(Also see the Transition Club at  http://transition.fosterclub.com/)

State Child Welfare Policy Database: Older Youth
A website with state-by-state policy information regarding older youth in foster care. Visitors can view information on individual state policies and compare one state's policies to those of other states.

Review of State Policies and Programs to Support Young People Transitioning out of Foster Care
The report addresses the findings of a national review of state programs for young people aging out of foster care.

Casey Family Programs: It's Your Life, A framework for youth transitioning from foster care to successful adulthood http://www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/pdf/ItsMyLife_Framework.pdf

Jump ahead to when you are 25 - where are you going to spend Thanksgiving?