ARE WE HELPING FOSTER-CARE YOUTH PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE

This article summarizes the findings from The National Evaluation of Title IV-E Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care, conducted by Westat, Inc. for the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families. The study was conducted in two phases: (a) to evaluate the influence of Independent Living Initiatives, Public Law 99-272 on States' development of programs, policies, and services and (b) to develop national estimates of the characteristics and outcomes of older youth discharged from care and ultimately, the relationship between outcomes and whether or not youth received independent living skills training. Youth aged 18 to 24 years were interviewed by telephone and in person, 2.5 to 4 years after discharge from care. This article focuses on the results of the interviews and describes youths' post-discharge outcomes and the effects of receiving independent living skills training. The study found that with respect to education completion, young parenthood, and the use of public assistance, discharged foster care youth more closely resembled 18- to 24-year-olds living below the poverty level than they do 18- to 24-year-olds in the general population. The type of skills training encouraged by Public Law 99-272 was positively related to outcomes, particularly when the skill areas of money management, credit, consumer, education, and employment were provided in combination.