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The documentary AGING OUT shows us that young people leaving foster care can benefit from a range of services and supports. Here we focus on three areas that recent research -- and many young people themselves -- tell us are particularly important in improving outcomes for youth leaving care: education, employment, and connection to caring adults.
When young people have access to educational and job training opportunities, an entry into the world of work, and an adult to whom they can turn for advice and support, they gain an important measure of stability that can lead to other positive outcomes. Of course, employment, education, and a connection to caring adults is not enough. We also urge communities to give special attention to the need for youth leaving foster care to have access to physical and mental health services and safe, stable housing.
What is our community's responsibility for young people leaving foster care?
What stakeholders in the community need to be engaged?
What types of services and programs can effectively prepare youth for independence?
What support systems/networks are needed to assist their transition to independent living?
How can young people themselves play a more active role in planning their futures? |
One of the most important things we can do as we plan for outreach efforts around AGING OUT is to begin involving young people themselves at every level. We can all learn from the resilience shown by Risa, David, and Daniella as they "age out" of foster care. Just as important is that we listen to young people, to their stories and their voices, so that our responses to their situations flow from an understanding both of their natural strengths and of the deficits created by the circumstances surrounding their upbringings.
Better understanding of the challenges facing youth in foster care is the first step to communities beginning an honest discussion about the issue. We hope that the discussion prompted by the broadcast of AGING OUT will serve as a call to action for a diverse set of constituencies:
The set of discussion questions and suggestions for taking action may be used by youth to engage other youth, or by adults seeking to engage youth in dialogue and action.
 Visit the youth page
Suited for community and faith-based organizations and those that make decisions about community resources and services, especially related to AGING OUT.
Visit the community page
A guide for those who can play a supportive role in creating opportunities for youth leaving foster care.
Visit the employers & educators page
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FOSTER CARE RESOURCES
AGING OUT on PBS.org
Read foster care stories and watch video clips from the film
Learn more about the film, filmmakers and funders
Explore extensive print and online foster care information for youth and
communities
Order the film
Download a viewer's guide or brief (PDF)
JIM CASEY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE
What you can do to help youth transitioning from care
Links to foster
care and youth development organizations
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