Fostering Connections Resource Center

Here you will find state and national tools, analyses and research related specifically to the Older Youth provisions of the new Fostering Connections law. If you know of any resources that do not appear in our library, please send us an email at with the suggested resource, author and website URL for consideration.

Tools

  • National Resource Center for Youth Development
    This National Child Welfare Resource Center is funded by the Children's Bureau and is part of the Training and Technical Assistance Network administered by the Children's Bureau.
  • 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.
  • Understanding the Child Welfare System in California: A guide for Service Providers and Policymakers
    Understanding the Child Welfare System in California: A Primer for Service Providers and Policymakers was first released in 2002, and this updated edition serves the same fundamental purpose as the original publication—to provide local and state leaders and service providers a concise overview of the public institutions, laws, funding streams, and key issues that one must understand to successfully navigate, serve, and improve California's child welfare system.

National Resources

Tools

  • Comprehensive overview of ACF-PI-10-11
    This powerpoint presentation is a comprehensive overview of PI-10-11. ACF-PI-10-11 provides title IV-E agencies comprehensive information on the provisions of titles IV-B and IV-E as a result of the amendments made by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, P.L. 110-351. In addition to providing new guidance on the option for a title IV-E agency to extend assistance for the foster care maintenance, adoption assistance, and/or kinship guardianship programs to an eligible youth age 18 and older up to age 21, this instruction provides additional guidance on the other provisions of P.L. 110-351 and the flexibilities afforded to a title IV-E agency in complying with the law. This instruction also provides instruction on changes to the titles IV-B/IV-E plan requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
  • National Resource Center for Youth Development
    This National Child Welfare Resource Center is funded by the Children's Bureau and is part of the Training and Technical Assistance Network administered by the Children's Bureau.
  • WEBINAR: Two Years Since Fostering Connections, Older Youth Provisions
    On October 7, 2010, the Fostering Connections Resource Center, together with FosterClub, the National Conference of State Legislatures, The Finance Project, the John Burton Foundation and Fostering Media Connections hosted a webinar to mark the 2 year anniversary of the Fostering Connections Act, with a special emphasis on the older youth provisions.
  • WEBINAR: Fiscal Impact of Extending Foster Care to 21
    The powerpoint presentation from the April 27th, 2010 webinar on The Net Fiscal Impact of Extending Foster Care to 21 hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with with The Finance Project and the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
  • WEBINAR: Designing Foster Care to 21
    A powerpoint presentation from the Feb 8, 2010 webinar on how to design foster care to age 21 hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with The Finance Project and the National Foster Care Coalition.
  • Designing Foster Care to 21: A Discussion Guide for State Leaders
    State leaders considering the opportunities to extend IV-E eligibility presented by Fostering Connections face a variety of design decisions regarding how best to structure supports and services for older youth in foster care. This brief is intended to support state leaders in that decision making process
  • WEBINAR: Transition Planning Training-of-Trainers for Young Leaders
    On October 21, FosterClub and FosteringConnections.org held a webinar to provide training for young leaders in how to help youth transition from foster care succesfully. Participants were awarded certificates. The following materials related to the webinar can be found below.
  • FosterClub's Transition Toolkit
    A tool for developing a youth-driven transition plan using a team approach
  • FAQ: Youth and Young Adults Provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
    Provides information about, and assists in the implementation of, Fostering Connections in states across the nation. The document answers questions about Fostering Connections' improvements that will impact youth and young adults in foster care and assist in the implementation process.
  • Extending Foster Care to Age 21: Weighing the Costs to Government Against the Benefits to Youth (Issue Brief)
    This issue brief provides preliminary estimates of what the potential costs to government and the benefits to young people would be if states extend foster care to age 21. The analysis focuses on the increase in postsecondary educational attainment associated with allowing foster youth to remain in care until they are 21 years old and the resulting increase in lifetime earnings associated with postsecondary education.
  • Extending Foster Care to Age 21: Weighing the Costs to Government Against the Benefits to Youth (Full Report)
  • It's My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training
    This guide gives child welfare professionals the information ans tools they need to help youth prepare for and successfully complete postsecondary education or training.
  • It's My Life: Housing
    This guide gives child welfare professionals the tools they need to help young people get and keep safe, affordable housing after they leave care.
  • It's My Life: Employment
    This guide gives child welfare professionals strategies and resources for coaching young people, from ages 11 to adulthood, through the contiuum of career development and employment.
  • CWLA Standard for Transition, Independent Living, and Self-Sufficiency Services
    This document on standards provides the framework for the successful planning, delivery, coordination, and development of family, community, and agency resources toward this goal.
  • Title IV-E Plan Pre-print
    The attached pre-print from the Children's Bureau incorporates the statutory provisions of P.L. 110-351 that are effective through FY 2010