Results for America and Youth Villages are cosponsoring a Capitol Hill forum, “A ‘What Works’ Approach to Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care,” on Wednesday, May 20, 8:30-10:30 am, highlighting new results from MDRC’s rigorous evaluation of Youth Villages’ transitional living program (now called YVLifeSet) for youth aging out of the foster care and juvenile justice systems. The study finds that YVLifeSet services boosted earnings, increased housing stability and economic well-being, and improved some outcomes related to health and safety for this population of very disadvantaged young people.

Young people who have spent time in the foster care or juvenile justice systems often experience poor outcomes as adults. Compared with their peers, they are less likely to obtain a high school credential or to be employed and more likely to experience homelessness, criminal justice involvement, and mental health problems, among other issues.

The forum, which will be held at the Rayburn House Office Building, convenes a roundtable of experts to discuss the results of these findings and their broader policy implications for “what works” in addressing the needs of young adults transitioning out of foster care or the juvenile justice system.

Presenters and panelists include:

• Representative Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)

• Betsy Brand, Executive Director, American Youth Policy Forum

• Jennifer Brooks, Division Director, Economic, Human Services, & Workforce Division,
  National Governors Association Center for Best Practices 

• Mark Courtney, Professor, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago

• Patrick Lawler, CEO, Youth Villages

• Jim Shelton, Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education; Results for America Senior Fellow

• Paul Toro, Professor, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University

• Erin Valentine, Research Associate, MDRC

To register for the event, click here.