The State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center is sponsoring a webinar, “Finding What Works: Helping Young Adults Transition into Adulthood,” on Tuesday, March 19, at 3:30 pm, focusing on MDRC’s ongoing evaluation of the Youth Villages’ Transitional Living program for youth aging out of state care. Panelists include: 

• Sarah Hurley, Director of Research, Youth Villages
• Mark Courtney, Senior Researcher at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
• John Martinez, Deputy Director, Health and Barriers to Employment Policy Area, MDRC 

More than 20,000 young people age out of state care every year in this country alone without being reunited with their families or finding new ones through adoption. While some federal assistance is available for youth who meet strict guidelines, most do not receive adequate help or support in their transition to adulthood. A growing body of research shows the many obstacles that these young adults face when they “age out.” Unprepared to meet the demands of independent living without support from family and no financial resources, coupled with often significant and debilitating mental health issues, these young adults face higher rates of homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and unemployment than young people who have not been touched by the system. Former foster youth are also less likely than other youth to finish high school or enter postsecondary education. 

Due to their lack of support and resources, young adults aging out need programs that will help them address family/support system issues, as well as teach them independent living skills so that they can learn the tools to build stable, successful adult lives. 

Although a number of programs have been designed to help youth who are aging out, little rigorous evidence exists to identify which services are effective and for whom. Until now. MDRC and Dr. Mark Courtney, a leading researcher and expert on child welfare policy and services, have teamed up with Youth Villages, a national leader in providing services to youth and young adults, to evaluate the organization’s Transitional Living program. 

The evaluation will examine the difference that the Transitional Living program makes for this population — or its impacts on a range of outcomes, including education, employment, mental  health, and financial security. It is intended to provide important information for policymakers and practitioners who are interested in improving the lives of these vulnerable young people. 

Register online for this webinar.