Youth transitioning from foster care face steep challenges in education, employment, housing, and financial stability as they move into adulthood without the safety net of family support. This study presents Year 1 findings from a five-year longitudinal project examining how prepared transition-age foster youth feel in core domains of adulthood, including school and job training, employment, money management, housing, and independent living. Results show youth feel most confident in daily living skills and job readiness, but less prepared in financial literacy and housing stability. While many remain enrolled in school, a concerning subset is disconnected from both education and employment, signaling high risk for long-term instability. Employment patterns largely reflect developmental priorities, with part-time work typical among students. These findings highlight the need for targeted financial literacy programs, housing supports, and education completion initiatives. Insights directly inform policy and practice to strengthen economic well-being and self-sufficiency among this vulnerable population.
Author(s): Selena Garrison, Martie Gillen, Diamond Whitley, Morgan Cooley
