Youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care: Examining prevalence and predicting positive outcomes. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheatham, Leah P.; Randolph, Karen A.; Boltz, Laura D.
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 110(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Foster care -- Disabilities -- Youth aging out -- Transitions to adulthood -- Educational disparities -- Employment disparities -- Productive engagement -- High school completion; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104777
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: Youth with disabilities are overrepresented among youth transitioning out of the foster care system (Slayter, 2016), yet few studies specifically examine the needs of former foster youth with disabilities as they transition into adulthood. Addressing this gap, the current study provides a more nuanced account of foster youth with disabilities' transitions into adulthood. Using two national databases (NYTD and AFCARS), this study: (1) describes the prevalence of disability among older youth in foster care (age 17) and (2) investigates differences in educational and employment outcomes at age 21 among youth with and without disability diagnoses, with attention toward distinguishing emotional from non-emotional diagnoses. These lines of inquiry provide information about the experiences and needs of older foster youth with disabilities so that practices and policies aimed toward improving educational and employment outcomes can be appropriately tailored to this substantial population of youth exiting care.