Clearinghouse on Foster Youth and Transition
Nearly half of all foster children require—and have a right to receive—special education and related services to succeed in school. However, most of these young people lack advocates or caregivers who are knowledgeable about their rights or can help them receive an appropriate education and plan for their transition to adult life, post-secondary education, and employment.
This Clearinghouse offers a variety of selected resources to help foster parents, kincare providers, child welfare workers, educators, CASAs and other professionals to provide effective services and supports for children with disabilities in foster care.
The Clearinghouse on Foster Youth and Transition is made possible through the generous support of the California Department of Rehabilitation. To suggest additional resources or give us feedback on the Clearinghouse, please send an email to Cheryl Theis at ctheis@dredf.org.
Resources by Subject Area
Click on the links below for materials related to:
- Education
- Higher Education
- Transition
- Fact Sheets, Policy Briefs, and Reports
- Rights and Legislation
- Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)
Resources by Stakeholder Group
Click on the links below for materials developed for:
- Child Welfare Workers and Advocates
- Educators
- Foster Youth
- Justice System Professionals
- Kin Caregivers
Education
Higher Education
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Americans with Disabilities Act Questions and Answers: Section 504 and Postsecondary Education
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Postsecondary Education referrals for students with disabilities, Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) (June 5, 2008)
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College for Foster Youth: State of California Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI)
Transition
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Time for Reform: Aging Out and On Their Own, Pew Charitable Trusts (2007)
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Transition to Adult Living: An Information and Resource Guide (2007)
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Employment Information Sheet, National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHYC) (March 2006)
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Youth with Disabilities Aging Out of Foster Care: Issues and Support Strategies, IMPACT (2005/2006)
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Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, Ch. 10: Information on Transition Services (revised December 2005)
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Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, Network on Transitions to Adulthood Policy Brief (April 2005)
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Transition Planning for Foster Youth with Disabilities: Are We Falling Short?, Fostering Futures Project (Spring 2004)
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Indicator 13 Checklist (for evaluating IDEA 2004 compliance with transition requirements)
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Navigating Rough Waters: Addressing the Transition Needs of Foster Youth with Disabilities in School - a training (Power Point)
Fact Sheets, Policy Briefs, and Reports
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California State Brochure - SSI for Foster Youth with Disabilities (April 2008)
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National Council on Disability Report - Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions (February 2008)
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Foster Youth Deliver Recommendations From First Statewide Career Development Summit, Reuters (January 2008)
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Education Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster and Out-of-Home Care Fact Sheet, National Working Group on Foster Care and Education (September 2007)
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Educational Stability and Continuity Fact Sheet, ABA Legal Center for Foster Care & Education (2007)
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California Foster Care Education Law Fact Sheets (October 2008)
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Higher Education Opportunities for Foster Youth report, The Institute for Higher Education Policy (2006)
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Forum Project - Foster Care and Children with Disabilities overview (February 2005)
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Child Care Trends Research Brief: Youth who "Age Out" of Foster Care (December 2002)
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California's Emancipating Foster Youth: A Compilation of Statistics
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Suggested Foster Care Reading, Philadelphia Department of Human Services
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What Works Transition Research Synthesis, National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)
Rights and Legislation
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Building the Legacy of IDEA 2004: Transition changes in the 2004 reauthorization
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California Health Care Rights of Children in Foster Care, Health Consumer Alliance (April 2006)
Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)
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California Department of Rehabilitation - Services Available for Consumers
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California Department of Rehabilitation County Offices
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The California Transition Council's "The Provision of Transition Services to Department of Rehabilitation Consumers Q&A"
For Child Welfare Workers and Advocates
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Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities: What Families and Advocates Need to Know
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The Orphan Foundation of America offers some great services to foster youth aging out, including scholarships for college and vocational training, funding for summer internships, care packages to youth, mentoring, and support. Their funding has helped students study abroad and access similar programs often not available to former foster youth with limited resources.
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Career Planning Begins with Assessment: A Guide for Professionals Service Youth with Educational and Career Development Challenges, NCWD (revised October 2005)
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Advokids: A Resource for California Foster Children and their Advocates
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Blueprint Tools for Caseworkers, Legal Center for Foster Care and Education
Goal 1
Goal 2 -
Child Advocacy & Foster Care For Abused Children Resources, HILLSIDES
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Youth Transition Action Teams Guidebook - Leveraging Community Resources to Ensure Successful Transitions for Foster Youth
Educators
Foster Youth
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Americans with Disabilities Act Questions and Answers: Section 504 and Postsecondary Education
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California Youth Connection - Foster Youth Building a Foundation for the Future
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The Orphan Foundation of America offers some great services to foster youth aging out, including scholarships for college and vocational training, funding for summer internships, care packages to youth, mentoring, and support. Their funding has helped students study abroad and access similar programs often not available to former foster youth with limited resources.
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Programs and Resources for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care, Child Welfare League of America
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What's Self-Determination? (National Council on Learning Disabilities)
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The Youthhood - Where teens prepare for life after high school
Justice System Professionals
For Kin Caregivers
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Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities: What Families and Advocates Need to Know
