Health care access, utilization, and problems in a sample of former foster children: a longitudinal investigation.

Three years of descriptive data that describe health problems and access to care for former foster youth are presented (n = 92). Findings were that most youths had health coverage at emancipation, but the proportion with coverage shrinks after three years to 57%. Youths generally reported good health despite the loss of Medicaid and increasing difficulties with access to care.

Former foster youth's perspectives on independent living preparation six months after discharge.

Research findings have developed a troubling narrative of youth leaving foster care. Congress attempted to address the post-discharge difficulties of foster youth by passing the Independent Living Initiative in 1986, which mandated that the states develop services that would prepare youth for life after foster care. However, it is unclear what effect these programs have on post-foster care trajectories.

The educational experiences of former foster youth three years after discharge.

This article presents three years of outcome data that describe the educational and vocational experiences of a sample of foster youth discharged from a residential education program (n = 106). Of respondents, 33% were attending college at each of the four data collection points, which was far below the stated aspirations of 80% of the youth to attend college. An additional 10-15% were in a vocational training program.

A follow-up of a Title IV-E program's graduates' retention rates in a public child welfare agency.

Objective: Examine retention rates of a Title IV-E program's graduates in a public child welfare agency.

Method: The sample consisted of all workers (N = 266) hired between June 1994 and June 1997. Subjects were followed until 12/31/99 in order to ascertain employment status.