In communities across the United States, thousands of young people leave foster care without the support of family or community. At age 18, now legally adults, young people in foster care face potentially dramatic life changes as they are terminated from foster care services because they have reached the age of ineligibility, commonly referred to as “aging out.” Although research has increased an understanding of the experiences of youth exiting the foster care system, studies focusing on their experiences while transitioning out of the foster care system and into adulthood have been largely absent in the literature. This qualitative study is an effort to address this gap in the research. Using a modified grounded theory approach, this study explores the experiences of fifteen young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, as they transition to independence after exiting the foster care system. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 young adults ages 18-24, who have aged out of the foster care system or are receiving extended youth services. Results from this study support previous findings that youth exiting the foster care system face challenges transitioning to adulthood, particularly in their efforts to learn the skills needed to function independently, gain the education and/or vocational training to gain skillful employment, and have the social and emotional support needed to help facilitate their transition. The study results indicate that 87% of the participants expressed having a caring, supportive adult in their life who has assisted them. 66% of the study participants were enrolled in post-secondary institutions and expressed the importance of placement stability to maintain school credits and supportive relationships with their teachers. Specific areas of challenge for the youth preparing to transition to independence focused on money management and daily living skills. Implications for further research, professional practice, and policy development include states incorporating tools to assess readiness for independence, addressing the barriers to education as identified in the study and exploring the impact of family involvement/support for youth exiting the foster care system.

In research, the transition from foster care to adult life has been pointed out as a significant and problematic period in young people´s lives. However, we know less about how this transition is handled professionally. Through qualitative interviews, this study examines social worker´s views and experiences of this transition process. The research questions focus on what needs social workers see in young people´s transition, how they describe their own work, and what strategies and tools that may promote the transition. The results are analyzed using the following theoretical concepts – discretion, emotional support, informative support,instrumental support and evaluative support. The study shows that young people need long-term relationships, certain practical skills and each type of support. Work with the transition is based on these needs. Here, social workers have an exploratory and coordination role thatconsists of many tasks. While they describe some specific strategies and tools, the results show that there are difficulties within this work. The roles of foster carers and social workers in young people´s transition to adulthood are discussed.

Abstract Background: There has been minimal research conducted on the unique experiences of Black youth who transition out of the child welfare system, and as well as the factors that contribute to their success or failure to accessing housing. Purpose: The purpose of study is to explore the needs and experiences of Black youth using Critical Race theory, BlackCrit and Social Capital theory to better understand their experience accessing safe, affordable housing within the Greater Toronto Area after transitioning out of child welfare. Methods: Five Black youth were recruited using site sampling and snow-ball sampling to participate in an arts-based and narrative study. The data was then analyzed in a constant comparative method. Findings: The findings from this study suggest the following things: The emotional roller coaster of being in care, the importance of community and sense of family, youth voices in decision-making process, unpreparedness for independent living, the unawareness of housing options, youth definition of good housing, more resources are needed prior to departure of child welfare. Implications and Recommendations for Change: In light of the findings in this study, a number of recommendations are proposed for improving outcomes for Black youth leaving care and their access to housing. Below is a summary of recommendations: A. To focus on building and providing genuine relationships through a caring adult and permanency for Black youth in care B. Centralize and value the voices of Black youth in care throughout their post-care planning, policy development and research C. To address and respond to the unique experiences that Black youth with disabilities face within the housing market when preparing them for independence outside of the CWS D. To apply a Housing first Youth approach It is my hope that this information will be used to support policy changes and program development in child welfare and the rental housing market that can result in more successful outcomes for Black youth. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Les jeunes qui réalisent la transition à l’autonomie à partir d’un milieu de vie substitut rencontrent plusieurs difficultés au début de l’âge adulte. Afin d’encadrer et préparer ces jeunes en lien avec cette étape cruciale de leur vie, plusieurs pays ont développé des programmes de préparation à l’autonomie. Toutefois, l’efficacité de ces programmes demeure méconnue. Objectif : Afin de contribuer aux connaissances actuelles, la présente recherche a pour objectif de mesurer l’efficacité des programmes de préparation à l’autonomie pour les jeunes placés en milieu de vie substitut. Méthodologie : Des méta-analyses ont été réalisées afin de mesurer les tailles d’effet pondérées pour trois dimensions reliées au passage à la vie adulte soit l’emploi, le logement et le réseau social. Les tailles d’effet ont été calculées sous forme de différences de moyennes standardisées ou Hedge’s g. Le modèle à effet fixe a été utilisé dans les analyses. Résultats : La revue systématique a permis d’identifier k = 9 études totalisant n = 7127 participants avec des données suffisantes pour réaliser une méta-analyse. Les résultats indiquent que les programmes de préparation à l’autonomie ont un très faible effet favorisant le groupe traitement comparativement aux jeunes ayant reçu les services habituels pour les dimensions de l’emploi (k = 5, n = 5778) et du logement (k = 5, n = 2467). Ces résultats ont été constatés un an à quatre ans après le temps zéro. Aucun effet significatif n’a été observé pour la dimension du réseau social (k = 5, n = 1797). Discussion : Devant la complexité des trajectoires de vie et des besoins des jeunes qui transitent à l’autonomie à partir d’un milieu de vie substitut, il est impératif que les programmes actuels prennent davantage en considération la réalité actuelle du passage à la vie adulte ainsi que les besoins particuliers de ces jeunes. Il s’agit notamment d’offrir des services qui s’étendent jusqu’à 25 ans et de mettre de l’avant une vision interdépendante du passage à la vie adulte dans les interventions. / Youth in out-of-home care face an uncertain future and disproportionate difficulties when aging out of care and into independent life as an adult. The difficulties these youth face have prompted governments in several countries to develop programs in order to prepare these youth for this critical period in their life. However, the effectiveness of these programs remains unknown. Objective: The main objective of the present study is to fill this gap in knowledge by measuring the effectiveness of independent living programs to prepare young people aging out of care for adulthood. Methodology: A series of meta-analysis were performed in order to measure the weighed effect sizes on three outcomes related to adulthood: employment, housing, and social support. The effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences or Hedge’s g. A fixed effect size model was used to perform the analyses. Results: k = 9 studies including a total of n = 7127 participants met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and had sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis for the employment outcome (k = 5, n = 5778) and for the housing outcome (k = 5, n = 2467) show a very small effect favoring the treatment group compared to services as usual for these two outcomes, 1 to 4 years post baseline. No significant effect was found for the social support outcome (k = 5, n = 1797). Discussion: Considering the complex trajectories and needs of youth in out-of-home care, it is imperative that independent living programs better reflect today’s socioeconomic realities to better prepare youth for adulthood, and take into consideration the particular needs of these youth. It is recommended to extend the services until 25 years old and to put forward an interdependent vision of autonomy in the interventions provided to these youth.