What these snapshots obscure is that only four youth actually remained in their initial housing situations throughout the transitional year; the rest experienced multiple housing changes. They are also more likely than their peers to be involved in crime, both as perpetrators and victims (Geenen & Powers, 2007). For example, it might be possible to increase employment stability by providing job coaches while youth are still in foster care and having them remain with the youth throughout the transition. More than 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year. The methodology used in this study should be refined by enlarging the sample; expanding the domains to include health, mental health, criminal justice involvement, pregnancy and parenting status, and friendships; extending the data collection period for another year or more; and including a larger and more diverse geographical area. . After less than a month, she was kicked out and went to live with her sister. Research Question 5: Is the first year after emancipation a critical one? The semistructured interviews focused on four of the primary domains identified in the scholarly literature as important to long-term success: housing, education, employment, and relationships. Vulnerability of the participants complicated the role of the researchers, who were repeatedly challenged to maintain the integrity of the research in the face of requests for assistance or advice. 4.12 Out of State Placement; 4.13 Alternative Placements; Opening a Foster Care Case and Developing an Initial Case Plan . Sunny Harris Rome, MSW, JD, is a professor of Social Work at George Mason University. . They told me that, even though they won’t be there all the time with me when I leave care, I will be O.K. A total of 36 youth aged out during the study period, between February 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010. Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. Transitioning Out of Foster Care: The First 12 Months Show all authors. But it can take a few months until they’re reunited with their family. This youth spent whatever money he had on “tricking out” his car, which was often in disrepair. Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Lack of money also interfered with youth having reliable transportation, computer access, and cell phone service. Four youth were involved with the justice system at the time they left care, while 12 had past justice system involvement. The authors used monthly, contemporaneous interviews to explore domains including housing, employment, education, and relationships with trusted adults. Of those clearly at risk, all were African American, all entered foster care at age 14 or younger, and two thirds had four or more foster care placements. Qualitative studies have supplemented these quantitative findings (Hojer & Sjoblom, 2010; Holland, 2009; Stein, 2008). Being a grownup kind of sucks.” Inadequate financial resources caused youth to drop out of school to work, to maintain unhealthy relationships, and to engage in potentially dangerous employment. For this type of research, where participants are vulnerable and boundaries can easily be crossed, it is important that the researchers be experienced, that an institutional review board (IRB)–approved protocol be in place to guide the response to participants in crisis, and that professional colleagues be available to provide ongoing feedback. One youth observed, “Kids need to know about the money situation. Finally, consistent with other research, having a relationship with a stable and caring adult emerged as a protective factor. 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