Publications


Serving Vulnerable Populations - Foster Youth

Table of Contents
Community Services and Support
Educational Options for Foster Youth
Evaluation and Data Collection
Funding Strategies
Governance
Initiatives Focused on Transition
Legislation
Policy
Transitions to Adulthood
Workforce Development for Foster Youth
Youth Leadership

Community Services and Support

Choosing the Path Less Traveled: Strengthening California Families Through Differential Response
(PDF 1.4 Mb)
By Patricia Shene, Ph.D. and Stuart Oppenheim. Edited by Cathy Senderling. July 2004

Community Partnerships: The Living Legacy of Healthy Start
(PDF 633 kb)
By Lisa Villarreal with Joanne Bookmyer. April 2004

Making a Difference for Children and Families: The Community Approach (PDF 325 kb)
By Tia Melaville. November 1999

Educational Options for Foster Youth

California Education Factsheets
by California Foster Youth Education Task Force (PDF 239 kb)

Education Fact Sheets Listings
by California Foster Youth Education Task Force 4/7/2006 (PDF 42 kb)

Helping Your Child Succeed In School:
An Education Handbook for Parents and Caregivers of Children and Youth in the Foster Care System
by Nancy M. Shea, J.D. , Lois A. Weinberg, Ph.D. , Andrea Zetlin, Ed.D.
May 2006 (PDF 246 kb)

Higher Education Opportunities for Foster Youth: A Primer for Policymakers
by  Thomas R. Wolanin for the Institute for Higher Education Policy
December 2005 (PDF 4.1 mb)

Model Education Projects for Foster Youth
Summaries
by Youth Law Center January 2006 (PDF 68 kb)

Evaluation and Data Collection

Getting to Results: Data-Driven Decision-Making for Children, Youth, Families and Communities (PDF 234 kb)
By Jacqueline McCroskey. March 1999

Results for Children Initiative Evaluation 2000-2002 (PDF 1.1 mb)

Funding Strategies

Capturing Cash for Kids (PDF 704 kb)

Reforming Finance/Financing Reform (PDF 372 kb)
By Mark Freidman, Fiscal Policies Studies Institute. January 2000

Smart Cuts or Dumb Cuts: Family Support Programs in Tight Budget Times (PDF 234 kb)
By Sid Gardner. March 2003

Governance

Citizens Making Decisions: Local Governance Making Change (PDF 250 kb)
By Frank Farrow and Sid Gardner. March 1999

Inclusive Governance: A Call to Action (PDF 1.2 mb)
By Hedy Nai-Lin Chang and Judy Chynoweth. September 2000

Initiatives Focused on Transition

Connected by 25: A Plan for Investing in Successful Futures for Foster Youth (PDF 648 kb)
Youth Transition Funders Foster Care Work Group with the Finance Project: 2004
This document is an investment plan that calls for government, foundations, community organizations, and individuals to mobilize their energy and resources with a greater focus on the future of foster youth and those aging out of foster care. This is not to deny the urgent need to provide basic protections for those in care. Rather, it is to emphatically assert that it is not enough to address risks and remediate problems; it is also essential to build on individual strengths and develop personal assets in order to help young people acquire the motivation and the means to be successful throughout their lives. Accordingly, this plan outlines five strategies aimed at helping foster youth to achieve economic success, which is a critical building block for future success in a number of fundamental aspects of adult life, including housing, family stability, safety, health, and social well-being.

Fostering the Future: Safety, Permanence and Well-Being for Children in Foster Care (PDF 272 kb)
By the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care. 2004

Results for Children Initiative-Overview (PDF 344 kb)

Medicaid Access for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (PDF 1.2 mb)
By The American Public Human Services Association. 2007

Legislation

The Child Welfare System Improvement and Accountability Act (AB 636): Improving Results for Children and Youth in California
(PDF 1.4 mb)
By Barbara Needell and Ken Patterson. August 2004

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About AB 490 (PDF 199 kb)
By California Foster Youth Education Task Force 2006

Frequently Asked Questions about the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program(PDF 625 kb)
Prepared by members of the National Foster Care Awareness Project (NFCAP)

Frequently Asked Questions II about the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program(PDF 515 kb)
Prepared by members of the National Foster Care Awareness Project (NFCAP)

Foster Youth Legal Issues and Legislation (PDF 196 kb)
Prepared by New Ways to Work

Policy

Understanding the Child Welfare System in California: A Primer for Service Providers and Policymakers (PDF 488 kb)
By Diane F. Reed, M.P.H and Kate Kaarpilow, Ph.D. November 2002

Transitions to Adulthood

Emancipating Foster Youth Literature Review
(PDF 665 kb)
Prepared by: Karissa Erbes, MSW August 2007

Workforce Development for Foster Youth

Getting the Job Done: Effectively Preparing Foster Youth for Employment
(PDF 400 kb)
By Linda Lewis. October 2004

Youth Leadership

FosterClub Media Guide: 10 Recommendations for Journalists Interviewing Young People from Foster Care
(PDF 400 kb)
By Foster Club www.fosterclub.org