There are more than 400,000 children and youth in our nation's foster care system, and more than 23,000 of those in care are aging out. Transitioning to adulthood can bring with it a host of challenges. As such, a new toolkit from the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Labor provides youth and youth-serving professionals with tips and resources for navigating the many systems with which they'll have to interact.

The toolkit was designed for use by both youth in and youth formerly in foster care who are in the process of transitioning to independent living and adulthood. It also was designed for the supportive adults involved with these youth, including foster and/or adoptive parents and kinship caregivers, caseworkers, educators, and others. Information on transition planning, job searches and career support, financial management, and housing and transportation services are provided. Two appendices outline organizations serving youth in and formerly in foster care and information about State tuition waivers and vouchers, respectively.

Links

• Foster Care Transition Toolkit
• US Department of Education