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The potential educational benefits of extending foster care to young adults: Findings from a natural experiment

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  • Courtney, Mark E.
  • Hook, Jennifer L.

Abstract

Research has demonstrated the employment and earnings benefits accompanying educational attainment, and the relatively poor educational attainment and economic well-being of young people who transition to adulthood from foster care. Policymakers' concern over these poor outcomes has long been reflected in U.S. child welfare policy, most recently in the provisions of the 2008 Fostering Connections to Success Act allowing states to claim federal reimbursement for extending foster care from age 18 to age 21. While the policy of allowing youth to remain in foster care past age 18 has promise as a strategy for helping them continue their education, empirical evidence of its impact is lacking. Using data from a longitudinal study of youth (n=732) who transitioned to adulthood from foster care, this study takes advantage of between-state policy variation in the age at which youth are required to leave care to assess the relationship between extended foster care and educational attainment at age 26. Distinguishing between not having obtained a high school diploma or GED, having only a high school diploma or GED, and having obtained at least one year of college, each additional year in care is associated with a 46% increase in the estimated odds that former foster youth will progress to the next level of educational attainment, controlling for a range of youth characteristics measured at ages 17–18. Background characteristics including youth's gender, race, employment, parenting, educational performance and aspirations, and indicators of behavioral health problems are also associated with educational attainment in early adulthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Courtney, Mark E. & Hook, Jennifer L., 2017. "The potential educational benefits of extending foster care to young adults: Findings from a natural experiment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 124-132.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:72:y:2017:i:c:p:124-132
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    10. Kääriälä, Antti & Hiilamo, Heikki, 2017. "Children in out-of-home care as young adults: A systematic review of outcomes in the Nordic countries," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 107-114.
    11. Miller, Elizabeth A. & Paschall, Katherine W. & Azar, Sandra T., 2017. "Latent classes of older foster youth: Prospective associations with outcomes and exits from the foster care system during the transition to adulthood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 495-505.
    12. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Courtney, Mark E., 2018. "The role of avoidant attachment on college persistence and completion among youth in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 106-117.
    13. Rutman, Deborah & Hubberstey, Carol, 2018. "Fostering educational success of children and youth in care: Perspectives of youth with experience living in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 257-264.
    14. Cameron, Claire & Hollingworth, Katie & Schoon, Ingrid & van Santen, Eric & Schröer, Wolfgang & Ristikari, Tiina & Heino, Tarja & Pekkarinen, Elina, 2018. "Care leavers in early adulthood: How do they fare in Britain, Finland and Germany?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 163-172.
    15. Okpych, Nathanael J. & Park, Sunggeun (Ethan) & Sayed, Samiya & Courtney, Mark E., 2020. "The roles of Campus-Support Programs (CSPs) and Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs) on college persistence for youth with foster care histories," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    16. Nho, Choong Rai & Park, Eun Hye & McCarthy, Mary L., 2017. "Case studies of successful transition from out-of-home placement to young adulthood in Korea," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 315-324.
    17. Goding, Natasha & Hartwell, Brettany & Kreppner, Jana, 2022. "“Everyone has the ability actualy to do well in education. It's just the support mechanisms that you give to them…”: A systematic literature review exploring the educational experiences of children in," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    18. Goemans, Anouk & van Geel, Mitch & Wilderjans, Tom F. & van Ginkel, Joost R. & Vedder, Paul, 2018. "Predictors of school engagement in foster children: A longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 33-43.
    19. Leathers, Sonya J. & Holtschneider, Casey & Ludington, Melissa & Ross, Ellen V. & Barnett, James L., 2023. "Mentoring, employment assistance, and enhanced staff outreach for older youth in care: Outcomes from a randomized controlled trial," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

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