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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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    6. Day, Angelique & Dworsky, Amy & Fogarty, Kieran & Damashek, Amy, 2011. "An examination of post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth enrolled in a four-year university," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2335-2341.
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    Cited by:

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    13. Cheatham, Leah P. & Randolph, Karen A. & Boltz, Laura D., 2020. "Youth with disabilities transitioning from foster care: Examining prevalence and predicting positive outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    14. van Breda, Adrian D. & Munro, Emily R. & Gilligan, Robbie & Anghel, Roxana & Harder, Annemiek & Incarnato, Mariana & Mann-Feder, Varda & Refaeli, Tehila & Stohler, Renate & Storø, Jan, 2020. "Extended care: Global dialogue on policy, practice and research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    15. 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.
    16. 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.
    17. 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).
    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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