Key Players
There are 9 types of stakeholders to consider — everyone from state child welfare agency staff to youths experienced in foster care — when pulling together a planning group.
The Fostering Connections Act gives states an unprecedented opportunity to extend foster care services for youths age 18 and older. This brief helps state leaders explore their options for expanding foster care support. Readers will learn what questions to ask, what data to review and who to involve in the planning process while navigating the new law, designing effective programs for young adults and estimating the fiscal impact of extending their state’s foster care finish line.
This publication is a product of Success Beyond 18, a national campaign by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative aimed at forging a better path for young people who are transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
The prospect of extending foster care support — and knowing where to begin, who to involve and what to do next — can be a daunting one. An effective planning process can help state leaders utilize local experience and gain local consensus while making smart decisions that address the requirements and options available under the Fostering Connections Act.