1 minute read
Continued Legislative Focus on Older Youth and Young Adults, to include Incorporation of Youth Voice
In FY 2021-2022, the Institute’s priority research topic, in alignment with recent legislation, focused on supporting foster youth and young adults for success. As a result, the Institute and its partners conducted multiple studies, with varying nuanced foci, to better understand the current state of support for these youth and provide recommendations for improvement. Overarchingly, the Institute recommends that Florida continue to support and conduct research and evaluation toward best meeting the needs of older youth in care and that youth voice and expertise be included in all new initiatives that impact their care.
Specific recommendations include:
Advertisement
❖ Statewide permanency analyses revealed that older youth, particularly, transition age youth, make up a very small percentage of children who achieve permanency, therefore the Institute recommends a more comprehensive look at the quality and alignment of independent living services programs. Read more here.
❖ Evaluation of Florida’s approach to life skills development showed day-to-day efforts are inconsistent. Although expected to lead skill development with their foster youth, caregivers receive different levels of resources, support, and training to do so, resulting in mixed reports of confidence in their ability to support their youth in this way. The Institute recommends the
Department and CBCs collaborate to develop a range of supports for caregivers. Read more here.
❖ Child welfare-involved mothers struggle to overcome their adverse experiences and transition to independence after exiting maternity homes; therefore, the Institute recommends that extended foster care become more accessible to this vulnerable, two-generation population.
Read more here.
❖ Youth report various levels of connectedness and experiences of relational permanence in their interpersonal relationships; yet almost all reported more negative perceptions of relationships with professionals. The Institute intends to address this with professional development opportunities through the
GROW Center, though it also recommends the
Department incorporate this sort of relationship building in the pre-service revision activities.
Read more here.
To this end, the Institute is currently funding evaluations of several novel interventions for this population, including HOPE Court and Follow the Love, as well as of the FLITE Center and its unique approach to care in the Broward County community. Further, a longitudinal study of youth who transition out of care is under development, with an expected launch of July 1, 2023.
