A Longitudinal Examination of Youth Aging Out of Care

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Martie Gillen, Ph.D., MBA

University of Florida

OVERVIEW

In 2021, the Florida Legislature passed SB 80 which outlined a series of initiatives aimed at improving the state’s child welfare system. Section 21(1) mandates the Institute to assess Florida’s current approach to developing independent life skills among youth transitioning out of the state’s foster care system. Prior to and throughout the evaluation planning process, stakeholders provided feedback that longitudinal data are not routinely collected for youth who are transitioning out of care.

Building on the success of the Institute’s first longitudinal research project, the FSPSF, the Institute plans to fund a new five-year longitudinal study. Institute affiliate Dr. Martie Gillen is leading evaluation planning efforts, including consulting with the SB80 independent life skills evaluation team and youth and professional expert consultants, to compose a methodologically rigorous evaluation that prioritizes ongoing follow-up data collection with youth in various stages of exiting the foster care system.

CURRENT STATUS

In addition to reviewing existing research, Dr. Gillen has hosted or attended several meetings regarding the longitudinal study, including with youth with lived expertise, scholars who have led similar successful studies, and Florida-based experts, to inform the development of the research proposal. She submitted a draft proposal in September 2022, which will be finalized following Institute feedback. NEXT STEPS

Dr. Gillen will provide a final study proposal to the Institute by October 31, 2022. A formal planning period will occur in the first half of 2023, with the study officially commencing on July 1, 2023. The evaluation plan is being developed in distinct phases by fiscal year, for up to five years. Pending funding, the Institute will support the execution of the evaluation plan through completion.