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Homelessness and aging out of foster care: A national comparison of child welfare-involved adolescents

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  • Fowler, Patrick J.
  • Marcal, Katherine E.
  • Zhang, Jinjin
  • Day, Orin
  • Landsverk, John

Abstract

The present study represents the first large-scale, prospective comparison to test whether aging out of foster care contributes to homelessness risk in emerging adulthood. A nationally representative sample of adolescents investigated by the child welfare system in 2008 to 2009 from the second cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being Study (NSCAW II) reported experiences of housing problems at 18- and 36-month follow-ups. Latent class analyses identified subtypes of housing problems, including literal homelessness, housing instability, and stable housing. Regressions predicted subgroup membership based on aging out experiences, receipt of foster care services, and youth and county characteristics. Youth who reunified after out-of-home placement in adolescence exhibited the lowest probability of literal homelessness, while youth who aged out experienced similar rates of literal homelessness as youth investigated by child welfare but never placed out of home. No differences existed between groups on prevalence of unstable housing. Exposure to independent living services and extended foster care did not relate with homelessness prevention. Findings emphasize the developmental importance of families in promoting housing stability in the transition to adulthood, while questioning child welfare current focus on preparing foster youth to live.

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  • Fowler, Patrick J. & Marcal, Katherine E. & Zhang, Jinjin & Day, Orin & Landsverk, John, 2017. "Homelessness and aging out of foster care: A national comparison of child welfare-involved adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 27-33.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:77:y:2017:i:c:p:27-33
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.03.017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stott, Tonia, 2013. "Transitioning youth: Policies and outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 218-227.
    2. Okpych, Nathanael J., 2015. "Receipt of independent living services among older youth in foster care: An analysis of national data from the U.S," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 74-86.
    3. Dworsky, A. & Napolitano, L. & Courtney, M., 2013. "Homelessness during the transition from foster care to adulthood," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 318-323.
    4. Fowler, P.J. & Toro, P.A. & Miles, B.W., 2009. "Pathways to and from homelessness and associated psychosocial outcomes among adolescents leaving the foster care system," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(8), pages 1453-1458.
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    Cited by:

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    2. John Fowler & Mark Zachry & David W. McDonald, 2023. "Policy Recommendations from an Empirical Study of an Online Foster Care Community," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(5), pages 2033-2054, October.
    3. Kim, Youngmi & Ju, Eunsu & Rosenberg, Rachel & Farmer, Elizabeth (Betsy) M.Z., 2019. "Estimating the effects of independent living services on educational attainment and employment of foster care youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 294-301.
    4. Taylor, Rebecca J. & Shade, Kate & Lowry, Sarah J. & Ahrens, Kym, 2020. "Evaluation of reproductive health education in transition-age youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
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    6. Stewart, Shannon L. & Graham, Alana A. & Poss, Jeffrey W., 2023. "Examining the mental health indicators and service needs of children living with foster families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    7. Lindquist-Grantz, Robin & Downing, Kimberly & Hicks, Meredith & Houchin, Cherie & Ackman, Victoria, 2022. "Watch Me Rise: An evaluation of Wraparound with homeless youth with a child welfare history," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    8. Thompson, Heather M. & Wojciak, Armeda Stevenson & Cooley, Morgan E., 2018. "The experience with independent living services for youth in care and those formerly in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 17-25.
    9. Alschech, Jonathan & Taiwo-Hanna, Tolulola & Shier, Michael L., 2020. "Navigating peer-influences in a large youth homeless shelter in North America," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Colacchio Wesley, Bridget & Pryce, Julia & Barry, Johanna & Hong, Philip Young P., 2020. "Steadfast benevolence: A new framework for understanding important adult-youth relationships for adolescents in care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    11. Chassman, Stephanie & Littman, Danielle Maude & Bender, Kimberly & Santa Maria, Diane & Shelton, Jama & Ferguson, Kristin M. & Hsu, Hsun-Ta & Narendorf, Sarah C. & Barman-Adhikari, Anamika & Petering,, 2020. "Educational attainment among young adults experiencing homelessness in seven cities across the United States," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Heyman, Janna C. & White-Ryan, Linda & Kelly, Peggy & Farmer, G. Lawrence & Leaman, Tara Linh & Davis, Henry J., 2020. "Voices about foster care: The value of trust," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    13. Nesmith, Ande, 2017. "Coping with change: Using the Bridge's Transitions Framework with foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 41-47.
    14. Sacker, Amanda & Lacey, Rebecca E. & Maughan, Barbara & Murray, Emily T., 2022. "Out-of-home care in childhood and socio-economic functioning in adulthood: ONS Longitudinal study 1971–2011," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    15. Bonakdar, Ahmad & Gaetz, Stephen & Banchani, Emmanuel & Schwan, Kaitlin & Kidd, Sean A. & O'Grady, Bill, 2023. "Child protection services and youth experiencing homelessness: Findings of the 2019 national youth homelessness survey in Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    16. Kelly, Peggy, 2020. "Risk and protective factors contributing to homelessness among foster care youth: An analysis of the National Youth in Transition Database," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    17. Alberton, Amy M. & Angell, G. Brent & Gorey, Kevin M. & Grenier, Stéphane, 2020. "Homelessness among Indigenous peoples in Canada: The impacts of child welfare involvement and educational achievement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    18. Lenz-Rashid, Sonja, 2018. "A transitional housing program for older foster youth: How do youth fare after exiting?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 361-365.

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