There are many options for kids aging out of foster care. Here are some resources to help you succeed!
Aging Out of Foster Care
This page offers encouragement and online resources. The wall contains links to support groups across the USA.
This page offers encouragement and online resources. The wall contains links to support groups across the USA.
BOOKS (Click on the picture to go to Amazon.com)
From Foster Care to College: A Guide for Teens
Eds. Autumn Spanne, Laura Longhine, and Keith Hefner. Youth Communication, 2010.
In these stories, teens describe how persistence and resourcefulness help them overcome the challenges that foster care can pose to pursuing higher education. (Description from www.youthcomm.org)
Eds. Autumn Spanne, Laura Longhine, and Keith Hefner. Youth Communication, 2010.
In these stories, teens describe how persistence and resourcefulness help them overcome the challenges that foster care can pose to pursuing higher education. (Description from www.youthcomm.org)
Do You Have What It Takes? A Comprehensive Guide to Success After Foster Care
By Youth Communication and Kendra Hurley. 2006.
Another book by Youth Communication, this book gives young adults leaving foster care a practical guide on understanding what it takes to make it on your own. Includes "How to" stories such as: How to ace a job interview, How to find your own place, and How to apply to college. Also includes activities and worksheets to quiz what you know.
Another book by Youth Communication, this book gives young adults leaving foster care a practical guide on understanding what it takes to make it on your own. Includes "How to" stories such as: How to ace a job interview, How to find your own place, and How to apply to college. Also includes activities and worksheets to quiz what you know.
Living Proof: From Foster Care to the White House and NBA
By Lucas Daniel Boyce. Advantage Media Group, 2011.
Read this inspiring story about Lucas Daniel Boyce, who overcame all obstacles to achieve his dreams.
Read this inspiring story about Lucas Daniel Boyce, who overcame all obstacles to achieve his dreams.
From Foster Care to Millionaire: Success Because of What You've Been Through
By Rhonda Sciortino, N&SMG, Inc., 2009.
Understanding how to use your past to influence your future positively is what this book aims to do. Shows the reader how to deal with unfair situations, how to treat and learn from others, and how to take action.
Understanding how to use your past to influence your future positively is what this book aims to do. Shows the reader how to deal with unfair situations, how to treat and learn from others, and how to take action.
MAGAZINE
Represent
A national magazine written by and for teens in the foster care system. Through personal narratives and reported stories, teens write about their life in foster care and about important issues affecting their lives.
A national magazine written by and for teens in the foster care system. Through personal narratives and reported stories, teens write about their life in foster care and about important issues affecting their lives.
WEBSITES
10 Things to Remember When You Are Leaving Foster Care
The American Bar Association's Center for Children and the Law put together this guide of 10 things you should think about as you prepare to leave foster care.
Family Unification Program
If you left Foster Care at the age of 16 or older and are having difficulties finding a place to live, this program provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development might be able to help.
National Resource Center for Youth Development
The National Resource Center for Youth Development is a service of the Department of Health and Human Services Children's Bureau whose goal is to help States and Tribes provide high quality services to their youth. The website includes information on each state's services and the contact information for the state's Department of Health and Human Services. It also includes information on what you need to do when you turn 18 and provides links to a variety of other organizations geared towards helping transitioning youths.
State Specific Information
Although these two sites are for specific states (Massachusetts and Oregon respectively), the information that they discuss can be widely applied to the general circumstances of aging out of foster care. You should be able to take much of the basic information provided in the guides and apply to your specific circumstances as well.
The Opportunity Passport is a program funded by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Program that is designed to help young people leaving foster care by providing them with a personal debit account, a matched saving account and door-openers. This program is currently only available in a select number of states, but it's worth looking into!The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Program is a foundation dedicated to providing support for youth leaving foster care - the Program also provides links to National Organizations and Issue Specific Websites for foster kids, as well as list of Helpful Resources and Websites for youth transitioning out of foster care.
- A Survival Guide for Teens Aging Out of Foster Care - Created by the Youth, Rights & Justice law firm (an independent not-for-profit law firm whose goal is to help Oregon youths and parents assert and protect their basic rights) for the Juvenile Rights Project, this guide provides a comprehensive look at what you need to know and do as you prepare to age out of foster care.
- Teens Leaving Foster Care - Created by the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, this guide goes over your rights as a youth turning 18 in foster care and provides answers to many of the basic questions you might have.
The Opportunity Passport is a program funded by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Program that is designed to help young people leaving foster care by providing them with a personal debit account, a matched saving account and door-openers. This program is currently only available in a select number of states, but it's worth looking into!The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Program is a foundation dedicated to providing support for youth leaving foster care - the Program also provides links to National Organizations and Issue Specific Websites for foster kids, as well as list of Helpful Resources and Websites for youth transitioning out of foster care.
