The Finance Project
Initiatives designed to improve the lives of youths aging out of foster care could be funded by tapping federal child welfare resources, creating public-private partnerships and improving coordination across systems, according to two new briefs from The Finance Project.
A lack of affordable housing and limited support systems cause 12 percent to 36 percent of former foster care youth to experience homelessness, according to the project’s first brief. Increased funding could help child welfare leaders address young people’s needs through the use of permanent, transitional and emergency housing programs and services.
According to the second brief, permanent family relationships are essential to the success of young people aging out of care; however, about 25,000 youths a year never achieve permanency. The brief’s suggested financial strategies aim to assist child welfare leaders in bringing about the changes to agency cultures, policies and procedures that will support increased permanency for youths.
Free, 32 pages. (202) 628-4200, http://www.financeproject.org/publications/FinancingHousingSupport.pdf.
Free, 44 pages. (202) 628-4200, http://www.financeproject.org/publications/FinancingPoliciesAndPractices.pdf.
