September 4, 2003

Aging Out of the Foster Care System: Challenges and Opportunities for the State of Michigan

This report provides an overview of the challenges facing youth and a number of considerations for public policy. The findings from this study demonstrate that Michigan, like the rest of the nation, continues to see increases in the number of youth entering foster care and in the number of young people transitioning out of foster care. Efforts to support foster care transition have increased, however negative life outcomes in areas such as education level, employment, wage levels, homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system continue for former foster care youth at levels considerably higher than the general population. Included in this report are data illustrating the outcomes of those who transition out of foster care, a review of related literature on foster care transition, state-by- state comparison of programs and what they each provide to those who transition out of foster care, the words of those who have actually been in foster care, an overview of the federal Chafee legislation, and recommendations for improving services and responding to this significant policy challenge for the state of Michigan.