ABSTRACT
Finding and keeping a job are multidimensional tasks that foster care youths discharged to independent living must master. Foster care agencies play critical roles ranging from the development of individualized case plans and skill training to identifying and accessing community resources in helping youths to meet these challenges.
Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living/methods , Foster Home Care/methods , Rehabilitation, Vocational/methods , Adolescent , Career Choice , Humans , Social Work , Vocational Education/methods , Vocational Guidance/methodsABSTRACT
The current focus on preparing youths in foster care for emancipation has largely ignored the critical role foster parents have always played in preparing youths to leave their homes and take their place as successful adults in our society. To assure that programs to enhance youths' skills and abilities to function responsibly are fully effective, they must include foster parents. In doing so, they will exponentially increase the hours of service and training available to eligible youths and develop a resource that will be available to future youths after funds are redirected. It is unrealistic, however, to expect foster parents to provide all of the help that most youths in foster care need. Foster family support and training must be seen as one dimension of an integrated approach that provides all youths with a variety of resources but is specific to the needs of each youth. With appropriate support and training, foster parents can assume professional responsibility for assuring that such plans are implemented, and that youths leaving foster care have what they need to emancipate successfully.
Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living/methods , Foster Home Care/methods , Parent-Child Relations , Self Care/methods , Adolescent , Humans , Parents/educationABSTRACT
Volunteers can be extremely valuable resources in a variety of ways in independent-living programs. This article summarizes current usage in many programs nationwide; details specific roles for volunteers, and where weaknesses lie; and specifies recommendations for strong volunteer programming.
Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living/methods , Foster Home Care/methods , Self Care/methods , Volunteers , Adolescent , Aftercare/methods , Humans , Social Support , United States , Voluntary Health AgenciesABSTRACT
The author discusses the need for postplacement or "aftercare" services for youth leaving placement to live on their own, and explains how a statewide pilot project is helping to meet that need.
