Key Publications from the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative

By the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has produced a policy matrix for each of the states where its demonstration sites are located.  The policy matrix provides documentation of currently existing state policies, information about practice and policy implementation, state statutes, and statewide data collection that help determine how many young people are benefitting from the policies and practices.  The matrix is based on the policy goals of the Initiative.

By the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2010)

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) tracks young people who have transitioned from foster care across the country.  For the past seven years, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has collected data from young people aging out of foster care ages 14 to 24.  This report identifies the lessons learned form this data collection and gives recommendations to states on how to avoid pitfalls.

By Madelyn Freundlich, Excal Consulting Partners (2010)

On the tenth anniversary of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, this paper takes a close look at what has been learned since the law's enactment. It discusses the data and research findings, implications for society, a gives a vision for the next decade on an effective service system and strong policies that support youth in successfully transitioning to adulthood.

Click here for the Executive Summary.

By the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2009)

More than five years after launching one of the nation's most innovative matched savings programs for extremely disadvantaged youth, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has data showing that more than 3,000 young people aging out of foster care collectively have savedmore than $3.1 million.

By Ira Cutler (2009)

This study bolsters the case for greater investments into the future of youth aging out of foster care. Cutler does so by identifying some of the costs of bad outcomes and estimating the potential savings that could be achieved if youth in foster care were doing as well as others their age. The paper looks at three important areas: education, family formation and criminal justice.

By Ira Cutler (2008)

This publication discusses how the Initiative has categorized, measured and analyzed leverage in its work. It discusses the distinguishing characteristics that helps define leverage: purpose, form, duration and source.Overarching observations about lessons learned include the effectiveness of youth as advocates, the importance of partnerships, public funds, building on what you have, financial leverage is not just about the money, and the importance of clear communication strategies.

By the American Public Human Services Association (2007)

The John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program provided unique opportunities for states to extend Medicaid coverage for young people who have aged out of foster care. This report is intended to provide state child welfare and Medicaid officials and state legislatures with data on how these legislative changes are being and can be used to cover youth and young adults that continue to need support after leaving state custody.  

By the American Public Services Association and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago for State Foster Care and Adoption Data (2009).

The John F. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program required the Administration for Children and Families to created a National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) that can be used to track the Chafee-funded independent living services that states provide to youth who transition from foster care. This guidebook addresses what NYTD regulations requires states to do, planning and preparing to implement NYTD, regional/coordinated approach, outsourcing of tracking and data collection, and tools for locating and tracking youth.

By Gina Miranda Samuels (2008)

This interpretive study conducted in-depth interviews and created personal network maps with twenty-nine young adults participating in a program offering resources to help them make successful transitions to adulthood. The aim of this study was to explore their social support networks and examine how foster care might constrain or facilitate supportive relationships into adulthood.

By David Altschuler, Gary Stangler, Kent Berkley, and Leonard Burton (2009)

The Georgetown Public Policy Institute's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative collaborated to publish this paper that describes case assessment, case management, and other practices implemented in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The practices highlighted have shown promise in improving outcomes for the transition-age population.