What's New

• Current News
• Upcoming Conferences
• Newsletter: eUpdates from the Initiative
• Press Releases
• Articles
• Spotlight Features
• News Archive

Current News

General

• Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative Helps Build Homes for the Community (PDF, 30KB)
• New Data from Jim Casey Shows Improvements for Youth Leaving Foster Care in Iowa (PDF, 520KB)
• The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative All-Site Convening Highlights
• California enacts legislation to better equip youth in foster care (PDF, 35KB)
• San Diego Foster Youth Initiative E-Newsletter (PDF, 93KB)
• CNN Video: Georgia Celebration to Honor Youth in Foster Care Graduates
• Annie E. Casey Foundation releases 2008 Kids Count Data Book
  >> Press Release (PDF, 19KB)
• Maine's Muskie School YLAT-finalist for the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation Award
  >> Press Release
• Caring Adults Vital If Homeless Youths Are To Break Cycle of Destruction (PDF, 22KB)
• Rep. John Lewis Asks Congress to Address Needs of Foster Children (PDF, 24KB)
• Former Nashville Opportunity Passport™ participant Stacy Maciuk featured in the Daily Word (PDF, 34KB)
• National Casa Association Launches Vivid Display of Support for "Forgotten Children" (PDF, 41KB)
• A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime: Relational Permanence Among Young Adults with Foster Care Backgrounds (PDF, 462KB)
• Colorado Governor hosts Take a Youth in Foster Care to Work Day
• Study looks at social connections of youth aging out of foster care
• Former foster youth tells her story of 20 placements, 10 schools (see video)
• Colorado Governor signs bill on family connections for youth in foster care (PDF, 17KB)
• Report: "Extremely impressive" return on Initiative's investment (PDF, 451KB)
• Former foster youth share Voice 2 with legislators (PDF, 20KB)
• FosterClub All-Stars 2008 Application Now Online (PDF, 94KB)
• Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth — A Study by Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago
  • The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 21 (PDF, 204KB)
  • Executive Summary: Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 21 (PDF, 248KB)
  • Issue Brief: When Should the State Cease Parenting? Evidence from the Midwest Study (PDF, 333KB)
  • News Advisory: Study Finds that Caring for Foster Youth Past Age 18 Improves Their Transition to Adulthood (PDF, 106KB)
• African-Americans More Likely to Languish in Foster Care, GAO study finds
  • National Child Welfare Leaders Endorse Federal Call for Reform To Reduce High Number of African-American Children in Foster Care (PDF, 24KB)
  • Information about the Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare (PDF, 18KB)
  • "Racial bias seen in foster care", A.P. (PDF, 14KB)
• Sherena Johnson Testifies before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee-Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
• FosterClub's guide for youth in care during the holidays (PDF, 420KB)
• NPR American RadioWorks documentary regarding teenagers in foster care
• Gary Stangler featured in Sept. American Public Human Services Association magazine (PDF, 255KB)
• The Long, Slow Struggle to Achieve a National Youth-in-Transition Database
• Through Music and Poetry, Young Adults Find an Escape — and a Way to Advocate
• UPS Turns 100 and Marks a Centennial of Service
• Iowa young adults express themselves through poetry and music about life in foster care (PDF, 3MB)
  Listen to audio clip (MP3, 4MB)
• Nashville High School senior helps raise awareness about issues of youth in foster care (PDF, 87KB)
• 2007 Convening Meeting Presentations
• Annie E. Casey Foundation 2007 Kids Count Data Book Released
  — Press Release 1 (PDF, 32KB)
  — Press Release 2 (PDF, 99KB)
  — Article: Supporting Permanence for Children in Foster Care (PDF, 698KB)
• Rhode Island child advocate sues state over neglect from non-screened state foster homes
  Audio transcript (WMP, 3:54)
• Study says families better than foster care for kids (PDF, 26KB)
• 10News honors Danielle Brunetta for her work to help foster youth make the leap to adulthood
• Initiative and Faithlink release document on youth "aging out" of foster care
• Report finds jump in teens "aging out" of foster care (PDF, 364KB).
  See also news article (PDF, 14KB) and press release (PDF, 21KB)
• Colorado extends Medicaid coverage for youth leaving foster care to age 21 (PDF, 99KB)
• More flexible, reliable foster-care funding needed, says op-ed piece by a youth formerly in care (PDF, 93KB)
• Michigan summit considers transition from foster care to college (PDF, 53KB)
• Colorado Governor participates in Take a Foster Child to Work Program
• Foster Care Alumni of America Builds First Nationwide Network of Its Kind
• A Door Is Opened for a Young Mother in Denver
• CT study looks at adequacy of legal representation for youth in foster care (PDF, 495KB)
• Colorado task force to study performance, foster care (PDF, 40KB)
• Atlanta Initiative Site Advocating for Youth, Getting Recognized for Its Commitment
• With New Staff, National Foster Care Coalition Set to Flourish in 2007
• From Sinatra to Springsteen, Bill Schramm Spins Tunes and Success
• Atlanta's Tyronda Minter Wins Prestigious Fellowship
• Casey Center, others release issue brief on "Racial Equity & Subsidized Guardianship" (PDF, 78KB)
• FosterClub All-Star Program: Apply online by March 31
• March 31 deadline: Scholarships for young people in post-secondary school (PDF, 99KB)
• New York Times piece focuses on youth transitioning from foster care (PDF, 82KB)
• FosterClub posts 10 tips for getting through the holidays; Also view the 14-page guide (PDF, 2.7MB)
• Youth in Foster Care Want Connections to 'Lost' Siblings
• Young Woman Uses Opportunity Passport™ to Start Modeling Career
• Sites Plan Holiday Cheer for Youth from Foster Care, Even Turkey with Grandma
• Opportunity Passport™ Holders: Most Are Girls, More Are Working
• Summer Interns Give Tours, Conduct Research, Hunt Runaways—All Gain Skills
• NGA Policy Academy Brings States Together to Learn from Each Other
• Proposed rulemaking would establish National Youth in Transition Database (PDF, 272KB)
• AECF's 2006 Kids Count reports on the well-being of America's Children
• Listen to a radio interview with Connecticut site representatives
• NPR Story: States underserve Disabled Foster Kids, Study Says (PDF, 66KB)
• May Is National Foster Care Month—Share Your Heart
• Lights, Camera, Action! Young Adults in Connecticut Learn Media Savvy
• Young Adult Tries His Hand at Investing—Loses a Little, but Gains New Skill
• Three Sites Plan to Grow on Their Own
• Graduate study scholarships for former foster youth: Application dealine March 31
• NPR Story: Young adults purchase homes with the Opportunity Passport
• Texas study: Black foster youth wait longer for adoption (PDF, 618KB)
• Casey-CSSP Alliance Aims to Reduce Overrepresentation of Minority Children in Foster Care
• Speakers at Youth Policy Forum in Iowa Emphasize Family Relationships
• Michigan Youth Leadership Board Members Present Issues and Concerns to the Michigan Department of Human Services Officials
• Former foster youth now advocate tells of overcoming adversity.
• AECF's 2005 Kids Count report shows increase in child poverty, downturn in child well-being trends: (PDF, 462KB)

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Upcoming Conferences

September 3-6, 2008. The Daniel Memorial Institute will host its 21st Annual National Independent Living Conference called "Growing Pains 2008" in Orlando. For More information, visit http://www.nilausa.org/upcomingn.htm.

September 15-17, 2008. The Child Welfare League of America is hosting a Western Region Training Conference in Portland. For more information, visit http://www.cwla.org/conferences/default.htm.

October 31-November 2, 2008 Casey Family Programs is hosting the 2008 It's My Life Conference in Hollywood, Calif. For more information, visit http://www.casey.org/Resources/Projects/ItsMyLife/

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Newsletter: eUpdates from the Initiative

• Issue #25: May 08
• Issue #24: March 08
• Issue #23: December 07
• Issue #22: October 07
• Issue #21: August 07
• Issue #20: May 07
• Issue #19: March 07
• Issue #18: November 06
• Issue #17: August 06
• Issue #16: May 06
• Issue #15: March 06
• Issue #14: November 05
• Issue #13: August 05
• Issue #12: May 05
• Issue #11: Dec. 04
• Issue #10: Sept. 04
• Issue #9: July 04
• Issue #8: Feb. 04
• Issue #7: Sept. 03
• Issue #6: May O3
• Issue #5: Jan. 03
• Issue #4: Sept. 02
• Issue #3: May 02
• Issue #2: Feb. 02
• Issue #1: Nov. 01

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Press Releases

• Annie E. Casey Foundation 2007 Kids Count Data Book Released
  — Press Release 1 (PDF, 32KB)
  — Press Release 2 (PDF, 99KB)
  — Article: Supporting Permanence for Children in Foster Care (PDF, 698KB)

Items on University of Chicago Study

• African American youth subjected to poorer treatment in child welfare system, study finds >>
• Transcript (June 23, 2005): Aaron Brown's CNN Newsnight on foster youth "Aging Out" (PDF, 25KB)
• National Study on Youth Leaving Foster Care Is Call to Action for State and Federal Policymakers (PDF, 176KB)

  May 19, 2005 – A national study released Thursday shows the need for stronger state leadership to help the 20,000 youth "aging out" of foster care annually who are struggling to stay in school, find housing and medical care, and support themselves, according to a leading expert on youth in foster care. more >> (PDF, 177KB)

• Study Shows Broad Challenges for Young Adults Leaving Foster Care (PDF, 142KB)

  May 19, 2005 – Young people making the transition from foster care to adulthood face formidable challenges and often struggle to stay in school, find stable housing, support themselves financially and secure medical services, according to a study released today by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. more >> (PDF, 143KB)

Other Items

• Summary report on 4th National Convening on Youth Permanence, San Francisco, April 27-29, 2005 (PDF, 457KB)
• FosterClub, Jim Casey Initiative Launch Major Website For Youth Leaving Care (PDF, 197KB)
• National Foundations Launch 3-year, $18 Million Campaign To Help Young People Transition out of Foster Care

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Articles

Articles About the Initiative

• "Former foster youth highlight caseworkers," (PDF, 42KB) The City Paper Online, May 22, 2006
• "New Funds for Older Foster Youth" Youth Today, July/August 2001
• "Helping Teens on the Brink" St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 2001
• "Foundations Will Pool Efforts To Point Those Leaving Foster Care Toward Success" The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 14, 2001
• "Foundations Launch Effort to Aid Youths in Foster Care" The Kansas City Star, June 14, 2001
• "National Foundations Launch 3-year, $18 Million Campaign to Help Young People Transition Out of Foster Care"

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Articles About Youth and Foster Care

• "New Law Provides Extended Health Care to Foster Kids," WESH.com, Channel 2 Tampa, June 26, 2006 (PDF, 89KB)
• "Iowa enacts law to extend foster care support to age 21," DesMoinesRegister.com, June 3, 2006 (PDF, 40KB)
• "Law extends care for foster kids beyond age 18," Radio Iowa, June 2, 2006 (PDF, 51KB)
• "Vilsack signs twin foster care measures," WCFCourier.com, June 3, 2006 (PDF, 37KB)
• "Ex-foster children struggle to survive; Housing, food, lifestyle choices prove to be huge hurdles for some," The Charlotte Observer, June 5, 2005 (PDF, 39KB)
• "Don't rush foster kids, either," Baltimore Sun, May 31, 2005 (PDF, 124KB)
• "State needs to help kids who don't have families; Bills Aim at Children Moving into Adult Life," The Mercury News, May 31, 2005 (PDF, 40KB)
• "When adulthood starts too early," Beaver County and Alleghany Times Online.com, May 30, 2005 (PDF, 94KB)
• "At age 18, foster youths still need help," Shreveport Times, May 25, 2005 (PDF, 58KB)
• "Teens Released From Foster Care Too Early, Report Says," Education Week, May 25, 2005 (PDF, 48KB)
• "Churches try to link with foster youth The Sacramento Bee, May 24, 2005 (PDF, 107KB)
• "'Aged out' foster youth suffer The Washington Times, May 19, 2005 (PDF, 52KB)
• "Older foster children face risks, study says St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 19, 2005 (PDF, 41KB)
• "Study warns against forcing out foster kids Daily Herald, May 19, 2005 (PDF, 72KB)
• "Study: Post-Foster Care, Teens Unprepared for Adult Life National Public Radio, May 19, 2005 (PDF, 56KB)
• "Those Who Outgrow Foster Care Still Struggle, Study Finds New York Times, May 19, 2005 (PDF, 62KB)
• "Study: Foster youth hurt by early exit Associated Press (PDF, 75KB)
• "After foster care: Young people who leave foster care face homelessness and more" The Courier-Journal, May 15, 2005
• "FOSTER CARE: Don't demonize the first responders to child abuse emergencies" St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 3, 2003
• "Foster Care To End at Age 18; DCF Vows Aid Would Remain Under New Law" Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, October 1, 2002
• Salon.com article about foster care transitions, March 27, 2002
• California Improves Service to Foster Youth
• "Shortage of Foster Homes is Hurting Children, Costing State, Officials Say" St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 20, 2001

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Spotlight Features

• Ashley Kyle Receives Award for Overcoming Odds
• Two Young Adults Selected to Receive Outstanding Young Leaders Award
• Youth Play a Major Role in Last Week's National Convening on Youth Permanence
• Chapin Hall Researcher Shares Back Story of 'Reason, Season or Lifetime' Study
• MAYOI’s Tyronda Minter Honored by Black Administrators in Child Welfare
• Jim Casey Investment Yields an 'Extremely Impressive' 6.5:1 Return
• Jim Hoke Starts New Chapter as Initiative Chief Financial Officer
• Oz Nelson's Legacy: United Parcel Service CEO Delivered for Youth in Foster Care
• Mentoring and Other Supports Increase Education Gains for Youth in Foster Care
• From Pies to Paper Angels, Youth in Initiative Sites Create New Holiday Traditions
• Young Adults' Summer Internships End But New Skills and Experiences Last
• More Opportunity Passport™ Participants Gaining Employment Experience
• A Foster Mom Tries to Help Her Son - and Hundreds More - Find Permanence
• Bridgeport Youth Advocate for Better Legal Representation
• Stangler Advocates to Retain Support for Youth in Foster Care to Age 21
• Leadership Grads Attend Capitol Hill Gathering Marking Birthdays of Children in Foster Care
• San Diego Youth Speak Out on the Importance of Transition Mentors
• Stangler Lauds Study on Health Care Coverage for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (PDF, 107KB)
• Iowa Youth Work the Corridors of Power - And Their Advocacy Pays Off
• Atlanta Site Unveils Housing Program, Convenes Roundtable with New State Official
• Youth Leadership Institute Graduates Address Organizations Nationwide
• Grantees Convene in St. Louis for the 2006 Learning Exchange
• Youth Leaders from Initiative Partner Sites Gather in San Diego to Hone Advocacy Skills
• Reforming State Systems: "Michigan Is Showing Them How"
• Advocacy by Maine Youth Board Member Leads to New State Law on Sibling Rights
• Stangler to Senate: Stronger Incentives Needed for Promoting Permanency
• Michigan—Leading the Way in Transforming State Systems
• Gary Lee, a Hero to Young People in Atlanta, Wins Service Award From the Initiative
• Casey Family Programs Celebrates 40 Years of Serving Children in Foster Care
• Who Wants to Be a Philanthropist? Young Adults From Foster Care Do!
• Casey Family Programs Announces New President/CEO
• Maine Site Overcomes Geographic Barriers To Improve Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care
• Young Woman Achieves American Dream with Her Opportunity Passport™
• After Only Three Months on the Job, Young Woman Is Promoted
• Gov. Bush Urges Job Links for Florida Youth in Foster Care
• Youth Learn New Skills in Summer Internships
• Youth Leaders Gather in San Antonio for "Living, Learning, and Sharing"
• Youth Engagement Makes Nashville a Powerhouse: Teens Advocate for Foster Youths
• 100-plus Grantee Site Reps Convene in St. Louis to Strategize on Permanency for Foster Youth
• Afghanistan-Bound Guardsman Donates Car to Get Former Foster Youth to Work (PDF, 220KB)
• Opportunity Passport Savings™ Program Helps Young People Achieve Their Dreams
• Initiative Participants Achieve Educational Milestones

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News Archive

• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Board Meets in Iowa.
• Initiative's Gary Stangler Discusses the Challenges of Foster Care Youth Aging Out of the System

  Listen to Gary Stangler, executive director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, discuss the challenges foster care youth face as they age out in this Marketplace interview that aired May 9, 2005, on public radio stations across the country. NPR's Marketplace, May 9, 2005

• New study shows former foster youth have twice the rate of PTSD as U.S. war veterans (PDF, 42KB)
• Gary Stangler and Martha Shirk Discuss Foster Care Transitions in the Columbia, MO Daily Tribune (PDF, 22KB)
• FYI3.com lists "Your Rights in Foster Care"
• Listen to NPR's Tavis Smiley talk about "On Their Own"
• Register now for the second annual "It's My Life" conference
• Listen to Chicago Public Radio feature on foster care transitions, "Out Here On My Own"
• Nashville Tennessean Highlights Companies Who Hire Youth in Foster Care
• Children's Rights Study now available Time Running Out: Teens in Foster Care
• Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care Releases Final Report
• Youth Transition Funders Group releases Connected By 25 (PDF, 645KB)
• Casey Family Programs releases study, Assessing the Effects of Foster Care
• FOSTER CARE: Don't demonize the first responders to child abuse emergencies
• National Collaboration for Youth lists Funding Opportunities
• What Keeps Children in Foster Care From Succeeding in School
• New ChildTrends Research Brief, "Youth who 'Age Out' of Foster Care: Troubled Lives, Troubling Prospects" December 2002 (PDF, 108KB)
• "Families on the Edge: Homeless Young Parents and Their Welfare Experiences" Center on Law and Social Policy and National Network for Youth (PDF, 86KB)
• Senators Clinton and Landrieu Call for Expanding AmeriCorps Opportunities for Former Foster Children
• First Annual Rama Ramanathan Award
• New research paper on Institutions vs. Foster Homes (PDF, 283KB)
• Two Jim Casey staffers recognized at recent events

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About the "Aging Out" Documentary

• Watch video about nationwide community outreach
  for the airing of the "Aging Out" documentary.
  Streaming video in Windows Media Player (WMV, 92.9MB) >>
• Watch video about local community outreach
  on the airing of the "Aging Out" documentary.
  Go to menu of outreach videos aired by local PBS affiliates >>
• Praise for the film, (PDF, 30KB)
• "Screening Focuses on Helping Youths Too Old for System," Washington Post, June 12, 2005 (PDF, 32KB)
• "'Aged out' foster kids profiled in PBS shows," The Sacramento Bee, June 1, 2005 (PDF, 106KB)
• "TV Critic's Picks," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 31, 2005 (PDF, 63KB)
• "TV Review; Passing foster care's point of no return; Kids who 'age out' of the system face an uncertain future. Without support, many falter and end up on the street or in jail," Los Angeles Times, May 27, 2005 (PDF, 43KB)
• "'Aging Out' gives haunting look at 3 faces of foster care," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 26, 2005 (PDF, 120KB)
• "Film explores when foster care ends," Democrat and Chronicle.com, May 26, 2005 (PDF, 68KB)
• "T.V. best bets," North Jersey.com, May 26, 2005 (PDF, 55KB)
• "'Aging Out' Documents Foster Children's Lives," National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation, May 23, 2005.
• "T.V. best bests," Associated Press, May 22, 2005 (PDF, 60KB)
• "Elizabeth Bracket of WTTW-Chicago examines what happens to young adults in foster care when they age out and turn 18," PBS Online NewsHour, May 19, 2005.

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