Why Invest Now?

The Jim Casey Initiative’s goal is to dramatically improve life outcomes not only for youth transitioning out of foster care today, but for youth across the nation in decades to come. To date we have incrementally expanded our reach to about a quarter of states nationally, but in order to reach a national “tipping point” we will need to expand and round out our portfolio. And now is the time!

We have:

• The right experience: Over the past 10 years, the Jim Casey Initiative has tested and refined our approach to systems change, achieving major impact in the eight states where we have worked for over five years.   
• The right framework: We have developed a powerful framework for change. Using tested and proven ways of building capacity – for example, youth boards, community partnership boards and the Opportunity Passport™ – combined with a strong lead community partner, a data-driven approach, expert technical assistance, and careful attention to the nuances of the state and local environment, we can get the job done. Evaluation experts also deem the Jim Casey Initiative framework ready for rigorous evaluation to further build the evidence that our model works.
• The right environment: The 2008 Fostering Connections Act has opened the door to   transformation of the child welfare system. Unless the states step up, the door may not remain open forever.

Over the coming years we will expand into six more states (a 50 percent increase from where we are today), ensuring that as we do so we round out our portfolio in large states, county-based systems, and particular geographies – the West, the Mountain-Plains, and the Mid-Atlantic. When we can achieve systems change in 19 total states, we will directly influence life outcomes for nearly 12,500 youth, or two-fifths of all youth transitioning out of foster care each year in the United States. When demand arises and our capacity allows, we will consider entering additional states. Through this multi-state approach, and working in every section of the country, we can reach the tipping point – changing the national paradigm for how we help youth from foster care transition to adulthood.