Sansone, G., Fallon, B., Miller, S., Birken, C., Denburg, A., Jenkins, J., Levine, J., Mishna, F., Sokolowski, M. and Stewart, S. (2020). Children Aging Out of Care. Toronto, Ontario: Policy Bench, Fraser Mustard Institute of Human Development, University of Toronto.
Issue: What interventions or policies might improve outcomes for children and youth aging out of care in Ontario?
Background: Studies have consistently shown that youth who age out of care face numerous challenges and poorer life outcomes compared to their peers. While most youth experience a prolonged, gradual transition into adulthood and increasingly rely on their parents and social networks for continued support well into their twenties, youth in care who reach the age of majority in many jurisdictions face an abrupt transition into independence, regardless of their readiness or ability to manage the process. Many programs and services have been developed to assist these youth through their transitions, including extended care options with financial support, education and employment assistance, and independent living programs; however, there is a lack of research examining the impact of these programs and policies. Therefore, it remains unclear which policies and interventions might result in better outcomes for youth aging out of care, and which factors might affect their impact.
Methods: A scan of existing peer reviewed and grey literature was carried out to identify, collect and synthesize research evidence exploring the issue of children aging out of care, with a focus on the Canadian context.
Findings: Overall, there is limited research evaluating policies and programs for aging out of care. Most research focuses on outcomes for former youth in care, rather than examining factors or policies that influence these outcomes. There is also a lack of studies from Canada, especially any longitudinal studies examining the long-term impact of interventions. However, studies from the US, where states have the option of extending foster care to age 21, have found that extended care past age 18 is associated with a number of benefits for youth, particularly in terms of educational outcomes. Cost-benefit analyses from both the US and Canada have also demonstrated that the benefits of increasing supports for youth who are aging out to a later age would outweigh the costs of the policy. While some local level programs and interventions have shown promising results, recent review studies have generally found mixed evidence thus far on the impact of aging out programs overall; although some types of interventions may have a greater impact. For example, there is some evidence for a positive impact of programs that support youth’s housing, educational, and employment needs; but studies have not found a clear impact of independent living programs. Research on the benefits of social support and mentoring programs for youth is growing, suggesting the need for more holistic approaches to aging out that incorporate youth’s emotional and social well-being. Indeed, evidence suggests that multicomponent transition programs that address more dimensions of youth’s lives and needs tend to be more successful. Finally, there is a lack of specialized services for youth who are more at risk, such as youth with mental health issues, disabilities, and those who are part of marginalized groups.
Conclusion: Policy responses for youth aging out of care thus far have not been effective in improving outcomes for these youth, who continue to experience challenges and hardships both during the transition into independence and afterwards as young adults. Extending policies and supports for youth until a later age, or until they are more ready and prepared for the transition, may result in better outcomes. There is a need for more research – especially longitudinal studies – to inform the development and implementation of evidence-based programs and policies to improve the transition process and outcomes for youth who age out of care in Ontario.