NCJ Number
244350
Date Published
2013
Length
95 pages
Annotation
This guide provides information for professionals that work with youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of the child welfare system to adulthood.
Abstract
This guide, developed by the Juvenile Law Center, provides information for professionals that work with youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of the child welfare system into adulthood. Research has shown that youth with disabilities who are involved with the child welfare system are more vulnerable to poor outcomes and are more likely to be maltreated while in the system, more likely to be institutionalized, more likely to have placement instability, more likely to stay in foster care longer, less likely to achieve permanency, and more likely to have poorer educational outcomes. This guide is intended for use by professionals working with these youth to provide them with the tools necessary to successfully transition from the child welfare system to adulthood. The guide is divided into two sections. Section 1 provides information on the types of treatment and services that these youth should receive while in the child welfare system, highlighting what is required by Federal and State laws as well as providing strategies for accessing services and supports. Section 2 of the guide focuses on the transition from the child welfare system to the adult world, providing information on the key benefits, programs, and services available to youth with disabilities. This section also provides information on the benefits and services available for these youth once they leave the child welfare system.