Background

Federal law requires the child welfare system to ensure every foster youth aged 14 and older has a “transition plan” detailing where and how they will live, work, attend school, and receive other critical services once they exit care.

Our Work

We partnered with the Alliance for Children’s Rights, the Children’s Law Center, and the Edelman Children’s Court to conduct a comprehensive assessment of transition planning practices in LA County, which revealed that these plans are often incomplete, or lacking altogether. As a result, many foster youth are left to navigate adulthood without the support they, like any young person, need to reach self-sufficiency. This publication highlights our findings and recommendations for practice improvements.