Transitioning from a teen in foster care to an independent adult.

For many young people, the transition from being a teen in foster care to an independent adult is far from seamless. These young people may be marginally employed with little job security. They may have very limited financial resources and, unlike other young adults, generally do not have family they can rely on to help them get through difficult times. Because of the many losses and disruptions they have suffered through their lives, they have trouble trusting others or working through conflicts. Their response to conflict may be to quit the job or move out of the apartment, rather than striving to find another, less-disruptive, resolution.

Recently, a lot of research and writing in the area of child welfare has focused on the difficulties that teens have transitioning to adulthood. However, for those of us who have worked with teens in foster care, the research only confirms what we have always known.

At NAFFCCA, we have always had an open door for young adults who were once in foster care, whether they were ever in a NAFFCCA program or not. We know that for many young people, the perspective of someone else who has been through what they are going through is invaluable. More than that, however, they often need help finding a place to live, a place to work, food, or some cash that will get them through a stressful time