Maturing Out

The transition from adolescence to adulthood has become a long and often challenging process, with many traditional markers of adulthood (e.g., school completion, occupational achievement, independent living, family formation) now happening several years later on average than was the case for much of the latter half of the 20th century. If the transition to adulthood is often challenging for the general population, it should not be surprising that it is particularly challenging for youth living in foster care. Most young people who age out of foster care (meaning being released from state care at age 18 or 21 due to age ineligibility) leave care with limited skills, capacities, and supports necessary to live on their own and experience poor outcomes compared with young people who ...