Ch 10: Vulnerable populations and the transition to adulthood

1. Ch 10: Vulnerable populations and the transition to adulthood Talking points IDEA Partnership book discussion

2. Vulnerable • Youth described as vulnerable when they fit into the following categories or services providers: • Mental health • Foster care • Juvenile justice • Criminal justice • Special education • Physical disability or chronic illness • Runaway and/or homeless

3. Commonalities during the Transition to Adulthood • As these seven vulnerable groups struggle during the transition to adulthood to get work and to start families of their own, the particular profile of outcomes varies across these groups, • Over-Represented Groups • Diversity of the Populations • Overlap among the Vulnerable Populations • Poor Outcomes in Many Domains • Although varied; they also share much in common.7 • males, the poor, and youth of color are over-represented in every group. • youth in every group vary widely as to the seriousness and type of problem or need. • population overlap—that is, that members of one group often belong to another group as well. • members of every group have poor outcomes in many domains. • every group the factors that contribute to success are the same.

4. Youth services end abruptly • Services provided to children and youth end abruptly • Ending is determined by an arbitrary number (age) • In all systems, state assumes less responsibility for youth once they’ve reached the cutoff age • Services continue to be needed

5. Problem areas in the transition to adulthood for vulnerable youth • Eligibility criteria change • Inadequate funding for transition services • Lack of coordination across service systems • Professionals lack adequate training on young-adult developmental issues (as well as supports and services)

6. Counting? • Difficult to count the number of individuals served • Many youth move within multiple service systems (comorbidity) • The issue of maintaining confidentiality vs. the desire to see what is happening across systems in order to identify gaps and overlaps in these supports and services systems.

7. Outcomes • Outcomes are poor for youth from these vulnerable populations • Education • Employment • Family formation

8. Implications • Funding streams should consider transition for all youth • Re-vamp pre-service education in human service professions (education, social work, counseling, psychology, etc.)

9. Research is needed • Need a more accurate count: identify common ways to follow youth from one system to and through other systems • Research on the successes—there are some success stories out there for models to replicate

10. Models • Fostering Connections Act of 2008 • Shared Youth Vision Initiative