Transition-age Youth

Young people’s transition to adulthood (e.g., the period from roughly ages 14-25) can pose significant challenges, but also affords great opportunities—especially for those young people who are transitioning out of the foster care system. When child welfare systems offer transition-age youth supportive adult relationships, access to education and employment opportunities, independent living services, and other supports, they increase the likelihood that youth who have experienced foster care—or who have otherwise been impacted by the child welfare system—are able to successfully transition into adulthood.  Child Trends’ child welfare team supports transition-age youth by identifying and promoting research- and data-driven interventions.