Turning 18, getting your first apartment, and managing your own finances can feel daunting to any young adult, but for foster children the transition to adulthood can be especially tough, as they often haven't had the opportunity to acquire skills necessary for independent living during their teenage years. Foster parents can play an instrumental role in helping the child(ren) they foster transition successfully to adulthood.
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Independent Living
A list of resources for youth in transition.
Youth.gov serves as a resource for professionals on how to support young adults in foster care.
Higher Education Scholarships and Supports
Many former foster youth are eligible to receive up to a $5000 a year scholarship to attend postsecondary education. Visit Reach Higher 猎奇重口's website to learn more.
Every June, Reach Higher 猎奇重口 hosts a four-day summit for young adults in foster care. Participants stay in the college dorms, attend classes on money management, financial aid, obtaining employment, and other life skills. Participants take home a laptop or life skills package to help prepare them for independent living. Visit the Reach Higher 猎奇重口 website or contact Rhonda Safford at (406)422-1275 x 800 or email rsafford@reachhighermontana.org for more information.
Foster Care to Success provides scholarships to former foster youth who wish attend postsecondary education.
Hopa Mountain's Scholars of Promise program assists foster care youth, homeless teens, and adolescents in kinship care with preparing for college. Mentors provide training and coaching, assistance with university entrance essays, scholarship essays, testing fees, and textbook costs.
TRIO: TRIO offers tutoring, mentoring, academic and career advising, workshops, book loans, and more to low-income and/or first generation students and people with disabilities.
Programs
Every June, Reach Higher 猎奇重口 hosts a four-day summit for young adults in foster care. Participants stay in the college dorms, attend classes on money management, financial aid, obtaining employment, and other life skills. Participants take home a laptop or life skills package to help prepare them for independent living. Visit the Reach Higher 猎奇重口 website or contact Rhonda Safford at (406) 422-1275 x 800 or email rsafford@reachhighermontana.org for more information.
is a great option for youth who want to learn a trade. It is a free residential and job training program for people ages 16-24 years old.
is a great option for young adults who want to gain job skills, serve their communities, and save money for/pay off college. AmeriCorps members receive a stipend and up to $6,095 education award that can be used towards postsecondary education.
: Every foster youth over the age of 16 should have a Transitional Living Services Worker. TLS providers help support youth transitioning to adulthood and provide skill-building opportunities.
This program based out of Missoula and provides transitional living services to youth aging out of foster care as well as support and guidance services for families.
Advocacy Opportunities
The CCAI internship provides foster youth from across the country the opportunity to live and work for a summer in a Congressional office in Washington, D.C. Interns receive housing, transportation, and a weekly stipend. Applicants must be college students or recent graduates.
The 猎奇重口 Foster Youth Advisory Board was established to give current and former foster youth between the ages of 14-21 opportunities to develop their leadership skills and engage in foster care advocacy.
Phone: (406)841-2449 Email: SBlankenship2@mt.gov
Youth Advisory Council (YAC): Established by EmpowerMT, YAC is committed to developing youth leaders and values creating authentic representation of constituencies at all levels of the organization.
Phone: (406)541-6891 Email: info@empotheyrmt.org
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21 Things: It's T Time Checklist: Foster Club's checklist contains 21 essential actions to take before youth age out of care. Although the checklist is intended for foster youth, this is a great resource for foster parents too.
: This guide covers how professionals can help youth aging out of foster care pursue their educational goals.
Created by former foster youth through the Better Futures Project with Portland State University, this guide discusses skills and life experiences that many foster youth may feel unprepared for after leaving the foster care system.
: Juvenile misdemeanors and felonies can cause credit and employment problems for people throughout their adult life. If your foster youth has a criminal record, you could assist them in the process of getting this record sealed by talking with the child's social worker and attorney. Sealing the record erases the case and makes it so that a person can say that they do not have a felony or misdemeanor record on employment applications.
Toolkit
This comprehensive toolkit, developed by U.S. Department of Education, provides helpful information on topics including healthcare, parenting, employment, housing and much more.
Smart financial management is essential to the success of all youth transitioning into adulthood. This is a particularly important skill for foster youth since many are tasked with a higher level of responsibility and freedom upon leaving care. If you want to help your child learn money management skills, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's financial literacy curriculum is a great place to start.
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Support and guidance from foster parents can make a lasting impact on the brains of youth.
In this podcast, two former foster care alumni talk about their transition to adulthood.