Older Youth

New Data and Trends Show Failure of Youth Incarceration

The Sentencing Project released their last publication of 2022 highlighting valuable data on youth incarceration rates and trends. This data and research showed that youth incarceration not only fails to deter youth delinquency, but many studies show that confinement increases negative behavior while reduction in confinement does not lead to an increase in youth criminal

Tobacco Use Among Children and Youth

A new CDC study, published November 11, 2022, found that close to 1 in 9 middle and high school students currently use tobacco products, accounting for an estimated 3.08 million students. For the ninth year in a row, e-cigarettes were the most popular product overall and cigars were the most commonly used form of combustible

Tools for Teens in Foster Care

On November 15th, 2022 the Children’s Bureau released a resource guide containing services and organizations that assist with their mission of empowering you to have hope and goals. Their publication highlighted the need to have tough conversations with youth and to express care, challenge growth, and provide support while acting on their feedback and act

New AFCARs Data Shows Decline in Foster Care Numbers

On November 1st, 2022, the Administration for Children and Families released the AFCARs data for 2021. Again this year, the report shows a significant decrease in foster care placements decreasing from the 2020 figure of 407,493 to 391,098 children in care in 2021, a 3.9 percent decrease from 2020 and a more than 10.5 percent

CCAI Application for 2023 Foster Youth Internship Program

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is accepting applications for the Foster Youth Internship Program until November 20,2022. CCAI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, DC that is dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of safe and nurturing families and to eliminating the barriers

Helping Foster Youth Obtain Vital Documents

On November 1st, The Transition Age Youth Coalition, iFoster, and Project ID came together to host a webinar titled iFoster and Project ID: Helping Young People Get their Identification Documents. The webinar highlighted their combined effort to help youth transitioning out of foster care obtain their vital identification documents. Jill Bloch, the East Coast Director

Senate Companion for Foster Youth and Driving Act Introduced

On October 3rd, Senators Hassan (D-NH), and Young (R-IN) introduced the bipartisan Senate companion bill to the Foster Youth and Driving Act, originally introduced in the House by Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). The Senate companion bill makes no changes to the House bill. As previously covered, H.R. 7932 Foster

NYC Launches College Choice Program for Foster Youth

On October 4, 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser announced “College Choice,” a program that will provide college students in foster care with greater support systems, including financial support. ACS will help pay remaining costs of college tuition— up to $15,000 each

Research Highlights Importance of Licenses for Youth in Foster Care

On July 14, 2022, the Congressional Caucus for Foster Youth (CCFY) held a dinner event at the Capitol to highlight the recently-introduced Foster Youth and Driving Act, which would provide older youth in care with supports to obtain drivers licenses. Lead sponsor Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) and cosponsor Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) both spoke about

Access to Foster Care to 21 Act

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the Child Welfare League of America, alongside Youth Villages, hosted an open mic to discuss the Access to Foster Care to 21 Act, sponsored by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA). Kristen Torres, from Representative Chu’s Office, joined the call to provide a basic overview. This bill, which was introduced last month,

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