Discusses ways to meet the unique needs of older children in the foster care system. Nearly half of children in foster care are over age 11, and one-fifth over age 16. Older children who are able to maintain connections with siblings and other kin make an easier transition to independence, but they remain at high risk for such negative outcomes as substance abuse, homelessness, and low educational attainment. Although a variety of programs address the needs of adolescents in placement, little data exist to indicate how well they are working. At a minimum, youth need to be given a voice in their care, parental visitation needs to be encouraged, schools and communities need to be involved in a system-of-care approach, youth support networks need to be established, and states need to be encouraged to sponsor foster care alumni scholarships to encourage attainment of higher education and necessary job skills. To promote older foster children’s successful transitioning out of care, services need to include mentoring and life-skills training. Also contains tables identifying programs and strategies for serving older children in foster care in cities across the United States and indicating sources of funding for transition programs.
