Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Caroline Lim

Abstract

Background: Approximately, 20,000 youths in the United States age out of the foster care system every year. Youths are face with the heightened risks of homelessness, unemployment, and behavioral health challenges. Despite the implementation of Independent Living Programs (ILPs) and Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) created to assist foster youths through this transition, research indicates limitations in their effectiveness to address the emotional, interpersonal, and long-term effects. Present research additionally lacks the intersectional analysis to address the needs of LGBTQ+ and racial minority youths. These fundamental limitations call for more comprehensive, strength-based frameworks to improve the outcomes for transitioning foster youths. Objective: This research proposes to systemically review the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of ILPs and TLPs. The independent variable is the type of ILPs and TLPs services provided, while the dependent variable involves their outcomes, such as foster youths’ graduation rates, employment stability, housing security, and mental health. Methods: Using the CSUSB OneSearch database, peer reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2023 will be extracted. A combination of key terms related to transitional support programs, aging out, and foster care will be utilized in the search strategy. Search terms included the following: “aging out” and “foster care programs” and “independent living skills”; “independent living programs” and foster youth”; “effectiveness” and “foster care” and “transition programs”; “support programs” and “former foster youth”; independent living skills” and “foster youth”; “transitioning out” and “foster care” and transition programs”; “foster youth” and “aging out” and “independent living programs”; “LGBTQ+” and “racial minority youths” and “foster youth” and independent living programs.” Studies that will be synthesized in the review focus on the effectiveness of interventions and programs that support foster youths in the transition to adulthood. Participants in the study needed to be between the ages of 18 and 25 aging out of foster care.

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