ERIC Number: ED617692
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jun
Pages: 36
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Characteristics of Youth Formerly in Foster Care Who Experienced Homelessness as Young Adults: A Denver Metro Area Study. Report No. 19-17A
Orsi, Rebecca; Clemens, Elysia V.; Thibodeau, Hilary
Online Submission
This pilot study builds on national literature by describing the characteristics of Colorado youth who were formerly in foster care and later accessed homeless services as young adults. State-focused data are important as youth experiencing homelessness typically stay in their state of origin. It was not possible in this study to estimate the total percentage of youth who experienced foster care and later accessed homelessness services due to the limited number of signed Release of Information forms needed to access services through Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative. However, informed by this study, Continuums of Care across the state have already begun to update their privacy notices and a next phase of research will examine this more fully. The study identified three groups, each with a collection of attributes that characterize the former foster youth experiencing homelessness, including: youth with differing levels of Division of Youth Services involvement, specific challenges (behavior, substance use, family-based, poverty) and emancipation or reunification with family. Findings also show that female and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) youth formerly in foster care accessed homeless services at disproportionately high rates. The descriptive characteristics groupings and identification of disproportionate representation among these youth by race, gender or child welfare history can be cross-walked with existing policies and practices to identify policy and services gaps and opportunities to prevent and lessen the duration of homelessness for youth formerly in foster care across Colorado.
Descriptors: Foster Care, Homeless People, Youth, Young Adults, Social Services, At Risk Persons, Behavior Problems, Substance Abuse, Family Influence, Poverty, Gender Differences, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Disproportionate Representation, Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, COVID-19, Pandemics, Housing, Well Being, Safety, Cultural Relevance
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Denver, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab
Identifiers - Location: Colorado (Denver)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A