r care system say the disruptions ineducation due to changing placements, inadequate preparationfor the workplace, lack of access to physical and mentalhealth care, and the immediate struggle for day-to-daysurvival after leaving care make planning for a good futurevery, very difficult. To ensure the well-being oftransitioning foster youth, I would: provide a continuum ofsupport and preparation for adulthood that begins when achild or youth enters foster care and continues through thepost-emancipation period; stabilize foster care placementsto ensure educational continuity and achievement; increaseyouth involvement in the planning and delivery of servicesto transitioning youth at local, state, and national levels;create national and local networks of foster youths andformer foster youths that will enhance overall levels ofsupport and participation; provide opportunities fororganizations serving older youth to network with eachother, communicate strategies, and coordinate servicedelivery; facilitate greater coordination among and betweennational and local education, housing, health, employment,and assistance programs to better serve this population andensure accountability through data collection on 6-24 monthoutcomes for youth leaving foster care and evaluation ofindependent living services.BibliographyAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAAP), Committee on EarlyChildhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care. (1994,February). Health care of children in foster care.Pediatrics 93 (2), 1 - 4.Burrell, K. & Perez-Ferreiro, V. (1995). A National Reviewof Management of the Federally Funded IndependentLiving Program. Boston, MA: Harvard UP. (MalcolmWiener Center for Social Policy, John F. Kennedy Schoolof Government).Child Welfare League of America. (1989). CWLA standards forindependent living services. Washington, DC: Author.Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on HumanResources, Hearing Advisory (1999).[Online].Available:http://house.gov/ways_mea...
