Memo from CalYOUTH: Differences in Social Support at Age 19 by Extended Foster Care Status and Placement Type - 2018
Social support is a critical component of promoting resilience and self-esteem among foster youth as they near adulthood. Because they often lack a safety net in the form of parents who can offer emotional and material support, these youth regularly turn to peers, siblings, and service providers for help as they transition to independence. Extended foster care can ease this process, and this research explored connections between social support and staying in care after age 18. Specifically, it considered differences in types and sources of support for foster youth in extended care, including by placement type. The analyses show about 30% to 50% of these youth reported not having enough people who could offer emotional support, tangible support, or advice and guidance. This highlights the need for renewed efforts to ensure these foster youth have reliable sources of social support as they transition to adulthood.