Each year, a significant number of young people in Connecticut "age out" of foster care, reaching the age of majority without having found a permanent family. Without a family to support their transition to adulthood, youth aging out of care are far less likely to graduate from high school or be enrolled in college, more likely to experience homelessness or involvement with the criminal justice system, and less likely to be earning a living wage than other youth.
This brief outlines what supports are currently in place for adolescents aging out of foster care and suggests several policy changes that could help to improve services and outcomes for these young people.