Project

Supporting Early Adulthood Transitions (SEAT) Study

Project Description

The Supporting Early Adulthood Transitions study is a collaborative project with the Social Development Research Group, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to evaluate the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative as an evidence-based intervention for youth with foster care experience who are aging out of care. The Initiative works to achieve positive outcomes for youth who are aging out of the foster care system. It does so by working to improve youth outcomes in the areas of permanence, education, employment, health, housing, community engagement, and financial capability. The ultimate goal of the Initiative is to change social work policy and practice toward facilitating successful transition to adulthood for youth in foster care. Having already completed a successful demonstration phase, the Initiative is now beginning a rigorous longitudinal evaluation that will compare Initiative sites to matched comparison sites. The SDRG research team is working closely with Jim Casey Initiative staff to conduct baseline and multiple follow-up interviews with youth, key leaders, and Initiative staff to examine changes in targeted outcomes and to establish evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention.