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Youth with Behavioral Health Disorders Aging Out of Foster Care: a Systematic Review and Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice

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Abstract

This systematic review aimed to (1) identify and summarize empirical studies on youth with behavioral health disorders aging out of foster care and (2) address implications for behavioral health policy, research, and practice. We identified previous studies by searching PubMed, PsycINFO, EBSCO, and ISI Citation Indexes and obtaining references from key experts in the child welfare field. A total of 28 full articles published between 1991 and 2014 were reviewed and summarized into the key areas including systems of care, disability type, transition practice area, study methods, study sample, transition outcome measures, study analysis, and study findings. Considering how fast youth who have behavioral health disorders fall through the crack as they exit foster care, one cannot understate the importance of incorporating timely and appropriate transition planning and care coordination for youth who have behavioral health disorders aging out of foster care into the usual case management performed by behavioral health systems and service providers.

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Notes

  1. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) defines foster care as “24-hour substitute care for children outside their own homes” such as nonrelative homes, relative foster homes, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, and preadoptive homes, and state child welfare agencies are responsible for placement, care, and supervision for foster care youth.3

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  1. Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Christina D. Kang-Yi PhD & Danielle R. Adams BA

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  1. Christina D. Kang-Yi PhD
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Correspondence to Christina D. Kang-Yi PhD.

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Kang-Yi, C.D., Adams, D.R. Youth with Behavioral Health Disorders Aging Out of Foster Care: a Systematic Review and Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice. J Behav Health Serv Res 44, 25–51 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-015-9480-9

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