Improving Outcomes for Youth Transitioning out of Care: An Analysis of Canada’s Transition Programs

Abstract

Youth leaving care disproportionately experience negative outcomes in adulthood. Compared to the general population, they have higher rates of homelessness, poverty, poor health and mental health outcomes, substance abuse, and involvement with the criminal justice system, and lower educational and employment outcomes. A key contributing factor to their poor life outcomes is the immediate transition out of care and into adulthood without sufficient support. Despite the availability of transition programs in Canada that are designed to provide support during this process, there is a continued prevalence of negative outcomes among former foster youth. This paper seeks to understand ways that Canada can better address the needs of youth transitioning out of care through transition programs in order to improve their outcomes in adulthood. To do so, this paper begins with an academic literature review to identify the most effective approaches in transition programming, and then conducts a jurisdictional scan to determine the gaps in the existing transition programs in Canada. The research finds that transition programs in Canada are insufficient in preparing foster youth for adulthood; provide limited support to meet core needs in housing, mental health, social connections, and life skills development; and are difficult to access. This paper recommends four priority areas for future policy responses to encourage more positive transitions out of care: develop targeted transition supports for housing, mental health and life skills training; integrate the values of interdependence and empowerment into transition programs; improve data collection and monitoring of the outcomes of transitioning youth; and improve accessibility of supports. Keywords: Foster youth; transition out of care; outcomes; adulthood; transition programs