Fostering Futures I

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Well Being Assessment questions to think about:

Transition to Adulthood - for ages 14 to 17:

1. Is the youth currently enrolled in school (e.g., middle or high school, GED program, vocational or training program, postsecondary education) or working for pay (full or part time)?

2. To what degree is the youth engaged in discussions with an adult (e.g., professional, caregiver, or CASA) about planning for future education/employment?

3. To what degree is the youth engaged in discussions with an adult (e.g., professional, caregiver, or CASA) about managing their own medical, dental, and mental health care?

4. To what degree is the youth engaged in the transition planning process (formally known as Transitional Living Plan with DCPP)?

5. Does the youth have access to reproductive health care if needed?

6. Does the youth have a supportive adult, other than their CASA or a professional, that checks in with them regularly?

7. What is the housing plan for the youth at case closure?

8. To what degree is the youth engaged in discussions with an adult (e.g., professional, caregiver, or CASA) about managing finances (e.g., opening a bank account, budgeting , and cost of independent living)?

9. Has the youth ever been arrested?

Transition to Adulthood - for ages 18 +:

1. Is the youth current with regular medical well-being visits or physicals?

2. Has the youth received dental care and any necessary follow-up care?

3. If the youth has any chronic physical health conditions, are they currently receiving the necessary care?

4. If the youth has mental health issues, are they currently receiving the necessary care?

5. Is the youth currently enrolled in school (e.g., high school, GED program, vocational or training program, postsecondary education) or working for pay?

6. To what degree is the youth engaged in discussions with the CASA volunteer or another adult (e.g., professional or caregiver) about planning for future education/employment?

7. Is the youth able to manage their own medical, dental, and mental health care?

8. Does the youth have access to reproductive health care if needed?

9. Does the youth have a supportive adult, other than their CASA or a professional, that checks in with them regularly?

10. Is the youth able to manage their own finances (e.g., has a bank account, budgets, government benefits if needed)?

11. Are there safety or stability concerns in the youth’s current housing situation?

12. Has the youth experienced homelessness, including couch surfing (i.e., slept on a friend’s couch or moved from house to house because they didn’t have a place to stay)?

13. Does the youth have a driving license/state ID?

14. Does the youth have access to the transportation they need to get to school, work, appointments, or other activities (e.g., own a car or bicycle, can navigate public transit)?

15. Has the youth ever been arrested?

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• CASA College: Aging Out Resources - 75-minute webinar by Jennifer Marsden-Beukas given in 2024 as CASA College training for advocates that covers supporting youth aged 14+ who will be transitioning out of foster care while still under the guardianship of the state

• New Jersey Youth Resource Spot website run by youth for youth

• DCF Adolescents website has a list of programs for young adults

• New Jersey Foster Care Scholars program helps foster kids and former foster care kids with post-secondary costs

• Fostering Futures - Housing Resources is a 5-page MS Word document of unknown origin with links to resources

• Fostering Futures - Resource Numbers is a 2-page MS Word document of resources of unknown origin

• PACES Program Overview is an undated 10-slide MS PowerPoint presentation on Pathways to Academic and Career Exploration to Success

• Aged Out How We’re Failing Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care is a 96-page pdf from www.thinkof-us.org

• Learn about Teen Depression at Families for Depression Awareness

Youth Resources

• PEER2PEER Program

  • DCF has a program for young people, ages 14-21, that are in out of home placement for less than 18 months in the following counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union.

  • The program offers peer support through trained professional staff and credible messengers with lived experience in NJ’s child welfare system. The NJP2P program delivers supportive services that offer advice, guidance, and empowerment strategies that support young people to navigate and thrive while involved in NJ’s foster care system. The goal of NJP2P is for Peer Navigators to help increase a youth’s ability to articulate and work toward their goals, interact with professionals, and be able to initiate connections to resources on their own. 

  • The Youth Council who initiated this idea have also created a website for youth and have a section on EnlightenMENT specifically built for youth to view: New Jersey Peer2Peer Program: EnlightenMENT (nj.gov)

• NJ Foster Club is an organization where youth in foster care can get peer support and mentoring from adults with lived experience in the Foster Care system.

• A Resource for Understanding Behavior & Using Language in Juvenile Court is a 4-page pdf with guides on language and communication strategies for juvenile court by the NJSBF (New Jersey State Bar Foundation)

• Pre-Teens & Teens - Your Conversation Guide is a 1-page pdf on talking to teens about consent scenarios by Darkness to Light (D2L)

Medicaid

• MEYA (Medicaid Extension Young Adults) provides health care coverage for some youth until age 26.