Credit hours:
2.50

Course Summary

For youth who have been living in foster care, the transition to adulthood presents many new and often daunting experiences. This course provides foster parents with guidance on how to help youth and emerging adults build a foundation for a successful transition to adult life outside of foster care.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

  • Unique challenges youth face when exiting foster care

  • Adolescent development and changes in the brain as related to supporting youth in care

  • Laws and programs to support transition aged youth

  • The critical role of foster parents in transition planning and action

  • Tools to empower foster youth to prepare for the transition to adulthood

Step 1

Read this FosterClub Real Story written by Shawn Denise Semelsberger on aging out of foster care unprepared for the drastic transition. 

Step 2

FosterClub recommends foster youth do 21 things before they transition out of care to make sure they have a successful journey to independence. Read FosterClub's "It's T Time" to become familiar with steps foster youth should take before they leave foster care.

Step 3

Read this FosterClub Real Story written by Ricky Ballesteros, who provides valuable youth perspective about why transition planning is important.

Step 4

Review "Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents" developed by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Step 5

Join the discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:

When do you think a young person should begin their transition plan, and what are some important considerations as a supportive adult in their life?

Step 6

Finished the module? If you are logged in as a subscribed user, take the quiz to earn your Continuing Education Credit hours and certificate!

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Course Discussion

merollba's picture
2 years 8 months ago

merollba said:

really appreciated the practical advice and tips given in the material to help kids in foster care transition to the next phase of their life as they get old enough to be on their own. There are so many things we take for granted that were taught to us by our parents and its important to understand that we need to be purposeful in teaching and equipping kids in foster care along those lines.
ktrickel's picture
2 years 9 months ago

ktrickel said:

They should begin a transition plan a year out from their 18th birthday.
covertmelanie's picture
2 years 10 months ago

covertmelanie said:

While I think its great that children are assisted with coming up with their transition plan, 90 days seems like a short time frame. I think youth should begin to work on their transition plan around the age of 17, this gives them a year to plan to reconsider and to begin taking over minor responsibilities for themselves.
Ratworld3's picture
2 years 11 months ago

Ratworld3 said:

children should be learning important independent life skills throughout their life. simple finance can be taught at a very early age with allowance.
MCSemones's picture
2 years 11 months ago

MCSemones said:

The transition plan should probably phase in early high school; life skills should be taught as soon as developmentally appropriate for each kid's situation, and built into their day-to-day life to give them time to learn, practice, make mistakes, and grow successfully.
Rena C. Shook's picture
3 years 4 months ago

Rena C. Shook said:

I think someone should fix the bugs in this course! I click on the stories and I get a grey blob saying what we are about, Frustrating! I have been a member before and someone changed it! Not for the better!
Lamedin's picture
3 years 5 months ago

Lamedin said:

Depending on the youths maturity, transition should be started as soon as reasonably possible. The sooner the teen gets the necessities of life in place the easier it will be for them to make a smoother move into the adult world. It is our job to be supportive and helpful during these times and provide as much insight and resources as possible.
requiempress@gmail.com's picture
3 years 7 months ago

requiempress@gm... said:

At least 90 days, but ideally each day should be a preparation.
brookiedee's picture
4 years 2 months ago

brookiedee said:

Youth should begin their transition plan when they are in high school. I remember having an afterschool job, opening a checking account and buying things for myself. If I had not learned these things in high school I would not have transition into adulthood easily. I was not raised in foster care but I experienced some of the same challenges teenagers do after I moved out of my home at the age of 18. Having a strong adult support team was also beneficial to transitioning to independence.
ericjo50's picture
4 years 2 months ago

ericjo50 said:

I think youth need to start thinking about a transition plan in the early years of high school. They may change their minds many times so starting early will benefit them.