Foster care effort sets Tennessee apart, researchers say
A Tennessee foster care program has done something never before documented by researchers: made life better, at least a little bit, for a group of foster children who turned 18 and left state care.
The new findings give credit to some parts of a program run by Memphis-based Youth Villages. The non-profit's services helped "aged out" former foster children transition into adult lives — a notoriously challenging time for kids who grew up abused or in legal trouble and who often end up unemployed, homeless or jailed at rates high above their peers.
Those who accepted Youth Villages services, including routine weekly counseling on many aspects of daily life, had higher income, more stable housing, better overall economic well-being and some health improvements — all firsts in such a study.
At the same time, the services weren't found to have significant benefits for educational attainment, reduction of criminal involvements or for connecting young adults to social supports.
"Until now, research on programs for young people aging out of foster care or juvenile justice systems has shown just how difficult it is to make a positive difference," said Gordon Berlin, president of MDRC, the nonpartisan research group that led the study. "The Youth Villages intervention stands out as one program that demonstrably improves these young people's well-being."
The results also back a broader investment by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, which in 2013 agreed to split a $6 million cost with Youth Villages to offer assistance to all of Tennessee's aging out foster youth.
That move made Tennessee the first state to offer aid universally — although the new study compared the lives of 1,300 young people from 2010 through 2012, before the expansion. At the time, state services were "not generous or commonly accessed" compare to other states, researchers found.
But Youth Villages case managers provided "highly individualized" attention. And half of the young adults stayed involved for at least nine months, typically receiving weekly assistance with job searches, schooling and other daily challenges.
The program boosted annual earnings by an average of 17 percent — or $600 — and reduced homelessness and difficulties paying bills. Participants saw benefits of reduced depression, but little change to drug abuse and condom use rates, which were among the measurements of interest.
To college and beyond
Stephen Savino saw firsthand the challenges confronted by many aged-out foster children, who can struggle with isolation or depression.
"I don't think I know anyone in foster care who went on to do anything other than get into jail," he said.
But with a few family supporters, and a Youth Villages contact who stuck by his side for nearly five years, Savino graduated with a biochemistry degree from Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday.
"Six years ago I didn't even think I was worth getting into the military," he said. "If it wasn't for (Youth Villages), I wouldn't have even gone to college."
Savino, now 23, married, and a homeowner in Columbia, Tenn., said his connection to the nonprofit began with weekly visits from his case manager, who made sure he knew how to do everything from washing clothes to finding a job.
He also got help navigating the college application and financial aid processes, leading him to his degree, and now his plan to continue into dentistry school.
"For me, when I went into foster care, I had a life-changing experience and I kind of made it a life goal to try to help people see the best in themselves," Savino said. "The Youth Villages program really kind of helped me do that."
There's still more research to come for the nonprofit in 2016, when MDRC and nationally known researcher Mark Courtney, of the University of Chicago, will examine longer-term impacts and perform a cost-benefit analysis of the funding and outcomes.
Reach Tony Gonzalez at 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @tgonzalez.