Emancipated Youths Website

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In the past, youths who were about to age out of foster care were given a notebook of documents that they might need in their transition to adulthood. The notebook included the youth's Social Security and Medicaid cards, immunization and school records, and birth certificate, plus other documents. However, we found that many youths were contacting their former social workers saying they had lost the notebooks and needed replacement documents. Our Foster Care social workers worked with our Information Technology staff to develop a website where social workers and the emancipated youths could securely download the needed documents. The website also provides links to other resources that might be helpful to these youths as they transition to adulthood. This innovation saved time and frustration while providing enhanced services.