Transitions to Adulthood Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
The Latest on Teen Brain Development and Mental Health
May 9, 2021 | Nicole Aue
Many mental health conditions first appear in adolescence. Scientists believe that a driving factor of this change is the growth rate of myelin. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates the connections between cells and leads to better transmission of information. New research suggests that myelin in the prefrontal cortex grows more slowly in adolescents who are struggling more with their mental health.
Study Finds Psychiatric Disorders Persist 15 Years After Youth Are Detained
April 18, 2021 | Nicole Aue
A new study shows that youth arrested as juveniles with psychiatric disorders that remain untreated continue to struggle with mental health and successful outcomes well beyond adolescence. The research shows nearly two-thirds of males and more than one-third of females with one or more existing psychiatric disorders when they entered detention still had a disorder 15 years later.
Coping With Holidays While Aging Out of Foster Care
January 15, 2021 | Nicole Aue
In this blog post, a former foster youth recalls holidays past and reflects on finding community when being with family isn’t a given.
COVID-19 Strips Safety Net for Foster Youth ‘Aging Out’ During Pandemic
January 15, 2021 | Nicole Aue
“Transition age” adolescents between 18 to 23 faced increased risk for homelessness, food insecurity, pregnancy, and incarceration even before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has exacerbated their risk.
Experiences and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Youth in Foster Care
December 2, 2020 | Nicole Aue
This is the first survey to report on the proportion of youth in foster care in New York City who are LGBTQAI+ and differences in their experiences compared to those of youth who are not LGBTQAI+. This survey was commissioned by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), which is committed to serving youth in foster care that are LGBTQAI+. This report provides the detailed findings from this survey.
Santa Clara County rolls out UBI program for youth transitioning out of foster care
August 3, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
Santa Clara County has started a pilot program that provides a “universal basic income” of $1000 monthly to young people aging out of foster care, the first of its kind in the country.
Read more here»
Researchers Find Association between Participation in Extended Foster Care and Reduced Risk of Homelessness
June 17, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
These researchers found that young people who participated in extended care had a reduced risk of homelessness. Read more here»
Older Foster Youth Can Feel Unprepared to Navigate Mental Health Care, Study Finds
April 23, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
A new study published by the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a high percentage of foster teens do not feel prepared to manage their own mental health upon entering adulthood, despite high rates of medication and mental health service use.
Read more here»
With Senior Year In Disarray, Teens And Young Adults Feel Lost. Here’s How To Help
April 20, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
Tips and guidance from child-serving mental health professionals on how to support young people dealing with grief and disappointment due to missing developmental milestones, such as prom and graduation, during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read/listen here»
Three Better Ways to Support Foster Youth than Extending Care to 26
March 9, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
An alumni of the foster care system discusses his changing views on a California bill which would extend the state’s optional foster care system for young adults through age 25.