Youth who have been in foster care have high risk of negative outcomes. There is longitudinal research tracking the outcomes of youth who have aged out of care but no study exists comparing the outcomes of youth who have aged out of care to those who are adopted or reunified. This absence is significant, as youth who are adopted or reunified are at high risk of negative outcomes due to their trauma histories, yet their outcomes are largely unknown. More information is needed to understand how permanency outcomes impact current/former foster youth as they transition into adulthood, and how to best direct resources to achieve better outcomes for this population.
In effort to fill this gap, the Texas Youth Permanency Study (TYPS) will utilize participatory action research as it follows a cohort of current foster youth into adulthood. The project will seek answers to what types of supports are available to adolescents during their teen years and after they turn eighteen, based on their permanency outcomes, as well as how different permanency outcomes impact health, life skills, education, safety, and vocation outcomes.
This study will provide invaluable information on ways to supply resources in a manner that is both cost-efficient and beneficial. It will also contribute to improving the outcomes of youth who have been in foster care, and help to prevent child abuse in future generations.