Issues related to young people growing up in foster care and emerging into adulthood. How should their needs be addressed? Who will fund and fill the gaps in services?

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Young people transitioning from adolescence to adulthood are presented with many
obstacles. For many, this is a time of great transition and growth. Drawing upon both
quantitative and qualitative data, Arnett has characterized emerging adulthood as a time
of exploration, a time of instability, a time of possibilities, focus on oneself and a time of
feeling in between. He also speaks about identity explorations beginning in adolescence
intensifying during this period of development as young people actively focus on
defining themselves as an adult(Arnett 2000, 2004, 2006).Young people entering this
phase of development while residing in foster care are especially challenged during this
time of transition. Caregivers—foster parents, relatives and other caring adults often
have their own ideas about this process. Many young people trying to grow up outside of
their biological families are on their own. This is a harsh reality that a fair number of
foster care alumni are forced to accept. Some foster parents view their “role” over when
the young person turns 18 yrs. old. They stop providing care, financial and emotional
support. This leaves these young adults pushed into a societal system that does not offer
these supports.
Further, the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood
(Osgood, Foster, & Courtney, 2010: Osgood, Foster, Flanagan & Roth, 2005) has also
noted that the organizations of human service systems does not adequately support young
people experiencing difficulty during this time of their lives. As vulnerable young people
begin this transition to adulthood, they are less prepared with limited social support and
usually expected to make a simultaneous transition from service dollars allocated for

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children to service delivery systems focused on the needs of adults (Osgood, Foster et al,
2005). Young adults exiting the foster care system with motivation and willingness to
take on their legal and human rights end up falling through the gaps in the human service
systems that should provide support are still greatly challenged. The International Foster
Care Alliance (IFCA) foster care alumni from both Japan and the US exemplify this
scenario. Yet in spite of the unlikely success and survival on their own, not only have
they thrived but they have developed support systems also. It is incredible that the IFCA
Foster Care Alumni have unified as a team, devoted to not only supporting young adults
like themselves but also to organize with intention to globalize this support and to impact
the child welfare systems and laws that secondarily abandoned them as their own
biological parents did in the beginning of their lives.
The International Foster Care Alliance is striving to empower Foster Care Alumni in
America and Japan through a unique approach designed to promote “Youth Voice”. Both
countries’ youth face similar problems in attaining higher education and employment,
securing adequate housing and connecting with trustworthy adult figures. There are
differences between Japan and the U.S. in how the government financially support youth
and alumni. However, in both countries, young people are forming groups to fight for the
betterment of their lives and for the improvement of the child welfare system.
In Japan, youth age out of the child welfare system at 18 years old but cannot legally be
emancipated until they are twenty years old. There is a two year void; (18-20 yr. old)
when they cannot have guarantors for credit or housing. Care is over and they must go

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out of the facility or foster home. Most of the children in care start out in large facilities
(orphanages) and stay there throughout their life until they age out. Today, Japan has
population of about 127million compared to the US’s 317 million. There are about
50,000 children in the child welfare system as to 400,000 in the US. What is notably
different between the two countries is the rate of (infants, young children up to 3 yrs. old)
and youth entering group homes or large facilities. It is common practice for new born
children and toddlers to be placed in “baby nurseries” which are large group homes for
very young children. The ratio between institutional care and family-based care in japan
is about 89:11 as to US’s 17:83. Meaning in Japan, roughly 44 thousand in institutions
and just 5,500 in foster homes. More concerning is that currently in Japan the system is
set up so children under the age of three are placed initially in institutions for a minimum
of 2 years, and not placed into family-based care any sooner. Today there are about
3,000 infants placed in large orphanages. It took the UN and Human Rights Watch’s
intervention, with the UN’s alternative care guidelines and strongly worded
recommendations for deinstitutionalization before the Japanese government reluctantly
stated a goal in 2012. The goal is to “increase the rate of children in family-based
settings to 30% by 2030”. They say that by the year 2030, 15 years from now, they hope
to have 30 percent, roughly 15,000 of 50,000 children in family-based settings, which
still leaves 35,000 in institutions. With everything we know today about the brain
development, attachment, and general outcomes associated with institutionalized care,
how is this a reasonable goal? (2014 Mineshita).

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It is well documented in research that adverse early childhood experiences can influence
adjustment in emerging adulthood, resulting in poor mental and physical health
outcomes. (VanVugt, Lonctot, Paquette, Collin-Vezina and Lemieux, 2014). The foster
care alumni that make up the IFCA team are a constellation of young adults that have
managed to not only survive but thrive in spite of those early childhood experiences.
Each young person brings their own unique story of what they faced in their childhood,
what it mean to come into the public child welfare system, the court, with caregivers and
the final solutions that helped them into adulthood. They continue to struggle with the
regular developmental issues of young adulthood and in addition have the traumas and
memories associated with neglect, physical abuse, parents with mental illness and
substance abuse issues. The many adults that have touched their lives—social workers,
therapists, teachers, lawyers, judges, have shaped their emerging adulthood. Aside from
the clinical issues they are experiencing, there are more practical realities such as what
Yoshi (Japan Alumni) describes: “The greatest challenges when” aging out” are credit,
housing, working, medical care and prescriptions all require a co-signer.”
Last September, IFCA and the US foster care alumni joined their fellow Japan foster care
alumni in Nagoya and Osaka, Japan. The IFCA team took their message to the
International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. They presented in two different
venues in Nagoya, during the International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect
sponsored by ISPCAN. The team developed two presentations; one at a Youth Summit
entitled “My Voice Our Story”. Organizer of Osaka Summit--Dr. Masako Nagse
(Bukkyo University Social Welfare Department Kyoto, Japan), Presentation on behalf of

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the ISPCAN International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. The attendees were
foster youth, alumni, foster parents, child welfare professionals from around the world.
Youth represented the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, US, Eastern Europe, Ireland among
other countries. The other team presented a 90 minute workshop on “Fostering Well-
Being: Perspectives of Youth and Alumni of Foster Care”. Dr. Monica Fitzgerald, UC
Denver—Kemp Center for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, Dr.
Miyako Shirakawa with Tokyo University Ms. Juri Kubo, Osaka Shi Kodomo Soudan
Center, Nr. Norifumi Senga, clinician who studied in the US and Dr. Kimihori Fukada a
professor Kasai University assisted with the presentation as well.
Three questions the combined team decided to address: What are the challenges and
barriers to aging out? What are suggestions for reform to the foster care system? (Child
welfare system? Laws pertaining to children/youth in care?) What prevents the youth
voice from being heard? Four Topics in individual alumni stories they chose to address
during their talks at the various events: Youth Summits in Tokyo and Osaka—Education,
Mental Health Services, Health Care and Foster Care to 21 years (American alumni
shared various US programs available to them. Additional areas identified by the IFCA
Alumni Team during their presentations in Japan:
 Need for emotional and psychological support.
 Practical skills.
 Right to information regarding biological parents and siblings.
 Need for a trusted adult to provide advice, support and be a guarantor.
 Bridge the gaps in the legal, educational, and financial and credit areas.

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 A more concerted effort regarding permanency to be embedded in the Japanese
Child Welfare system.
IFCA foster care alumni have crafted recommendations as part of their global
presentation:
Youth needs to be center of the system. There needs to be improvements with staffing
and distribution of funds to improve foster care. The alumni perceive that youth voices
have not been understood. “Therefore, there must be basic and robust changes in society
to combat inequality and poverty. [We] have many obstacles in growing up as a foster
youth. Especially leaving governmental care.” [Those in charge of the governmental
laws and policies] “Don’t seem to understand that the youth and young adult voices need
to be heard”.
“Create a system in which supportive adults can help foster youth with: 1. Information
about post foster care options, 2. Financial/economic assistance 3. A cadre of adults
that foster youth can trust to help them.”
1. Japan alumni report being into their high school years and not being told any information
about parents and sibling. They have been told only names and ages. The Japanese
Alumni wanted more detailed information about their family. According to several of
these alumni, the caseworkers thought it would be better if they didn’t know.
Recommendation: “There should be standardized rules about how personal information
should be given to foster children and youth.”
2. Japan group home workers told some of the JFCA that it was “not worth” trying to go to
college. They were only encouraged to take the high school entrance test and not to aim

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for a higher level. Recommendation: “Educational system should be adjusted to allow
foster youth to prepare for college, not just vocational or work possibilities.”
Many of the JFCA had no other option besides getting jobs immediately after they left
foster care. One youth had to quit a sports team in high school in order to work. The
work requirement in Japan is considered to be mandatory from the age of 15 yrs. old.
Recommendation: Extend care to 21 years old. Institute 17.5 conferences to see if youth
is supported enough to become independent. Help transition the foster child and foster
parents with support by professionals regarding decisions, desires and to ensure that the
foster youth is respected. “We want to be heard, to speak up and take effective steps to
see policy and legislative changes materialize”. Japanese youth and particularly,
Japanese foster youth that the team visited were enthusiastic and embraced the important
messages that IFCA conveyed. The strength of the words due to the honesty, openness
and willingness of these courageous young people who opened their lives and hearts to
each other and the Japanese people, hoping for a better future.
An American Foster Care alumni stated: “The foster youth in Japan and America need to
be allowed to speak up, there needs to be legislative change. I knew that there were
adults working for change. What is missing, is the large number of foster care alumni
speaking out. We know the most about what needs to be changed. There are adults here
that help us to survive. I am pretty sure people want to support. Connecting supportive
adults with youth in foster care would be very helpful”.

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There is myriads of potential practice, policy and research questions remaining
unanswered. Reforms and changes are needed to strengthen and maintain a robust
system of care. National, state and local governments need to address the gaps in care,
and step up support and service to the young people emerging to adulthood that are
growing up in out of home care.
The IFCA American foster alumni want to spread the idea of implementing “Permanency
Pacts” between foster youth and their caregivers. This is a contract that is specific and
formulated to address the ambiguities that the alumni face post “aging out”. Youth
transitioning from foster care are often unsure about who they can count on for ongoing
support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on
professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed.
It is critical to the youth's success to identify those adults who will continue to provide
various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the
various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth's safety net and
misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult.
A Permanency Pact (the national network for young people in foster care
FOSTERCLUB Permanency Pact © 2006 Foster Club, Inc. 503-717-1552 or
www.fosterclub.org.) provides the structure and a safety net for the youth. It is a defined
and verbalized commitment by both parties to a long term supportive relationship. It
provides clarity regarding the expectations of the relationship A Permanency Pact creates
a formalized, facilitated process to connect youth in foster care with a supportive adult.

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The process of bringing the supportive adult together with youth and developing a pledge
or “Permanency Pact” has proven successful in clarifying the relationship and identifying
mutual expectations. A committed, caring adult may provide a lifeline for a youth,
particularly those who are preparing to transition out of foster care to life on their own. In
addition to the two primary parties in a Permanency Pact (the youth and the supportive
adult), it is recommended that a facilitator assist in developing the Pact. The facilitator
may be a Case Worker, Independent Living Provider or other adult who is knowledgeable
in facilitating Permanency Pacts and is familiar with the youth, and can provide insight
into the general needs of the youth transitioning from care. The Supportive Adult is an
adult who: has been identified by the youth, has a relationship with the youth and is
willing to commit to a life-long relationship with the youth is a positive role-model and
provides the youth with specific support on an on-going basis
Legislative and policy considerations for Japan include: Increasing emancipation to 20
years old. Address the two year gap (18-20) when young adults are not legally able to get
credit, sign leases etc. Washington State for example has enacted foster care to 21
legislation that allows for young adults to remain in foster care by agreement of their
foster parents and the court. There are scholarships and special programs that aid foster
youth/alumni who elect to pursue a college education. These types of programs have been
seeded and replicated across the United States but do not exist in other countries such as
Japan. Washington state and probably most other US states follow federal Adoption Safe
Families permanency guidelines that require early permanency, sibling connections and
support to foster children.

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IFCA suggests that foster youth and alumni must be part of the dialogue. The foster care
alumni want to be heard. There is a global movement rising up among emerging adults.
These young people are now connected to each other and want the same human rights as
others have. IFCA urges the policy makers to add foster youth voice, “value their
experience and see it through their eyes”. IFCA was well received at both events.
Japanese youth, and particularly Japanese foster youth that the team visited, were
enthusiastic and embraced the important messages that IFCA conveyed. These
courageous young people, who opened their lives and hearts to each other and the
Japanese people hope for a better future.
There are innumerable practice, policy and research questions remaining unanswered
regarding the potentials of emerging adulthood for foster youth alumni. It is clear that
reform and change is needed to strengthen and maintain a robust system of care and
support. National, state and local governments must address the gaps in care, and step up
to create and allocate service dollars and programs specifically designed for young people
emerging to adulthood that are growing up in “out-of-home-care”. The foster care
alumni represent a group of the most vulnerable young people in society. The alumni
themselves talk about how they were inadequately prepared with a limited social support
to make simultaneous transition from service delivery systems focused on the needs of
children and adolescents to service delivery systems focused on the needs of adults. This
was articulated by Osgood, Foster et al. (Osgood et al., 2010; Osgood, Foster et al, 2005).

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This unique organization is in its third year and it would be optimal if a solid research
oriented evaluation could be applied. Implementation of the Positive Youth
Development model could fit well with youth in foster care. In Washington State, for
example, the Search Institute was studied and the Developmental Assets approach was
utilized within the context of a practice model that also incorporated Solution Based
Casework. Most of the attempts were informal however, no formal implementation was
attempted, studied or replicated. Mainly, social workers were trained to the Search
Institute theory of DA (Developmental Assets) and encouraged to incorporate the
concepts into their practice.
Could intervention(s) focusing on improving outcomes for emerging young adults in
foster care be developed on the principles of Positive Youth Development? Could the 5
C’s of PYD be applied? Specifically, the population of youth and emerging adults that
are exiting foster care? The Denver University Bridge project has demonstrated that
consistency and careful implementation of the PYD model shows some encouraging and
positive results. (Jenson, Alter, Nicotera, Anthony, Forrest-Bank, 2013). It seems likely
that the core principles, including the “5c’s” (Competence, Confidence, Connection,
Character, Caring and Compassion) could be incorporated into foster youth support
groups and within permanency options with foster parents and supportive adults. The
addition of “Contributions” suggesting that all healthy children and adolescents have a
responsibility to give back to others in their individual, social, and environmental settings
(Lerner et al, 2005) as highlighted in the Positive Youth Development text is also
applicable to the emerging adult foster alumni. In fact, in the IFCA team—both Japan and

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US foster care alumni, there is a profound sense of wanting to give back and make better
for the generations to come.
Research influences policy and practice changes. In the case of emerging adults exiting
the foster care system, research is needed to influence political systems as well. The
International Foster Care Alliance has an opportunity to be part of a presentation to the
United Nations on behalf of Japanese youth in foster care. Both qualitative and
quantitative research could play a pivotal role in highlighting evidence based
interventions that are effective in supporting and furthering foster care alumni growth and
development as young adults. It can help to answer the primary question of why the
systems in the US and Japan should change the way they care for children, youth and
continue to care for young adults who are making their way into society. IFCA has
provided the dialogue and concludes, the experts in this arena are the foster care youth
and alumni.

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Foster Care Alumni Emergence into Adulthood
The International Foster Care Alliance
Youth Voice Guiding Policy and Practice Reform
“Valuing their experience and seeing it through their eyes”
Gia McKinzie, MSW
IFCA Advisory Board Member
January 2015

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through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469-480. Doi: 10.1037/0003-
66X.55.5.469
Arnett, J.J. Emerging Adulthood (2004): The winding road from late teens through the
twenties. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Arnett, J.J. Emerging Adulthood: (2006) Understanding the new way of coming of age.
In J.J. Arnett & J.L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the
21st century (pp.3-20). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Foster Club “A Permanency Pact” (the national network for young people in foster care
FOSTERCLUB Permanency Pact © 2006, Inc. 503-717-1552 or www.fosterclub.org.)
Jenson, J., Alter, C. Nicotera, N. Anthony, E.K., Forrest-Bank, S.S. “Risk, Resilience,
and Positive Youth Development. Developing Effective Community Programs for At-
Risk Youth. (2013) Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V. & Phelps, E. (2009) Waves of the future: The first five years of
the 4-H study of positive youth development. Medford, MA: Tufts University Institute for
Applied Research in Youth Development.
McMahan, Thomas J. (2014) Child Maltreatment and Emerging Adulthood: Past,
Present and Future. Child Maltreatment, Vol. 19(3-4) 135-144
Mineshita, Taku IFCA Closing Event Presentation: (2014).
Osgood, D.W., Foster, E.M., Flanagan, C. & Ruth, G.R. (Eds.) (2005). On your own
without a net: The transition to adulthood for vulnerable populations. Chicago, IL:
University of Chicago Press.
Osgood, D.W., Foster, E.M, & Courtney, M.E. (2010): Vulnerable populations and the
transition to adulthood. The Future of Children, 20, 209-229. Soi:10.1353/foc.0.0047
VanVugt, E., Lonctot, N., Paquette, G. Collin-Vezina, D. and Lemieux, A. (2014)
Girls in residential care: From child maltreatment to trauma-related symptoms in
emerging adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 114-122. Doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.
2013.10.015