FindYouthInfo.gov Shares Resources and Evidence-Based Practice

FindYouthInfo.gov was created by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP), which is composed of representatives from 12 federal agencies that support programs and services focusing on youth.

Through the website, IWGYP provides an interactive mapping tool to find federally-supported youth programs, a searchable directory of evidence-based programs, and other resources to help local leaders implement effective, collaborative strategies for helping youth succeed.

Transition Age Youth 

FindYouthInfo.gov has a section that focuses on Transition Age Youth, between ages 16-24.

Study of the Impact of the Ohio Benefit Bank

Ohio Benefit Bank programs include:

• Food and Nutrition Programs
• Healthcare Assistance
• Taxes and Student Aid Programs (including the FAFSA)
• Child Care Assistance
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Ohio Works First Cash Assistance (OWF)

A Study of the Impact of the Ohio Benefit Bank was recently released by the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University.

Funded by the Columbus Foundation, the survey looked at hardships experienced, whether OBB clients completed their applications at JFSs, and the short term impact for those individuals and families.

FosterClub Transition Toolkit

FosterClub has recently released the FosterClub Transition Toolkit to help youth develop a plan for transitioning into adulthood.

The toolkit encourages youth to prepare their individual plan with the supportive adults involved in their lives, such as foster parents, teachers, or mentors, and is designed to help youth assess their assets, identify resources, and plan for life after foster care.

The toolkit also provides a "Readiness Scale" for youth to track their progress in the following 10 areas:

• Finances and money management
• Job and career
• Life skills
• Identity
• Performance
• Education
• Self care and health
• Housing
• Transportation
• Community, culture, and social life

FosterClub's toolkit supports the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, which requires that all States develop an individual transition plan for the foster youth during the 90-day period before a youth leaves foster care.

To download the Transition Toolkit, please visit:
www.fosterclub.com/files/transition_toolkit.pdf

Independence for Foster Youth

Independence for Foster Youth
Created for youth in Washington state who are preparing to transition out of foster care, this Web site helps you find information and resources about living on your own. Get your questions answered about how to find a job, manage your money, and find a place to live.