Educational needs of foster youth in transition
File(s)
Date
2013-12Author
Helmer, Nicole L.
Advisor(s)
Fischer, Thomas
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In Wisconsin, foster youth exit out of the system at age 18 or at high school
graduation, whichever comes last. On an average day in Wisconsin, almost 8,000
children are living in foster care (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Foster
Care Fact Sheet, 2010). Upon exiting the foster care system, these children are expected
to be independent while the average age of financial independence for adults in America
is 26 (Krinsky, 2010). The expectation that foster youth be independent at the age of 18
or 19 in Wisconsin places a tremendous responsibility on the educational system.
This study gathered qualitative information about the experiences of youth
transitioning out of foster care into adulthood from the perspective of former foster care
youth, foster caregivers, and professional service people in the foster care system. The
purpose of this study is to establish if the basic needs of foster youth in Wisconsin based
upon the Theory of Human Motivation by Abraham Maslow are being met and to
determine areas that need to be improved upon before they transition into an adult.
Subject
Foster children - Education
Services for foster children
Social work with youth - Wisconsin
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/68432Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Education Special Education