Spotlight On:
Smoothing Transitions

First Place for Youth

First Place supports youth in their transition from foster care to successful adulthood by promoting choices and strengthening individual and community resources.

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Spotlight on: Smoothing Transitions »

Well Being

A recent national survey of the well being of children involved in child welfare found that many foster children are not faring well emotionally, behaviorally, educationally, or physically.

If the state is going to intervene to protect children’s safety, it is imperative that steps be taken to ensure that every child not only survives but thrives.

Foster youth are not
faring well.

  • 27% showed high levels of behavioral and emotional problems.

  • 39% displayed low engagement in school.

  • 28% had a physical, learning, or mental health condition that limits their activities.

    • Our Investments

    In order to improve the well being of foster children and youth we seek to invest in programs that:

    Ensure foster children’s physical and mental well being.
    • Work to mitigate the negative impact of early childhood disruption experienced by infants and toddlers in foster care through the Safe Starts Initiative in California and Washington.
    • Strengthen and refine foster parent recruitment practices across the State of California.
    Facilitate successful transitions to adulthood.
    • Ensure that those youth who have exited foster care have access to vital housing and supportive services.
    • Invest significant financial and staff resources in the California Connected by 25 Initiative.
    Honor and support sibling ties.

    • Support programs that work to keep siblings together whenever possible, and reunite and support brothers and sisters who have been separated.