1. Examining Homeless Outcomes Among Foster Care Youth in Wisconsin
Prepared for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
Prepared by: Beauregard Blazavier, Sarah Foster, Brett Halverson, Ellen Hildebrand, John Magnino, and Caroline McCormack

2. Context: Former Foster Care Youth Outcomes
● Limited financial or social support post-discharge
● Higher risk of adverse economic and social outcomes
Context: Former Foster Care Youth Outcomes
Source:

3. Project Background
●2-year grant (Phase I) to “better understand the causes and consequences of youth homelessness and to create targeted interventions that equip youth to thrive in adulthood.” (DCF 2014)

4. Project Goals
1) Identify factors associated with homelessness among the former foster care population in Wisconsin
2) Review innovative state programs in transition planning for youth aging out of care
3) Provide recommendations for improving outcomes for former foster care youth

5. Methods ● Merged DCF and Department of Administration Data
eWiSACWIS
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
● Literature review of foster care outcomes and homelessness studies

6. Background: Former Foster Youth in Wisconsin
● Approximately 450 Youth Age out of foster care each year
● Discharged from system at age 18 or 19
● Limited federal funds for employment training, education, housing services

7. Background: Homelessness in Wisconsin
“Homelessness” defined as at least one entry into an emergency shelter in Wisconsin
Wisconsin homeless rate (2012): .4 percent
41 percent Black

8. New Findings from Matched Dataset
4.3 percent of former foster youth
6.5 percent of aged out youth
38 percent Black

9. Regression Analysis Variable Description Correlation of Homelessness
Black
Race +
Female
Gender
Parent is Abuser
Substantiated Allegation
Group Home
Placement Type
Residential Care Center
Adoption
Discharge to Permanency _
Reunification
Guardianship

10. Discussion: Predictive Probabilities
Compare to 4.3% baseline probability
-6.5

11. Best Practices in Transition Planning
Permanent Connections:
-Training frontline staff (NYC)
-State Legislation (CA)
Housing:
-Partnerships with housing authorities (CA, AK, CT, IL, NY)
-Financial assistance and counseling (IL)
Source: National Center for Children and Families:

12. Best Practices in Transition Planning
Employment and Training:
-Nonprofit contracting for employment training and job connections (CA, ME, NY, FL, CT)
-Partners with directly with employers (FL)
Education:
-Partnerships with school districts (PA)
-Connections with community colleges (CT)
Source: Reuters:

13. Conclusion and Recommendations: Data
● Communicate to federal funders that Wisconsin has completed the most in-depth analysis of administrative data to understand homeless problem among foster youth
● Secure data to analyze socio-economic factors such as education and income
●Utilize data set to support current and future initiatives

14. Conclusion and Recommendations: Policy
● Our findings from merged dataset reveal that limited access to familial resources is a consistent predictor of homelessness
● Prioritize permanent connections and housing programs
● Examine education and workforce training programs

15. For further information
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