Youth with Disabilities in Foster Care

Youth with Disabilities in Foster Care: Youth with disabilities are overrepresented in the population of youth in the child welfare system and in foster care. Youth with disabilities who are in out-of-home placement experience higher rates of placement disruption, are more likely to be in an institutional setting, and are less likely to have adoption or permanency as a plan. After they leave foster care, youth with disabilities experience lower rates of employment, educational attainment, and economic stability than their non-disabled peers. Youth with disabilities who are in foster care are also likely to be involved in multiple other service systems, including special education, children’s and adult’s mental health, and disability services. Given the high prevalence of youth with disabilities involved in child welfare, caseworkers, independent living coordinators, and others who work with youth in the system should increase their knowledge of disability services, supports, and policies in order to provide collaborative, integrated, and high-quality care.