Improving Family Foster Care
Findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study
by Peter J. Pecora, Ronald C. Kessler, Jason Williams, Kirk O'Brien, A. Chris Downs, Diana English, James White, Eva Hiripi, Catherine Roller White, Tamera Wiggins, and Kate Holmes

April 2005
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Downs, A.C., English D., Hiripi, E., Holmes, K., Kessler, R.C. O'Brien, K., Pecora, P.J. Roller White, C. White, J., Wiggins, T., and Williams, J., Improving Family Foster Care: Findings from the North- west Foster Care Alumni Study (2005). Seattle: Casey Family Programs.

This report presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. The study examined case records for 659 alumni (479 of whom were interviewed) who had been in the care of Casey Family Programs or the Oregon or Washington State child welfare agencies between 1988 and 1998. This report lists findings in three outcome domains: Mental Health, Education, and Employment and Finance.

This report also provides an overview of a predictive analysis showing which foster care services, when optimized, hold the greatest promise for improving the outcomes for foster youth. Practice and policy recommendations are included.