Reports from the Casey National Alumni Study present life experiences, educational achievements, and current functioning of more than a thousand alumni of Casey foster care. The reports present data collected from case records and interviews of 1,087 Casey foster-care alumni who were served between 1966 and 1998.
Mental Health Outcomes from the Casey National Alumni Study
This new report from the Casey National Alumni Study reveals that foster care alumni are experiencing mental health illnesses at rates higher than those of the general population.
Assessing the Effects of Foster Care: Early Results from the Casey National Alumni Study
The Casey National Alumni Study posed these questions:
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How are maltreated youth placed in Casey foster care faring as adults? Do they differ from other adults with regard to functioning status?
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Are there key factors or program components—such as placement stability, individual mental health services, group work, employment training, and employment experience—that are linked particularly with better foster care alumni functioning?
The high school graduation rates and employment rates were positive for many alumni. This occurred despite many placement changes (the rate of which slowed significantly when youth were placed with Casey).
A key finding involves education. Research has shown that education is a leading indicator of successful youth development and adult self-sufficiency.
For foster youth as well, educational outcomes—such as high school graduation, literacy/basic reading skills, taking high school courses necessary for college admission, and post-secondary education or job training—are some of the best indicators of future well-being and successful transition to adulthood.
Factors predictive of success as adults
Although many of the general outcomes were positive, they depended on characteristics of children and services. The following characteristics together predicted the level of success of an alumnus at the time they were interviewed for the study (a composite of educational attainment, income, mental and physical health, and relationship satisfaction):
- Life skills preparation
- Completing a high school diploma or GED before leaving care
- Scholarships for college or job training
- Male gender
- Participation in clubs and organizations for youth while in foster care
- Less positive parenting by their last foster mother
- Not being homeless within a year of leaving care
- Minimized academic problems (as indicated by use of tutoring services in their last foster home)
- Minimized use of alcohol or drugs (as indicated by use of treatment services near the end of their time in foster care).
Next steps
This study has begun to document the strengths and many achievements of young adults who have overcome childhood maltreatment, family instability, school disruptions, and other challenges to become contributing members of their communities.
Future reports will delve deeper to identify which youth are most at risk for poor outcomes, and the particular groups for whom certain kinds of service are more effective.
This 58-page report from the Foster Care Alumni Studies project was published by Casey Family Programs and released Nov. 12, 2003.
Order hard copies of the Casey National Alumni Study.