Young people transitioning from adolescence to adulthood are presented with many

obstacles. For many, this is a time of great transition and growth. Drawing upon both

quantitative and qualitative data, Arnett has characterized emerging adulthood as a time

of exploration, a time of instability, a time of possibilities, focus on oneself and a time of

feeling in between. He also speaks about identity explorations beginning in adolescence

intensifying during this period of development as young people actively focus on

defining themselves as an adult(Arnett 2000, 2004, 2006).Young people entering this

phase of development while residing in foster care are especially challenged during this

time of transition. Caregivers—foster parents, relatives and other caring adults often

have their own ideas about this process. Many young people trying to grow up outside of

their biological families are on their own. This is a harsh reality that a fair number of

foster care alumni are forced to accept. Some foster parents view their “role” over when

the young person turns 18 yrs. old. They stop providing care, financial and emotional

support. This leaves these young adults pushed into a societal system that does not offer

these supports.

Further, the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood

(Osgood, Foster, & Courtney, 2010: Osgood, Foster, Flanagan & Roth, 2005) has also

noted that the organizations of human service systems does not adequately support young

people experiencing difficulty during this time of their lives. As vulnerable young people

begin this transition to adulthood, they are less prepared with limited social support and

usually expected to make a simultaneous transition from service dollars allocated for

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children to service delivery systems focused on the needs of adults (Osgood, Foster et al,

2005). Young adults exiting the foster care system with motivation and willingness to

take on their legal and human rights end up falling through the gaps in the human service

systems that should provide support are still greatly challenged. The International Foster

Care Alliance (IFCA) foster care alumni from both Japan and the US exemplify this

scenario. Yet in spite of the unlikely success and survival on their own, not only have

they thrived but they have developed support systems also. It is incredible that the IFCA

Foster Care Alumni have unified as a team, devoted to not only supporting young adults

like themselves but also to organize with intention to globalize this support and to impact

the child welfare systems and laws that secondarily abandoned them as their own

biological parents did in the beginning of their lives.

The International Foster Care Alliance is striving to empower Foster Care Alumni in

America and Japan through a unique approach designed to promote “Youth Voice”. Both

countries’ youth face similar problems in attaining higher education and employment,

securing adequate housing and connecting with trustworthy adult figures. There are

differences between Japan and the U.S. in how the government financially support youth

and alumni. However, in both countries, young people are forming groups to fight for the

betterment of their lives and for the improvement of the child welfare system.

In Japan, youth age out of the child welfare system at 18 years old but cannot legally be

emancipated until they are twenty years old. There is a two year void; (18-20 yr. old)

when they cannot have guarantors for credit or housing. Care is over and they must go

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out of the facility or foster home. Most of the children in care start out in large facilities

(orphanages) and stay there throughout their life until they age out. Today, Japan has

population of about 127million compared to the US’s 317 million. There are about

50,000 children in the child welfare system as to 400,000 in the US. What is notably

different between the two countries is the rate of (infants, young children up to 3 yrs. old)

and youth entering group homes or large facilities. It is common practice for new born

children and toddlers to be placed in “baby nurseries” which are large group homes for

very young children. The ratio between institutional care and family-based care in japan

is about 89:11 as to US’s 17:83. Meaning in Japan, roughly 44 thousand in institutions

and just 5,500 in foster homes. More concerning is that currently in Japan the system is

set up so children under the age of three are placed initially in institutions for a minimum

of 2 years, and not placed into family-based care any sooner. Today there are about

3,000 infants placed in large orphanages. It took the UN and Human Rights Watch’s

intervention, with the UN’s alternative care guidelines and strongly worded

recommendations for deinstitutionalization before the Japanese government reluctantly

stated a goal in 2012. The goal is to “increase the rate of children in family-based

settings to 30% by 2030”. They say that by the year 2030, 15 years from now, they hope

to have 30 percent, roughly 15,000 of 50,000 children in family-based settings, which

still leaves 35,000 in institutions. With everything we know today about the brain

development, attachment, and general outcomes associated with institutionalized care,

how is this a reasonable goal? (2014 Mineshita).

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It is well documented in research that adverse early childhood experiences can influence

adjustment in emerging adulthood, resulting in poor mental and physical health

outcomes. (VanVugt, Lonctot, Paquette, Collin-Vezina and Lemieux, 2014). The foster

care alumni that make up the IFCA team are a constellation of young adults that have

managed to not only survive but thrive in spite of those early childhood experiences.

Each young person brings their own unique story of what they faced in their childhood,

what it mean to come into the public child welfare system, the court, with caregivers and

the final solutions that helped them into adulthood. They continue to struggle with the

regular developmental issues of young adulthood and in addition have the traumas and

memories associated with neglect, physical abuse, parents with mental illness and

substance abuse issues. The many adults that have touched their lives—social workers,

therapists, teachers, lawyers, judges, have shaped their emerging adulthood. Aside from

the clinical issues they are experiencing, there are more practical realities such as what

Yoshi (Japan Alumni) describes: “The greatest challenges when” aging out” are credit,

housing, working, medical care and prescriptions all require a co-signer.”

Last September, IFCA and the US foster care alumni joined their fellow Japan foster care

alumni in Nagoya and Osaka, Japan. The IFCA team took their message to the

International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. They presented in two different

venues in Nagoya, during the International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect

sponsored by ISPCAN. The team developed two presentations; one at a Youth Summit

entitled “My Voice Our Story”. Organizer of Osaka Summit--Dr. Masako Nagse

(Bukkyo University Social Welfare Department Kyoto, Japan), Presentation on behalf of

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the ISPCAN International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. The attendees were

foster youth, alumni, foster parents, child welfare professionals from around the world.

Youth represented the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, US, Eastern Europe, Ireland among

other countries. The other team presented a 90 minute workshop on “Fostering Well-

Being: Perspectives of Youth and Alumni of Foster Care”. Dr. Monica Fitzgerald, UC

Denver—Kemp Center for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, Dr.

Miyako Shirakawa with Tokyo University Ms. Juri Kubo, Osaka Shi Kodomo Soudan

Center, Nr. Norifumi Senga, clinician who studied in the US and Dr. Kimihori Fukada a

professor Kasai University assisted with the presentation as well.

Three questions the combined team decided to address: What are the challenges and

barriers to aging out? What are suggestions for reform to the foster care system? (Child

welfare system? Laws pertaining to children/youth in care?) What prevents the youth

voice from being heard? Four Topics in individual alumni stories they chose to address

during their talks at the various events: Youth Summits in Tokyo and Osaka—Education,

Mental Health Services, Health Care and Foster Care to 21 years (American alumni

shared various US programs available to them. Additional areas identified by the IFCA

Alumni Team during their presentations in Japan:

Need for emotional and psychological support.

Practical skills.

Right to information regarding biological parents and siblings.

Need for a trusted adult to provide advice, support and be a guarantor.

Bridge the gaps in the legal, educational, and financial and credit areas.

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A more concerted effort regarding permanency to be embedded in the Japanese

Child Welfare system.

IFCA foster care alumni have crafted recommendations as part of their global

presentation:

Youth needs to be center of the system. There needs to be improvements with staffing

and distribution of funds to improve foster care. The alumni perceive that youth voices

have not been understood. “Therefore, there must be basic and robust changes in society

to combat inequality and poverty. [We] have many obstacles in growing up as a foster

youth. Especially leaving governmental care.” [Those in charge of the governmental

laws and policies] “Don’t seem to understand that the youth and young adult voices need

to be heard”.

“Create a system in which supportive adults can help foster youth with: 1. Information

about post foster care options, 2. Financial/economic assistance 3. A cadre of adults

that foster youth can trust to help them.”

1. Japan alumni report being into their high school years and not being told any information

about parents and sibling. They have been told only names and ages. The Japanese

Alumni wanted more detailed information about their family. According to several of

these alumni, the caseworkers thought it would be better if they didn’t know.

Recommendation: “There should be standardized rules about how personal information

should be given to foster children and youth.”

2. Japan group home workers told some of the JFCA that it was “not worth” trying to go to

college. They were only encouraged to take the high school entrance test and not to aim

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for a higher level. Recommendation: “Educational system should be adjusted to allow

foster youth to prepare for college, not just vocational or work possibilities.”

Many of the JFCA had no other option besides getting jobs immediately after they left

foster care. One youth had to quit a sports team in high school in order to work. The

work requirement in Japan is considered to be mandatory from the age of 15 yrs. old.

Recommendation: Extend care to 21 years old. Institute 17.5 conferences to see if youth

is supported enough to become independent. Help transition the foster child and foster

parents with support by professionals regarding decisions, desires and to ensure that the

foster youth is respected. “We want to be heard, to speak up and take effective steps to

see policy and legislative changes materialize”. Japanese youth and particularly,

Japanese foster youth that the team visited were enthusiastic and embraced the important

messages that IFCA conveyed. The strength of the words due to the honesty, openness

and willingness of these courageous young people who opened their lives and hearts to

each other and the Japanese people, hoping for a better future.

An American Foster Care alumni stated: “The foster youth in Japan and America need to

be allowed to speak up, there needs to be legislative change. I knew that there were

adults working for change. What is missing, is the large number of foster care alumni

speaking out. We know the most about what needs to be changed. There are adults here

that help us to survive. I am pretty sure people want to support. Connecting supportive

adults with youth in foster care would be very helpful”.

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There is myriads of potential practice, policy and research questions remaining

unanswered. Reforms and changes are needed to strengthen and maintain a robust

system of care. National, state and local governments need to address the gaps in care,

and step up support and service to the young people emerging to adulthood that are

growing up in out of home care.

The IFCA American foster alumni want to spread the idea of implementing “Permanency

Pacts” between foster youth and their caregivers. This is a contract that is specific and

formulated to address the ambiguities that the alumni face post “aging out”. Youth

transitioning from foster care are often unsure about who they can count on for ongoing

support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on

professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed.

It is critical to the youth's success to identify those adults who will continue to provide

various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the

various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth's safety net and

misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult.

A Permanency Pact (the national network for young people in foster care

FOSTERCLUB Permanency Pact © 2006 Foster Club, Inc. 503-717-1552 or

www.fosterclub.org.) provides the structure and a safety net for the youth. It is a defined

and verbalized commitment by both parties to a long term supportive relationship. It

provides clarity regarding the expectations of the relationship A Permanency Pact creates

a formalized, facilitated process to connect youth in foster care with a supportive adult.

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The process of bringing the supportive adult together with youth and developing a pledge

or “Permanency Pact” has proven successful in clarifying the relationship and identifying

mutual expectations. A committed, caring adult may provide a lifeline for a youth,

particularly those who are preparing to transition out of foster care to life on their own. In

addition to the two primary parties in a Permanency Pact (the youth and the supportive

adult), it is recommended that a facilitator assist in developing the Pact. The facilitator

may be a Case Worker, Independent Living Provider or other adult who is knowledgeable

in facilitating Permanency Pacts and is familiar with the youth, and can provide insight

into the general needs of the youth transitioning from care. The Supportive Adult is an

adult who: has been identified by the youth, has a relationship with the youth and is

willing to commit to a life-long relationship with the youth is a positive role-model and

provides the youth with specific support on an on-going basis

Legislative and policy considerations for Japan include: Increasing emancipation to 20

years old. Address the two year gap (18-20) when young adults are not legally able to get

credit, sign leases etc. Washington State for example has enacted foster care to 21

legislation that allows for young adults to remain in foster care by agreement of their

foster parents and the court. There are scholarships and special programs that aid foster

youth/alumni who elect to pursue a college education. These types of programs have been

seeded and replicated across the United States but do not exist in other countries such as

Japan. Washington state and probably most other US states follow federal Adoption Safe

Families permanency guidelines that require early permanency, sibling connections and

support to foster children.

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IFCA suggests that foster youth and alumni must be part of the dialogue. The foster care

alumni want to be heard. There is a global movement rising up among emerging adults.

These young people are now connected to each other and want the same human rights as

others have. IFCA urges the policy makers to add foster youth voice, “value their

experience and see it through their eyes”. IFCA was well received at both events.

Japanese youth, and particularly Japanese foster youth that the team visited, were

enthusiastic and embraced the important messages that IFCA conveyed. These

courageous young people, who opened their lives and hearts to each other and the

Japanese people hope for a better future.

There are innumerable practice, policy and research questions remaining unanswered

regarding the potentials of emerging adulthood for foster youth alumni. It is clear that

reform and change is needed to strengthen and maintain a robust system of care and

support. National, state and local governments must address the gaps in care, and step up

to create and allocate service dollars and programs specifically designed for young people

emerging to adulthood that are growing up in “out-of-home-care”. The foster care

alumni represent a group of the most vulnerable young people in society. The alumni

themselves talk about how they were inadequately prepared with a limited social support

to make simultaneous transition from service delivery systems focused on the needs of

children and adolescents to service delivery systems focused on the needs of adults. This

was articulated by Osgood, Foster et al. (Osgood et al., 2010; Osgood, Foster et al, 2005).

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This unique organization is in its third year and it would be optimal if a solid research

oriented evaluation could be applied. Implementation of the Positive Youth

Development model could fit well with youth in foster care. In Washington State, for

example, the Search Institute was studied and the Developmental Assets approach was

utilized within the context of a practice model that also incorporated Solution Based

Casework. Most of the attempts were informal however, no formal implementation was

attempted, studied or replicated. Mainly, social workers were trained to the Search

Institute theory of DA (Developmental Assets) and encouraged to incorporate the

concepts into their practice.

Could intervention(s) focusing on improving outcomes for emerging young adults in

foster care be developed on the principles of Positive Youth Development? Could the 5

C’s of PYD be applied? Specifically, the population of youth and emerging adults that

are exiting foster care? The Denver University Bridge project has demonstrated that

consistency and careful implementation of the PYD model shows some encouraging and

positive results. (Jenson, Alter, Nicotera, Anthony, Forrest-Bank, 2013). It seems likely

that the core principles, including the “5c’s” (Competence, Confidence, Connection,

Character, Caring and Compassion) could be incorporated into foster youth support

groups and within permanency options with foster parents and supportive adults. The

addition of “Contributions” suggesting that all healthy children and adolescents have a

responsibility to give back to others in their individual, social, and environmental settings

(Lerner et al, 2005) as highlighted in the Positive Youth Development text is also

applicable to the emerging adult foster alumni. In fact, in the IFCA team—both Japan and

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US foster care alumni, there is a profound sense of wanting to give back and make better

for the generations to come.

Research influences policy and practice changes. In the case of emerging adults exiting

the foster care system, research is needed to influence political systems as well. The

International Foster Care Alliance has an opportunity to be part of a presentation to the

United Nations on behalf of Japanese youth in foster care. Both qualitative and

quantitative research could play a pivotal role in highlighting evidence based

interventions that are effective in supporting and furthering foster care alumni growth and

development as young adults. It can help to answer the primary question of why the

systems in the US and Japan should change the way they care for children, youth and

continue to care for young adults who are making their way into society. IFCA has

provided the dialogue and concludes, the experts in this arena are the foster care youth

and alumni.

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Foster Care Alumni Emergence into Adulthood

The International Foster Care Alliance

Youth Voice Guiding Policy and Practice Reform

“Valuing their experience and seeing it through their eyes”

Gia McKinzie, MSW

IFCA Advisory Board MemberJanuary 2015

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R E F E R E N C E S

Arnett, J.J. Emerging Adulthood (2000): A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469-480. Doi: 10.1037/0003-66X.55.5.469

Arnett, J.J. Emerging Adulthood (2004): The winding road from late teens through the twenties. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Arnett, J.J. Emerging Adulthood: (2006) Understanding the new way of coming of age. In J.J. Arnett & J.L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp.3-20). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Foster Club “A Permanency Pact” (the national network for young people in foster care FOSTERCLUB Permanency Pact © 2006, Inc. 503-717-1552 or www.fosterclub.org.)

Jenson, J., Alter, C. Nicotera, N. Anthony, E.K., Forrest-Bank, S.S. “Risk, Resilience, and Positive Youth Development. Developing Effective Community Programs for At-Risk Youth. (2013) Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V. & Phelps, E. (2009) Waves of the future: The first five years of the 4-H study of positive youth development. Medford, MA: Tufts University Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development.

McMahan, Thomas J. (2014) Child Maltreatment and Emerging Adulthood: Past, Present and Future. Child Maltreatment, Vol. 19(3-4) 135-144

Mineshita, Taku IFCA Closing Event Presentation: (2014).

Osgood, D.W., Foster, E.M., Flanagan, C. & Ruth, G.R. (Eds.) (2005). On your own without a net: The transition to adulthood for vulnerable populations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Osgood, D.W., Foster, E.M, & Courtney, M.E. (2010): Vulnerable populations and the transition to adulthood. The Future of Children, 20, 209-229. Soi:10.1353/foc.0.0047

VanVugt, E., Lonctot, N., Paquette, G. Collin-Vezina, D. and Lemieux, A. (2014)Girls in residential care: From child maltreatment to trauma-related symptoms in emerging adulthood. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38, 114-122. Doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu. 2013.10.015

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