Federal Youth Development Programs

John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program

The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program was created in 1999 with passage the Foster Care Independence Act. This program provides services to both youth in foster care who are preparing to transition to adulthood and youth 18-21 who have already left foster care and need assistance.

Educational Assistance

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program was created in 2001 with the passage of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act. ETV has been funded in FY 2003 and states are in the process of implementing their programs. This page includes important information about the Federal Mandates that guide this program.

Transitional Living Programs (TLP)

The Transitional Living Program is part of Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) Runaway and Homeless Youth Program and is authorized by Public Law 106-71. TLP's provide residential services to homeless youth ages 16–21 for up to 18 months. These services are designed to help youth who are homeless make a successful transition to self-sufficient living.

Child and Family Service Reviews

In order to promote positive outcomes for youth the Children's Bureau monitors state child welfare services through the Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSR). With the next round of the CFSR scheduled to begin in 2007 the Children's Bureau is placing an emphasis on engaging youth in all aspects of the review process. The CFSR Toolkit provides information, strategies, and resources for engaging youth in the CFSR process.

Permanency for Adolescents

The Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), passed in 1997, revised numerous sections of titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act to help states achieve safety, permanency, and well being for youth in foster care. It is recognized that strategies to achieve permanency for older youth must be different than for younger children.

A Shared Vision for Youth

The 2003 White House Task Force Report on Disadvantaged Youth notes that despite the billions of federal, state, local and private dollars spent on needy youth and their families, many out-of-school, at-risk youth are currently being left behind in our economy because of a lack of program focus and emphasis on outcomes. In response to this report the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Justice and Labor have committed to a collaborative approach at the national, state, and local levels to serving our nation's neediest youth in order to develop innovative approaches, enhance the quality of services delivered, improve efficiencies, and improve the outcomes for the youth we serve. For for information visit the DOL's Shared Vision Website.

The NCWRCYD currently coordinates the Federal Interagency “Solutions Desk” to provide state teams a single point of access to the federal information and resources available to assist States in implementing Shared Youth Vision activities. The Solutions Desk is only accessible by the 16 teams that were selected to participate in the Advanced Level Technical Assistance Shared Youth Vision Forums held in Atlanta, GA in lat September 2006. To visit the website, click here.