Girls in foster care face what is often described as a “double vulnerability.” Not only do foster girls grapple with the same societal pressures that challenge many young women, but they also lack stable support systems that could support their transition to adulthood. The lack of a safety net exacerbates their vulnerability, especially when they age out of the system and try to achieve self-sufficiency.
Gender disparities in the labor market are even more pronounced for young women aging out of foster care.
According to the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), although former foster girls are more likely to be employed full-time or part-time at the age of 17 and 19 compared to their male peers, this early employment advantage does not necessarily translate to greater lifetime earnings. Studies have shown that females on average earn significantly less than males ($15,944 compared to $25,407) and are more likely to work at low-income jobs (27% vs 15%).
Table 1
Early pregnancy can also greatly hinder educational attainment and narrow career opportunities. Data from NYTD reveals that 29% of females in foster care reported having children by age 21, compared to 13% of males. Only 31% of these females have jobs, whereas 87% of their male counterparts are employed. These indicators underscore the critical need for targeted resources and programs to support foster girls to make informed decisions about sexual health and high-risk behaviors. Without such support, they face poorer outcomes as they transition into adulthood.
The Chafee Grant: An Unequal Resource
The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP), commonly known as the Chafee Grant, provides financial support to help foster youths transition to adulthood. This program offers states substantial funding with significant flexibility in its use, allowing them to tailor support services such as education, housing, job training, and more to meet the needs of these vulnerable young people. The grant can be delivered through various forms, including service programs and vouchers for higher education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states expanded this support by offering direct cash assistance, which proved to be a critical lifeline for many foster youth.
Despite the program’s potential to significantly impact the lives of foster youth, access to these resources is not evenly distributed.
Stark disparities exist based on race and geography, particularly affecting girls from metropolitan areas and racial minority backgrounds. These young women often live in communities with fewer financial institutions, less access to information, and limited support services. To quantitatively measure the disparity, I merged the Adoptions and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and the NYTD, and then conducted OLS regression analyses to examine each type of service provided by the grant.
Racial, Ethnic, and Geographic Disparities in Access to Services
The analysis includes 15 types of services, such as career preparation, educational support, budgeting and financial management training, housing services, and youth development services. Among all the female survey participants over 14, on average, everyone received 5.5 types of services. The most accessed services were independent living needs assessment (57%), academic support (55%), and health education and risk prevention (48%). Conversely, the least accessed services were supervised independent living (18%), special education (19%), and room and board financial assistance (21%).
After accounting for age, length of stay in foster care, and mental and physical conditions, significant disparities emerge. Black foster girls, on average, receive significantly fewer services than white girls. Additionally, girls living in metropolitan areas receive significantly fewer services than those who live in rural and urban areas.
Disparities by Race and Ethnicity
Table 2 shows the disparity in service access among different racial and ethnic groups compared to white peers. Black foster girls are less likely to receive services compared to white girls, especially in areas such as educational support, career preparation, and financial management support. This disparity suggests systemic barriers that limit access to crucial services needed for independent living and future financial solvency. However, Black girls tend to receive more services that directly provide financial assistance, such as supervised independent living and education financial assistance. Meanwhile, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian, and Pacific Islander youth benefit more from academic support, employment and vocational training, and mentoring. Out of all fifteen services, Hispanic youths are less likely to receive eight than their non-Hispanic peers. These racial and ethnic disparities may stem from a mismatch between the number of youths requiring services and the amount of grant allocated, or a lack of targeted outreach effort, highlighting the need for more inclusive strategies to ensure more accessible services.
Table 2
Disparities by Location and Disability Status
Table 3 below illustrates the differences in service access based on living area and disability status. Youths in urban and metro areas are less likely to receive academic and post-secondary educational support but more likely to receive supervised independent living and financial assistance. This disparity suggests that while urban areas may offer more immediate housing solutions, they fail to provide long-term educational support. Youths in metro areas are less likely to receive most of the services compared to those who live in rural or smaller urban areas. This indicates that although there may be more service providers in large counties, there is also a higher demand, with more eligible youths in need. Smaller areas have fewer youths requiring services, which allows these areas to focus more resources and attention per individual, resulting in more effective interventions. Youths with visual or hearing impairments or psychological disorders are more likely to receive services than those without disabilities. Conversely, those with developmental or physical disabilities receive fewer services, indicating that while specific disabilities increase specific needs, these needs are not adequately addressed due to significant gaps in service provision.
Table 3
Tailored Solutions for Former Foster Girls
My analysis indicates that girls in metro areas receive inadequate support in education and career preparation, whereas rural girls face a shortage of supervised independent living arrangements. These findings suggest a need for more educational and career support programs in large counties and improved housing options in smaller rural areas.
Service access also varies greatly by race and ethnicity. Black youths, in particular, are less likely to receive the full range of services available to former foster youth. Given that approximately 90% of Black foster youths in the sample reside in metro areas, enhancing support in metro areas could significantly reduce racial disparities in service provision.
While the Chafee Grant offers essential support and services to former foster youth engaged in a difficult transition, policymakers and providers need to better account for how race, ethnicity, geographic location, and ability shape access to and need for services.
To address these disparities, we need to increase outreach efforts and foster stronger community partnerships. We can create a more equitable system that ensures that all former foster girls, regardless of their background, are equipped with the resources and support they need to build successful, independent futures.
