This technical assistance document focuses on Foster care youth and is part of a series of resources the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education (Departments) developed to provide strategies and examples of State and local partnerships that facilitate the re-engagement of out-of-school youth. 

Focusing specifically on the needs of foster youth, this document builds on the preceding technical assistance document that outlines ways workforce development boards (WDBs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and community agencies can collaboratively re-engage at-risk and out-of-school youth. Without a consistent, supportive home life, foster youth face many obstacles, such as emotional challenges, instability, and trauma. Foster youth are usually in one of three situations: (1) living in a foster family or group home, in custody of the child welfare system; (2) running away from foster care and most likely homeless; or (3) aging out of foster care and most likely homeless. With less than 10 percent of foster youth graduating from college, it is clear that foster youth are in need of greater guidance and emotional support to help them become college- and career-ready. This document provides a list of examples of practices that have been shown in research and in the field to impact the educational, employment, and general welfare of foster youth.