Family Support Topics

• Strengthening Families
• Focusing on Youth
• Understanding TANF
• Clients

Youth Demonstration Development Project

Many at-risk youth transition to adulthood without strong financial, social, and other life skills. With support, however, these young people may have a greater chance of succeeding as adults. We're conducting a two-year project to develop program frameworks to help promote self-sufficiency and improve the lives of this vulnerable population. The Youth Demonstration Development project aims to inform decisions about possible future program approaches, demonstrations, and evaluations for these young people.

We are combining theory, research, and practice related to youth programs to produce between four and six conceptual frameworks. Wide in scope, the frameworks will guide the development of programs to serve a range of at-risk youth including young people aging out of foster care, runaways, the homeless, children of prisoners, juvenile offenders, teens receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), teenage mothers and fathers, young Native Americans, immigrant youth, young people with disabilities, refugee youth, and school dropouts. We are also convening two expert panels, conducting three special studies, and holding meetings and focus groups with key stakeholders.

The Mathematica project team is assisted by staff at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Public-Private Ventures, who bring expertise in special youth populations and program approaches.

Publications

"Advancing the Self-Sufficiency and Well-Being of At-Risk Youth: A Conceptual Framework" (March 2013)
"A Framework for Advancing the Well-Being and Self-Sufficiency of At-Risk Youth" (Issue Brief, March 2013)
"Connecting At-Risk Youth to Promising Occupations" (Issue Brief, January 2013)
"The Economic Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care" (Issue Brief, January 2013)
"Synthesis of Research and Resources to Support At-Risk Youth” (June 2011)