Journal Issue: Children, Families, and Foster Care Volume 14
Number 1 Winter 2004 Policies and Programs to Support Older
Youths in Foster Care A variety of policies and programs address
the needs of older youths in placement, either directly or
indirectly.26 For example, the Adoption and Safe Families Act
attempts to improve the safety of children, to promote adoptive
and other permanent homes for children who need them, and to
support families. The Independent Living Initiative and,
subsequently, the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 provide
funding for services to prepare adolescents in foster care for
independent living. (See Box 1.) Other services for homeless and
emancipating youths include the Department of Housing and Urban
Development's Family Unification27 and Youthbuild Programs,28
the DHHS Transitional Living Program for Homeless Youth,29
Survivor's Insurance,30 and welfare programs such as Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families. (For a more detailed discussion
of major legislation affecting ch