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Home > Communities of Practice > Transition-Aged Youth > FAQs

What are the major issues facing transition-aged youth?

The issues facing transition-aged youth vary as much as the individuals themselves. The transition to adulthood is a major life event for any youth. But while many young people make the transition successfully with the support of their families, caring adults, communities, and schools, vulnerable populations of transition-aged youth, such as teens aging out of the foster care system, youth who do not finish high school, youth in the juvenile justice and mental health systems, and others need help to find the right path to success. These individuals, if left unsupported, may struggle to finish secondary education and move on to post-secondary schooling, find secure jobs, develop social networks, secure housing, and become financially independent.

The transition to adulthood is especially challenging for vulnerable populations of transition-aged youth. Without appropriate transition services and supports, many of these young people are more likely to drop out of high school, experience difficulty entering the workforce, and lack postsecondary training. Many experience homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, arrests, incarceration, violent relationships, and unplanned pregnancies. Most of these youth do not have health insurance upon turning 19 and/or graduating from high school or aging out of foster care, as they have lost their coverage under their parents’ policy or Medicaid. Many experience homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, arrests, incarceration, violent relationships, and unplanned pregnancies.

There are other barriers to receiving the services and supports these youth need, including eligibility guidelines for financial and housing services, differences in ‘eligible’ diagnoses between child and adult mental health providers, conflicting roles among service providers, a lack of age appropriate community resources, and a (youth) culture that is often difficult to engage in services. Each year states spend millions of dollars serving these youth as children and adolescents. However, at the point in their lives when “intervention can have a profound impact on their lives and their ability to live as independent, productive adults” the service systems fail to adequately meet their needs.

The content of this Web site does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The programs/models featured on this site have not been evaluated by the TA Partnership. The site is meant to serve as a tool and to provide examples of work being done in the field. This Web site was created and is maintained by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) through funding from the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, contract no. 280-03-4200. For more information, send an e-mail to TAPartnership@air.org.