Additional Resources
Explore trusted research, organizations, and practical guidance.
Resources & Guidance —
Resources On Permanency + Adopting Youth In Foster Care
Every young person deserves a family, at any age. Explore the research behind our model and ways to get involved.
Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University
A Proven Model.
A Tested Mission.
A Tested Mission.
Built on data.
Measured by lives changed.
An examination of theory and promising practice for achieving permanency for teens before they age out of foster care
What if the goal for young people in foster care isn’t independence, but belonging? Drawing on decades of research and the real-world experience of You Gotta Believe (YGB) demonstration project, this landmark study shows that lasting family connections—not independent living alone—produce stronger outcomes for youth preparing to leave foster care.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions about aging out of care and point toward a different model: one that prioritizes permanent relationships, enduring support, and the belief that every young person deserves a family, regardless of age.
50%
Of the 199 teens referred to the project, 98 were placed permanently.
99%
Of parents who started training already knowing a specific teen, 99% completed the home study and had that teen placed with them. For those without a young person in mind, it was 35%.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Federal plain-language guides on adopting from foster care, plus a directory of every state agency.
AdoptUSKids
A step-by-step overview of the process, and the national photolisting of waiting children.
Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
A free 24/7 helpline for New York families, and more than 70 local parent support groups.
National Adoption Association
Continuing education and credentialing for adoption caseworkers. adoptnaa.org ↗