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Transition centers are one-stop places to serve the many needs of older youth in foster care and former foster youth. They also may provide services to other older youth, including homeless youth, at-risk youth, and young adults, sometimes up to age 25. Current and former foster youth can use the transition centers. The transition centers serve as central locations for services such as the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program. You can learn important job skills, search for jobs, and explore careers. You can also get help with enrolling in college, flexible high school diploma programs, or GED programs, applying for financial aid and the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), housing, mentoring, and obtaining benefits available to aged out foster youth.
Each transition center offers different services. The best way to find out what your transition center offers is to visit and get to know the staff. As part of planning your transition from foster care, be sure you get to visit your local transition center. Remember, if you move to a different part of the state, there may be a transition center there you can use. Even if you don’t live near a transition center, or can’t easily get to it, you should call the center and find out more about what they do and how they can help you. Some transition centers can offer services virtually.
What You Can Find At A Transition Center
- Bus passes
- Housing assistance
- Counseling
- ETV and financial aid application help
- Limited case management for former foster youth ages 21 through 25
- Computer labs with e-mail and internet access
- Employment and education assistance
- Aged out foster youth financial benefits
- Case manager staff for aged out foster youth through age 20