What Works for Older Youth During the Transition to Adulthood
Major strides have been made in the field of youth development. However, policymakers and practitioners have focused mostly on programs and services for adolescents and young children, with little attention given to youth transitioning into adulthood.
The Child Trends fact sheet examines the role that programs for older youth can play in promoting positive development and subsequent self-sufficiency in adulthood. It synthesizes the findings from 31 rigorous evaluations of programs that evaluated youth outcomes during the transition to adulthood, or ages 18 to 25. Outcomes include including education, employment, civic engagement, socioemotional health, relationships and delinquency.
The analysis finds that education and career programs can be effective for older youth, especially those of whom are low-income or were targeted from younger ages. Specific intervention practices -- such as mentoring, case management and child care services for young parents -- with increased youth well-being. Substance use and reproductive health programs, however, are not consistently effective.
Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that studies children at all stages of development.
