On Your Own without a Net: The Transition to Adulthood for Vulnerable Populations (The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Mental Health and Development)

In the decade after high school, young people continue to rely on their families in many ways—sometimes for financial support, sometimes for help with child care, and sometimes for continued shelter. But what about those young people who confront special difficulties during this period, many of whom can count on little help from their families?

On Your Own Without a Net documents the special challenges facing seven vulnerable populations during the transition to adulthood: foster care youth, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, youth formerly in the criminal justice system, runaway and homeless youth, special education students, young people in the mental health system, and youth with physical disabilities. During adolescence, government programs have been a major part of their lives, yet eligibility for most programs typically ends between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. This critical volume shows the unfortunate repercussions of this termination of support and points out the issues that must be addressed to improve these young people’s chances of becoming successful adults. As a result, On Your Own Without a Net will find a welcome home on the desks of policy makers, educators of teens and young adults, and academics across the social sciences.