Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care. Part I, A Guide to Service Improvements.

This guide offers preliminary policy and program recommendations for State, local, and tribal administrators and practitioners committed to addressing the complex needs of pregnant and parenting youth in foster care. It is designed to help child welfare systems and their partner agencies and organizations assess strengths and gaps in their current array of policies and services, and to determine priorities to achieve better results for pregnant and parenting youth in foster care and their children. The guide is divided into five domains: State infrastructure for service delivery, financing, monitoring and accountability; legal rights, placement and permanency; physical, socio-emotional health, and well-being; education and self-sufficiency; and engagement of fathers. Each section contains recommendations for service improvement and spotlights on existing policy, programs, and resources that are consistent with those recommendations. In addition, a self assessment checklist at the end of each section is intended to assist administrators and managers in conducting a review of their jurisdiction's efforts. (Author abstract modified)