The Experiences of Older Youth in and Aged Out of Foster Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Material and Financial Well-Being by Foster Care Status, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity, and Race

Public Policy Relevance Statement Older adolescents and young adults with foster care experience are at greater risk of poor outcomes in early adulthood as compared to their peers in the general population. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated these risks for current and former foster youth in the United States, and research is urgently needed to identify and challenge pandemic-related harms for this vulnerable population. Analyzing survey responses collected in April 2020 from young people (ages 18-23) with history of foster care placement, this study examines housing stability, food security, employment, financial stability, access to communications technology, and public benefits receipt during COVID-19, highlighting disparities between diverse demographic groups and leveraging data to inform targeted disaster relief efforts and other state interventions. As a marginalized, underresourced population, older youth with foster care experience are acutely vulnerable to the economic and social harms wrought by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study summarizes findings from an online survey deployed in April 2020 to learn about the experiences of current and former foster youth (ages 18-23) during 1 month of the COVID-19 crisis. Using snowball sampling and a cross-sectional design, the survey yielded a final analysis sample of 281 respondents from 32 states and 192 cities or districts. Findings underscore the pervasive negative impacts of COVID-19 on respondents' housing/living situations, food security, employment, and financial stability. Chi-square tests and post hoc analyses revealed demographic disparities in respondents' experiences during COVID-19. Youth who aged out of care, cisgender females, nonstraight youth, and non-White youth were significantly more likely than demographic counterparts to experience pandemic-related adversities. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.