title: Extended Foster Care for Transition-Age Youth: An Opportunity for Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting Support.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This analysis examined California county birth rate variations among girls in foster care. The objective was to generate data to assess potential intervention points tied to federal legislation extending foster care beyond age 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Child protection records for all adolescent girls in foster care at age 17 years between 2003 and 2007 (N = 20,222) were linked to vital birth records through 2011. The cumulative percentage of girls who had given birth by age 21 years was calculated by county and race/ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One in three (35.2%) adolescent girls in foster care had given birth at least once before age 21 years. Although significant birth rate variations emerged, even at the low end of the county range, more than one in four girls had given birth by age 21 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Child welfare systems are now charged with coordinating transitional services for foster youth beyond age 18 years. Extended foster care provides new opportunities for pregnancy prevention work and targeted parenting support.
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley. Electronic address: ehornste@usc.edu.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Putnam-Hornstein
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Ivy
authors: I
authors: Hammond
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Andrea Lane
authors: AL
authors: Eastman
authors: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors: Jacquelyn
authors: J
authors: McCroskey
authors: School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Webster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent mothers; Child welfare; Extended foster care; Parenting; Pregnancy prevention; Teen births; Transition-age youth