New Study Reveals Critical Need for Support, Innovation Opportunities for Tennessee’s 8,000+ Foster Youth
Belmont Innovation Labs’ Three Recommendations Adopted by State Leaders
A new landscape study by Belmont University's Innovation Labs reveals urgent challenges facing Tennessee's foster care youth as they transition to adulthood, with data showing that 70-80% of youth aging out of the system face homelessness, addiction, imprisonment or trafficking by age 21 without proper support.
The "Every Child Tennessee: Foster Youth in Tennessee 2024 Landscape Study – Transitioning to Adulthood" is now available here.
In collaboration with the Tennessee Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI), and in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the study identifies actionable paths to address the complex challenges faced by Tennessee’s foster youth, especially as the state saw the third-highest intake of foster care youth (ages 14-21) in the nation in 2021.
Belmont Innovation Labs specializes in addressing complex societal challenges through multi-year, multi-stakeholder collaborations. Working with corporate and philanthropic partners, Belmont Innovation Labs assembles dedicated teams to develop innovative solutions, generate actionable research and develop new partnerships.
"Every Child Tennessee: Foster Youth in Tennessee 2024 Landscape Study - Transitioning to Adulthood" emerged from Belmont’s overarching commitment to fostering human flourishing and creating transformative change in our communities. As part of the University’s dedicated focus on flourishing for all people, particularly vulnerable children, the Innovation Lab brought together expertise from the Belmont Data Collaborative, students and community partners in a comprehensive discovery process.
Key data used in the study include:
- 861 youth aged out of Tennessee's foster care system last year
- More than 8,000 total foster youth currently reside in Tennessee
- By age 21, young people with targeted support achieve stronger outcomes, yet for many, barriers like housing instability and access to mental health care remain.
- The study underscores the need for robust pathways to help youth thrive, from housing and health care to stable careers.
The Findings
Through in-depth conversations over four months, the landscape study revealed stark statistics about youth outcomes and identified crucial areas where community support could make the most significant impact. Conversations with former foster youth who have lived experience consistently highlighted one critical factor that determined successful outcomes for foster youth: the presence of a stable adult relationship.
"Our conversations revealed that the presence of at least one stable, consistent adult is key in improving long-term outcomes," explained Tom Baldwin, director of strategy & development at Belmont Innovation Labs. "We’re committed to turning this insight into concrete actions the community can take to expand youth access to consistent relationships that build resilience and independence.”
The report cites decades of research on resilience in childhood development, supporting this conclusion. Scientific studies demonstrate that the presence of stable, caring relationships is the most significant factor in helping children achieve positive outcomes when facing significant adversity. While the ideal is having a stable “forever family,” these crucial relationships can include social workers, teachers, mentors or coaches, among others.
"These findings aren't just statistics –– they represent real young people in our community who need support," said Baldwin. "The data clearly shows that with the right interventions, we can significantly improve outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care."
“We are grateful for the collaboration with Belmont Innovation Labs,” said Lance Villio, executive director of GFBCI. “The transition of youth out of foster care is a major priority for Every Child TN, and we looked for a partner that could bring a rigorous, thoughtful, and innovative approach to these young adults. Government alone, as Governor Lee often says, cannot solve our greatest challenges. Kids aging out of foster care is likely the most venerable population in Tennessee, and they need community-based solutions to make a healthy and positive transition into adulthood.”
Recommendations
The study prioritizes three action areas for partnership investment: supportive relationships, stable housing and accessible mental health resources. Together, these initiatives strengthen the pathway for youth aging out of foster care, promoting long-term stability and community connection.
- Consistent and supportive adult relationships: Revitalize and expand programs to help ensure that every foster youth preparing to transition to adulthood has at least one supportive adult relationship. This could include:
- Focusing on creating sustainable mentorship programs
- Supporting organizations that facilitate long-term adult connections
- Safe and affordable housing: Establish safe, affordable, permanent placements for youth before, during and after transition. Suggestions for addressing housing include:
- Developing housing solutions specifically designed for transitioning youth
- Creating partnerships with housing providers
- Accessible mental health services: Increase access to mental health resources and require training in trauma-informed care for all new volunteers who engage foster youth by:
- Designing youth-friendly mental health resource formats
- Improving access to mental health support systems
The landscape study, concluding phase one of this initiative, has received approval from Tennessee’s Transition Advisory Council and marks the beginning of a collaborative plan to improve transition support for foster youth. Phase two will develop specific impact and investment frameworks for each recommended focus area, providing roadmaps for community action, resource deployment and impact measurement.
Belmont Innovation Labs invites community members, organizations and policymakers to engage with the findings and support building transformative solutions for Tennessee’s foster youth. Resources and further engagement opportunities are available at everychildtn.org.
Learn More
Dive deeper into Belmont's work with foster care youth.