Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Sanford School Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program Master’s Projects
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Sanford School Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program Master’s Projects
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS TO MEDICAID RE-ENROLLMENT FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

Thumbnail
View / Download
3.0 Mb
Date
2011-04-25
Author
Pharr, Sarah
Advisor
Dodge, Kenneth A
Repository Usage Stats
463
views
952
downloads
Abstract
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY POLICY QUESTION What are the Federal and State policy solutions to the barriers for youth re-enrolling into Medicaid once they have left care? RECOMMENDATIONS I recommend three solutions that the Children’s Bureau should consider to address the barriers of Medicaid re-enrollment for youth aging out of foster care. The Children’s Bureau should: • Support states in making the transitions onto Medicaid after foster care a seamless process. • Encourage restructuring of the independent living programs. • Study the possibility of a change in institutional mechanisms. IDENTIFIED ISSUES Nationally about 30,000 of the half million youth in state custody will age out of care this year . Youth aging out of care are at greater risk of unemployment, homelessness, dropping out of school, and unplanned parenthood . These transition age youth report more health problems and mental health diagnoses, than their peers who have not been in the child welfare system . Unfortunately many recently emancipated young adults do not have health insurance; this makes swift and appropriate interventions much harder to achieve. I have identified four barriers to youth re-enrolling into Medicaid once they have left care. First, there is a lack of knowledge at the service delivery level, for both Medicaid enrollment staff as well as independent living coordinators. This is likely due to high turnover amongst staff in both divisions. Second, for youth that have aged out of care there is a lack of knowledge of the Medicaid option. There is variability in how independent living programs are delivered and some states and counties may not have a set curriculum for teaching transition age youth about their benefits. Third, once youth have left foster care they have shown a strong desire to disassociate with “the system”. Lastly, youth who have aged out of foster care lack healthy adult connections. These are adults that many transition age youth can turn to help them understand their insurance or how to make a doctor’s appointment. Former foster youth often do not have a parent or other supportive adult they can turn to for help. CRITERIA I use the following criteria to analyze my solutions: • Minimize costs for key stakeholders. • Create collaborations among stakeholders. • Assist states in their preparation for providing health insurance for all youth that age out of care until age 26. POLICY SOLUTIONS The five policy solutions I evaluate are: 1. Support states in making the transition onto Medicaid after foster care a seamless process. 2. Encourage restructuring of the independent living programs. 3. Study the possibility of a change in institutional mechanisms. 4. Support collaborations with service providers outside of DSS. 5. Encourage states to develop websites that clearly communicate eligibility benefits for stakeholders.
Type
Master's project
Department
The Sanford School of Public Policy
Subject
Foster care, Medicaid, Youth aging out, transition youth
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3591
Citation
Pharr, Sarah (2011). POLICY SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS TO MEDICAID RE-ENROLLMENT FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/3591.
Collections
  • Sanford School Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program Master’s Projects
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Sanford School Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program Master’s Projects


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University