Transition Planning for Foster Youth with Disabilities: A Scoping Review of Interagency Coordination, Barriers, and Facilitators

Background and Purpose

Foster youth with disabilities experience compounded challenges associated with disability and system involvement, particularly as they transition into adulthood . Despite federal mandates requiring transition planning across special education and child welfare systems, these youth frequently encounter fragmented services and limited interagency coordination , contributing to poorer post-transition outcomes in education, employment, and independent living . Although prior research has examined transition outcomes, less is known about how transition planning processes are implemented and executed across systems and what factors shape their effectiveness. This scoping review examines transition planning processes for foster youth with disabilities and identifies key barriers and facilitators to coordination across special education and foster care systems.

Methods

Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews, a comprehensive search strategy was used to identify literature examining transition planning processes for foster youth with disabilities in the United States. Searches were conducted across multiple databases, including Social Sciences Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index Social Sciences & Humanities, Social Services Abstracts, ERIC (EBSCOhost), Education Source, and APA PsycInfo. Records were managed using Covidence.

A total of 1517 records were identified. Screening is currently being conducted in multiple stages, including title and abstract review followed by full-text review, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. To ensure reliability, at least two researchers are reviewing each record, and conflicts are being resolved through team discussion. Data extraction is being conducted using a standardized form, and findings will be synthesized through descriptive and thematic analyses to identify patterns in transition planning processes, as well as barriers and facilitators to transition planning for foster youth with disabilities.

Results

Preliminary findings indicate that transition planning for foster youth with disabilities is characterized by limited interagency coordination, fragmented service delivery, and inconsistent implementation across systems . Early patterns suggest that transition planning is often conducted within separate systems rather than through integrated approaches, contributing to gaps in support and service discontinuity. Emerging evidence highlights barriers such as coordination challenges and service disruptions, alongside facilitators including structured collaboration and supportive relationships that promote skill development and engagement . Ongoing analysis will further refine these findings and identify key themes.

Conclusions and Implications

Preliminary findings underscore the need for more coordinated and integrated approaches to transition planning for foster youth with disabilities. Strengthening interagency collaboration and establishing structured coordination mechanisms may improve continuity of services and transition outcomes .

These findings have important implications for social work practice and policy, including the need to improve cross-system communication, enhance coordination between child welfare and education systems, and expand access to supports that facilitate successful transitions to adulthood. This review advances knowledge of transition planning processes and informs future research to improve outcomes for foster youth with disabilities.