Bridges to Independence
(Developed by Walden Family Services, San Diego, CA, 2005)

A ten-session curriculum for guiding teens in foster care through the transition of leaving the system and preparing for life on their own. The program is developed for groups and includes journaling exercises, art projects, experiential activities, and games.

Facilitator Guide
Participant Workbook

Mentoring Youth in Transition
(Published by the Community Mentoring Program of the University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Social Work, Fall 2004)

A helpful resource for mentors working with youth in foster care. It explains the Transitions framework as it applies to youth leaving care and provides specific examples of how mentors can guide youth through each stage of transition.

Mentoring Youth in Transition (PDF)

Mentoring Youth in Foster Care
(Published by the Institute for Public Sector Innovation of the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine,  Spring 2006)

A comprehensive guide for developing and implementing a mentoring program. In addition to providing technical information regarding the nuts and bolts of running a mentoring program, such as staffing, mentor screening, and youth referrals, it also includes a section on integrating the Transition framework.

Mentoring Youth in Foster Care (PDF)

Transitioning from Foster Care
An Experiential Activity Guidebook
(Published by the Institute for Public Sector Innovation of the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, April 2006)

A series of experiential activities developed to help youth understand and apply the Transition framework to their lives. The book includes facilitator notes, lists of materials, and step-by-step instructions for carrying out the activities and guiding reflection.  

Transitioning from Foster Care (PDF)

Youth Writings on Transition
(Represent Magazine, Youth Communication, September 2006 – April 2007)

A youth-authored explanation of the Transition framework, complete with strategies for managing each phase, a guide for keeping Transition diaries, and essays written by youth who completed a 14-week seminar on interpreting and applying the framework to their own lives. This is a great resource for individual or group work with youth.

The guides and essays are listed separately below.

Progress is a Process:  A step-by-step approach to change

How to Keep Your Own Transitions Diary

The Transition Framework – YC Style

A Method to the Madness by Natasha Santos

Flipping the Script by Hattie Rice

Getting Back My Joy, by Erica Harrigan

School Daze by Natasha Santos