AB 12, California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act reflects recent changes in federal legislation to extend support for foster youth from age 18 until age 21. Using reviews of legislative, regulatory, and program documents and interviews with a variety of key informants, the study will describe what and how research was used to inform state expansion of an entitlement program. The grant helps a senior researcher integrate the study of research use into his research portfolio, while also deepening the Foundation’s understanding of how research is used to inform policy implementation. In addition, the researcher will document how implementation aligns with policymakers’ expectations and variations in implementation across counties. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Stuart Foundation, and the Walter S. Johnson Foundation are also supporting the implementation study.
Funds will support an examination of research use that builds on an implementation study of AB 12, California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act.
