AAP Urges Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
A new American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement calls for better health support for young people leaving the foster care system.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Children’s Health
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The American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement recommending support for youth aging out of foster care, a population of more than 400,000 U.S. children and teens. The statement was made available online November 9, 2026, and will appear in the December 2026 issue of Pediatrics.
Why it matters
Many young people leaving foster care have physical, mental, or behavioral health conditions and may lack the permanent family connections that support healthy transitions to adulthood. The statement addresses barriers that can keep these youth from getting needed care.
The policy statement draws on a foster care population of more than 400,000 U.S. children and teens, with one in four in the adolescent age group. The extraction does not report outcome measures or how many youth in this group currently receive care.
The players
American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP is a professional medical organization representing about 67,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists, which issues evidence-based policy statements on child health.
AAP Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care
This council within the American Academy of Pediatrics develops policy on the health needs of children in foster care, adoption, and kinship care arrangements.
The details
The statement was developed by the AAP Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care and identifies gaps in insurance coverage, difficulty finding providers, and limited support for self-management as barriers to care. Policy statements are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence, and go through several rounds of peer review before approval by the AAP Board of Directors.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Policy statement made available online.
December 2026: Policy statement published in the Pediatrics issue.
Health Landscape
The statement extends the work of the AAP Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care, which develops national pediatric guidance for children in out-of-home care. It focuses on the transition period when youth leave the foster system and lose routine access to coordinated medical care.
Young people leaving foster care may face gaps in insurance coverage and difficulty finding providers when they lose routine access to care. The statement recommends support for self-management to help them keep up with physical, mental, and behavioral health needs.
The takeaway
Stable health care during the transition out of foster care can depend on whether young people have help navigating insurance and finding providers. Families, caseworkers, and clinicians can prioritize those supports before a young person leaves care.
Further reading
Explore more on Children's Health coverage for context on how medical guidance affects young patients across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gold Rush Cam.
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