The evaluation process
Who contributed
Our sources include both STAY youth and STAY case managers:
STAY youth are young people who experience out-of-home placement or the foster care system, ages 14-23. The youth who participated in this evaluation were all 18 years old or older. We spoke with both STAY youth who participate in a Youth Leadership Council (YLC) and those who do not.
STAY case managers are workers who support STAY youth in their transition to adulthood through navigating transitional services. They also help STAY youth achieve and maintain meaningful, permanent connections with supportive adults. We spoke with both STAY case managers who facilitate YLCs and those who do not.
How people contributed
We used three different methods to collect information from STAY youth and case managers between October and December 2025.
Youth retreat: We went in person to the Cragun’s resort near Brainerd, MN, for a full-day workshop to talk with STAY youth about what helps them thrive in adulthood, specifically across the phases of pre-transition, transition, and post-transition to adulthood as they exit care. STAY youth were compensated with a $100 gift card for their participation. 25 STAY youth participated in the retreat.
Case manager interviews: We also hosted virtual individual interviews with STAY case managers to discuss what helps STAY youth thrive in adulthood and the services and resources most useful or most needed from a case manager perspective. We spoke to 8 STAY case managers: 5 were YLC facilitators, 3 were not.
Youth interviews: Lastly, we hosted virtual individual interviews with some STAY youth to dig deeper into what helps them thrive in adulthood. STAY youth were compensated with a $50 gift card for their participation. We spoke to 4 STAY youth: 3 participated in a YLC, 1 did not.
What we did with the information
We used and adapted Journey Mapping to summarize learnings from each method into a visual report called STAY Island. The report highlights the experiences and input of those who contributed to the evaluation through exploring STAY Island. Journey Mapping is a common evaluation tool used to create a visual representation of the process a person takes to accomplish a goal, along with learning about their experience in each step of that process. Using Journey Mapping allowed us to better understand the steps and milestones that STAY youth have taken or believe it takes to become their best selves and thrive in adulthood. It also allowed us to understand how STAY case managers and other supportive adults contribute to positive outcomes for STAY youth.
Considerations
Nothing is perfect, and that includes evaluation. We reflected on what should be considered when reviewing and using our learnings.
Limited sample size: We had difficulty scheduling and completing virtual individual interviews with the STAY youth we attempted to reach. Of the 16 STAY youth who expressed interest in an interview to their STAY case manager, four followed through.
Avoid overgeneralization: Because of the limited number of STAY youth evaluation participants, it is important not to generalize the STAY Journey Map to all young people currently in or formerly in foster care. Rather, view and explore the map as the many possibilities a young person transitioning out of foster care and into independent living could experience.
