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Transition Through Middle And High School And Beyond

Youth in Foster Care in Virginia: The Road to Living Independently fact sheet
August 01, 2025

Developed by FFF as part of the WAZE to Adulthood project at PEATC, this fact sheet is designed for youth and young adults connected to foster care. It describes options for independent living after high school.

  • Factsheet, Youth in Foster Care in Virginia: The Road to Living Independently fact sheet

    Independent Living Fact Sheet

Participar en la Planificación Centrada en la Persona para Estudiantes y Adultos Jóvenes con Discapacidades en Familias Temporales, de Parentesco o Adoptivas
This Spanish version of  “Participating in Person-Centered Planning for Students and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families” is from FFF’s work with the WAZE to Adulthood project.
Hoja Informativa de WAZE a la Adultez
Gracias a Formed Families Forward por su colaboración en este recurso
  • Factsheet, Participar en la Planificación Centrada en la Persona para Estudiantes y Adultos Jóvenes con Discapacidades en Familias Temporales, de Parentesco o Adoptivas

    Fact Sheet

Transition Across the Grade Span: From Pre-K to Post-Grad
November 01, 2025

From VCU’s Center on Transition Innovations and the Virginia Family Engagement Network (FEN):

This easy-to-use guide empowers families to navigate post-secondary transition planning for children with disabilities, starting in early childhood and continuing into adulthood. It covers four key areas of transition planning: self-determination, postsecondary education and training, employment, and independent living and community participation. Regardless of where your child begins their special education journey, these considerations provide a supportive framework for addressing your child’s unique needs. Plan and help your child thrive in every stage of life!

  • Document, Transition Across the Grade Span: From Pre-K to Post-Grad

    Link to Transition Across the Grade Span resource

Your guide to the Foster Care Specialty Plan from Anthem HealthKeepers Plus
July 18, 2025

This guide from Anthem HealthKeepers Plus overviews the new (July 2025) Foster Care Specialty Plan for youth and young adults in and formerly in foster care.

  • PDF, Your guide to the Foster Care Specialty Plan from Anthem HealthKeepers Plus

    Foster Care Specialty Plan Guide

Person Centered Planning Fact Sheets for Youth

These fact sheets from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC) and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration are designed for youth. They define person-centered planning and offer strategies and offer questions for students to consider, in written and virtual formats.

  • PDF, Person Centered Planning Fact Sheets for Youth

    Person Centered Planning Visual Fact Sheet

  • PDF, Person Centered Planning Fact Sheets for Youth

    Person Centered Planning Written Fact Sheet

Self Advocacy Fact Sheets for Youth

These fact sheets from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC) and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration are designed for youth. They define self advocacy and offer strategies, in written and virtual formats.

  • PDF, Self Advocacy Fact Sheets for Youth

    Self Advocacy Visual Fact Sheet

  • PDF, Self Advocacy Fact Sheets for Youth

    Self Advocacy Written Fact Sheet

Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families- VA
March 01, 2024

This fact sheet by Formed Families Forward details postsecondary options available to youth and young adults in foster, adoptive, or kinship care as they plan for the transition from high school to college or career.

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families- VA

    VA fact sheet

  • HTML, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families- VA

    Accessible HTML version

Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)
June 01, 2024

This fact sheet prepared by Formed Families Forward, in partnership with the WAZE to Adulthood project with the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) covers postsecondary educational options and resources for youth and young adults in foster care,  kinship care, and adoptive homes, and who have disabilities in 5 states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennesse.

The sheets are designed for parents, caregivers, professionals and youth.

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

    FL fact sheet

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

    GA fact sheet

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

    NC fact sheet

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

    SC fact sheet

  • Factsheet, Postsecondary Options for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship, or Adoptive Families (SE States)

    TN fact sheet

Considerations for Mental Health Support While Transition Planning
May 01, 2024

This Topical Paper from VCU Center on Transition Innovation addresses mental health prevalence among transition-aged youth. It overviews mental health and disability, and mental health and transition, and offers strategies for supporting students.

  • PDF, Considerations for Mental Health Support While Transition Planning

    Considerations for Mental Health Support While Transition Planning

Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation hub
March 27, 2024

From the US Department of Labor.

The Supporting Transformative Change in Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Opportunities for People with Disabilities landing page links to resources to support steps to increase the participation of people with disabilities in CIE. Whether you’re an individual with a disability or family member, employment service provider, state agency or employer our CIE Transformation Hub has practical resources for you.

  • Website, Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation hub

    Competitive Integrated Employment hub

Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

This progressive, 9th-12th grade curriculum, offers high school counselors with five, 1.5 hour lessons they can deliver to parents/students to help them get ready for college/careers. The lessons are structured to achieve five main goals: 1) Strengthen the parent/student relationship by providing a safe and structured space for dialogue; 2) Establish a strong connection between parents/students with their high school counselors; 3) Increase student/family knowledge of the academic and developmental milestones they will encounter in high school;  4) Develop skills and strategies necessary to be on track for a post-secondary education/career; and 5) Successfully complete a PSAT/PLAN, SAT/ACT, FAFSA, and college/technical education application or job application.

  • Website, Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

    Paving the Way webpage

Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative for housing

This federal program offers vouchers for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs).  Eligibility includes youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days.

  • Website, Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative for housing

    FYI information from HUD

  • Website, Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative for housing

    Information on FYI program from National Center for Housing and Child Welfare

Military Families with Disabilities Resources
October 02, 2023

This page on the Center for Family Involvement website offers links to video and print resources designed for Virginia military-connected families who are raising children and youth wtih disabilities. Additional resources from Formed Families Forward and PEATC are also linked.

  • Website, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Military Family Resources

  • Video, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families video from FFF

  • Factsheet, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Turning 18 in Military Families fact sheet from PEATC

Turning 18 fact sheets

These fact sheets for youth and young adults focus on critical actions, items and services that are important when a youth turns 18 years of age.

Produced as part of the WAZE to Adulthood project of the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC). One fact sheet, Youth in Foster Care in Virginia: What Happens When You Turn 18 is specifically for youth in foster care and was written by Formed Families Forward as part of an agreement with the WAZE project.

Other sheets address all youth and another addresses youth in military families.

  • Factsheet, Turning 18 fact sheets

    Youth in Foster Care in Virginia - What Happens When You Turn 18 fact sheet

  • Factsheet, Turning 18 fact sheets

    Turning 18 in Virginia: A Resource Document for families

  • Factsheet, Turning 18 fact sheets

    Turning 18 in Virginia: A Resource Document for Military Families

IDEA to ADA: The Difference Between High School and College Accommodations webinar
January 10, 2023

Originally broadcast on January 10, 2023. this webinar was presented by Annie Tulkin, MS, Accessible College LLC.

  • PDF, IDEA to ADA: The Difference Between High School and College Accommodations webinar

    Webinar presentation slides

  • Video, IDEA to ADA: The Difference Between High School and College Accommodations webinar

    Webinar recording

  • Document, IDEA to ADA: The Difference Between High School and College Accommodations webinar

    Accessible College Resources from presenter Annie Tulkin

Educate, Collaborate, and Engage with Family Members throughout the Transition Process fact sheet
November 01, 2022

From VCU’s Center on Transitions Innovation, this brief factsheet covers strategies for educating, collaborating and engaging families of transition-age youth and young adults with disabilities.

  • Factsheet, Educate, Collaborate, and Engage with Family Members throughout the Transition Process fact sheet

    Transition Process fact sheet

Transition Planning for Youth in Foster Care fact sheet
November 08, 2022

From FFF and the WAZE to Transition project at PEATC, this fact sheet is designed for youth in foster care. It overviews individualized education programs (IEPs) and foster care transition plans.

A Spanish version of the fact sheet is also available.

  • Factsheet, Transition Planning for Youth in Foster Care fact sheet

    Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet

  • Factsheet, Transition Planning for Youth in Foster Care fact sheet

    Spanish Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet en Espanol

VDOE Credit accommodations for Advanced Studies and Standard Diplomas

This webpage provides updated information about available accommodations for earning credits needed for Virginia’s Standard and Advanced Studies diplomas.

  • Website, VDOE Credit accommodations for Advanced Studies and Standard Diplomas

    VDOE Credit Accommodations for students with disabilities

Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

Shared in 2022, these resources from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services offers youth and families great tools for planning for key medical, housing, social, educational and other supports as youth enter young adulthood.

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement fill-in document

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    How to fill out the Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement document

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Discovery Tool

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Relationship Map

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Plain language authorization for education release of information

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Plain language authorization for medical release of information

IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care
April 04, 2022

A fact sheet developed by Formed Families Forward for the Parent Educational Adocacy and Training Center (PEATC)’s WAZE to Adulthood project. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Designed for parents, caregivers, professional partners and others.

  • Factsheet, IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

    Planning for Transition IEPs fact sheet