The South Carolina NYTD Team is nationally recognized as a leader in the NYTD initiative. The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) is a data collection system that was created by the Federal Administration for Children and Families to track services funded by the Chafee Independent Living Program (NYTD Services) and to develop outcome measures (NYTD Survey) to assess the state’s performance. This database is a valuable tool in the effort to understand what works and what does not work for youth in foster care. The data will help individual states assess their efforts to prepare youth for the transition to adulthood and will be used to examine national trends related to youth in transition.

In August, the SC NYTD team showcased their data collection procedures and youth engagement strategies at the NYTD Technical Assistance Meeting in Washington, DC. South Carolina was one of only four states (South Carolina, South Dakota, Illinois, and Colorado) invited to be part of the panel “Challenges, Surprises and Successes from the First NYTD Reporting Period” in the main plenary session.

Dr. Monique Mitchell presented South Carolina’s survey instrument and methodology—a CCFS NYTD initiative—in the “Strategies for Improving Your State’s NYTD Youth Outcome Survey Instrument and Methodology” session. Facilitators from the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology accompanied her. South Carolina was one of only two states with individual presentations.

South Carolina was also one of only two states (South Carolina and Washington) invited to be on the “NYTD as a Youth Empowerment Strategy” session.

Youth from all over the country attended the NYTD TA Meeting to advocate on behalf of youth in foster care and transitioning out of foster care. The purpose of the conference was to help states learn from and support one another as they implement the National Youth in Transition Database.