Policy Options to Support the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Foster Youth in Washington State

Abstract

Youth in foster care experience disparate sexual and reproductive health outcomes relative to non-foster youth. Many factors influencing these disparities may be amenable to policy intervention. This analysis uses several strategies to critically examine policy options to support the sexual and reproductive health of foster youth in Washington state. First, it evaluates existing Washington law and policy related to the health of youth in foster care and finds the state has a responsibility to support the sexual and reproductive health of foster youth. Then, it analyzes policies in other states using critical review, direct evaluation of implemented programs, and interviews with policy experts. Next, it examines medical, public health, and legal literature to describe research- and expert opinion-informed policy recommendations. Finally, it synthesizes these analyses to provide specific policy recommendations for the state of Washington.