This study investigated the extent to which KnowHow2Go (KH2Go), a national college access campaign developed for first‐generation students in the USA, would resonate with youth who had aged out of foster care. Interviews were conducted with 27 youth who were enrolled in a post‐secondary programme following emancipation from foster care. We found KH2Go to have a close fit with the experiences of youth who had been in foster care. Four topics emerged as particularly important for youth in our study: money management, work, parenting and transportation. Finally, the study identified attributes these youth demonstrated that contributed to their resilience during the transition process. This study and the data presented pertain to youth living in the south‐eastern USA.

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We present our findings on the current well-being of 125 adolescent girls living in families receiving

Depression is a leading cause of disability [World Health Organization (WHO), 2001] with economic costs exceeding 63 billion dollars per year in the US [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 1999]. The challenges of treating depression among the poor are compounded by broader social needs. This study examined the prevalence of depression and psychosocial needs among enrollees in an indigent health care plan. Results indicated clinical levels of depression were present in 28.6% of respondents (n=1,405). Depressed respondents were significantly more likely (p<0.001) to have co-occurring alcohol (OR=1.78; CI(95) =1.32-2.40), drug (OR=2.67; CI(95) =1.80-3.98), and health (OR=5.44; CI(95) = 4.12-7.19) problems compared to non-depressed respondents. Significantly more social needs were also associated with depression. Depressed respondents averaged 7.8 needs compared to 3.6 among non-depressed respondents. Needs included a significantly increased likelihood (p<0.001) of lacking sufficient food (OR=2.56; CI(95) =1.97-3.34), shelter (OR=3.67; CI(95) =2.23-6.05), or money (OR=3.18; CI(95) = 2.39-4.23) and having more legal (OR=2.95; CI(95) =2.22-3.92) and family (OR=3.00; CI(95) =2.32-3.86) problems. The high rates of co-occurring social needs among individuals with clinical depression underscores the need for comprehensive, coordinated care in order to improve their quality of life and also reduce high utilization of crisis management services.

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