Supporting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: A Theory-Guided Integrative Review Using Meleis's Transition Theory

Background: Annually, approximately 170,000 persons in the United States transition from foster care to independent adulthood, often with an abrupt discontinuation of essential support services. The immediate loss of vital supports often triggers a cascade of instability that flows into the financial, guardianship, and safety sectors. Purpose: The purpose of this review was to examine the small body of literature that explicitly applies Meleis's Transition Theory to the experiences of individuals aging out of foster care and to synthesize the literature to more effectively assess transition conditions, patterns of response, and nursing therapeutics for this population. Methods: A theory-guided, integrative review was conducted to enhance the understanding of holistic, multifaceted phenomena. The articles were synthesized through the lens of Transition Theory to deepen understanding and inform nursing care planning for individuals aging out of foster care. Results: Findings were synthesized across three theory-informed domains: transition conditions, patterns of response, and nursing therapeutics. Across the studies, the literature consistently highlighted the importance of relational support, preparation for independence, and coordinated, transition-focused nursing interventions. Implications for Practice: Nurses encounter this population across a variety of clinical and community settings and are well-positioned to support healthy transitions to independence. Meleis's Transition Theory assists nurses caring for this population in recognizing vulnerability, preventing secondary trauma, and connecting patients to resources beyond their scope of practice.