Chapin Hall

Early Implementation Lessons from San Francisco’s Guaranteed Income Pilot for Young People Who Aged Out of Extended Foster Care

What does it take to successfully implement a guaranteed income pilot for young people who aged out of extended foster care? Foundations for the Future, San Francisco Human Services Agency’s guaranteed income pilot, provides monthly cash payments of $1,200 plus optional supportive services for 18 months to young people who recently aged out of extended foster care. This research brief presents findings from Chapin Hall’s evaluation of that pilot. It highlights some of the challenges and successes related to the pilot’s implementation. 

What We Did

Chapin Hall researchers analyzed program data on participation in optional supportive services, survey data collected from 82 participants approximately nine months post-enrollment, and data from interview with pilot participants and staff from the San Francisco Human Services Agency, Bay Area Legal Aid, and First Place for Youth. Together, these data provide a detailed picture of the pilot’s implementation. 

What We Found

• Young people were motivated to enroll in the pilot but many required assistance completing the application. 

• Accessing the monthly payments was easy for participants but staff experienced some problems with the platform early on.  

• Uptake of the optional supportive services was lower than expected. About half of the participants engaged in at least one, and participants who engaged in the optional supportive services generally found them helpful.  

• Consistent communication among the partners and flexibility to make adjustments were critical to successful implementation. 

What It Means

Supportive services may be underused if they are not perceived as relevant or their value is unclear. Involving young people in the planning process and requiring some minimal level of engagement could ensure that more young people benefit from the supportive services not only while they are receiving guaranteed income but also after the guaranteed income ends. Additionally, successful implementation requires effective communication among partners and flexibility to adapt service delivery as new needs emerge. 

Explore this related brief for findings on young people’s experiences midway through the pilot. 

Read the brief