Foster Care Alumni Studies "The Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study examined outcomes for 659 alumni who were placed in family foster care as children. The investigation included adults between the ages of 20 and 33 who had been placed in family foster care prior to 1998. The study focused on identifying how alumni were faring and what foster care experiences resulted in positive outcomes. Findings: The majority of the alumni faced significant challenges in the areas of mental health, education, and employment and finances."