Estimates are that each year approximately 20,000 youth leave foster care at age 18 without having been adopted or returned to their parents. African-American youth, who are disproportionately represented in foster care, are more likely to be in residential or group care instead of family foster care, and they also stay in foster care longer and are least likely to be reunified with their families. The foster care system must be designed and maintained to help youth connect to strong families. Youth in the juvenile justice system, particularly those in custodial facilities, are at significant risk of failure when they exit the system and move into young adulthood. They tend to have mental health disorders, drug-use problems, and poor academic achievement and employment prospects. Juvenile corrections systems must treat youth fairly and help them develop the personal resources and skills needed for positive adjustments in the community. Teen childbearing correlates with a host of long-term negative life outcomes. Preventive measures must be used to reduce adolescent pregnancy, and services and resources for teen parents should involve specialized case management and educational services. High-school dropouts rarely achieve a healthy and satisfying adjustment in employment, family life, and personal development. Programs to prevent dropping out of school and provide alternative educational resources for school dropouts must be developed. This essay provides guidance and examples of achievement in meeting the needs of youth in these high-risk subgroups.