The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized effectiveness trial to determine whether adding a preventive intervention at the transition from elementary to middle school is effective and cost effective in terms of ameliorating outcomes such as drug and tobacco use, participation in HIV- risking sexual behavior, delinquency, mental health problems, and school failure for young adolescents in foster care. The proposed LINKS intervention marries the goals of child welfare and educational systems. The aims are: a) to determine the effectiveness of the LINKS intervention on key behavioral health and school adjustment outcomes, b) to examine mechanisms of action; specifically the mediating effects of placement failure on outcomes, c) to examine the moderating role of fidelity on outcomes, and d) to examine cost effectiveness and cost avoidance of LINKS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• the focal youth will be transitioning into middle school
• the focal youth is in either a foster or kinship care home
• the focal youth has been in the home for a minimum of 30 days (including those who are newly placed in care and those moving from another type of placement).

Exclusion Criteria:

• youth who are are considered medically fragile (i.e., severely physically or mentally handicapped)