Challenges Facedby

Aging Out Youth

Topics for Today

I. Introductions

II. Challenges Facing Youth Who “Age Out” of Care

III. Overcoming Barriers to Youth Success

IV. Exit Plans and Other Federal Interventions to Improve Youth Outcomes

V. State and Local Resources to Support Youth in Transition

VI. Permanency Pacts

VII. Closing and Evaluation

Life’s Transitions Do Not Happen Overnight

Recommended Reading: Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2012 Foster Youth Internship Report

Lack of Family Privilege

Front-End Investment vs. Long-Term Costs

Source: Mark Courtney, Chapin Hall Center for Children. Costsand Benefits of Extending Foster Care Until Age 21 (2009).

Society’s dividendsif foster youth succeed

Source: Children’s Advocacy Institute, University of San Diego School of Law.

Name That Statistic:Housing Questions

Percentage of foster care youth who report experiencing homelessness after “aging out” of care: ____

Percentage of homeless adults who spent time in foster care as children: ____

Percentage of Chafee funds that counties can use for funds for housing for emancipated foster youth: ____

Housing Outcomes – Without Support

Percentage of foster care youth who report experiencing homelessness after “aging out” of care: 20%

Percentage of homeless adults who spent time in foster care as children: 25%

Percentage of Chafee funds that counties can use for funds for housing for emancipated foster youth: 30%

Name That Statistic:Education Questions

Percentage of foster care youth who express a desire to attend college: ____

Percentage of foster youth who are enrolled in college prep courses: ____

Percentage of foster youth who graduate from college: ____

Higher Education Outcomes

Percentage of foster care youth who express a desire to attend college: 75%

Percentage of foster youth who are enrolled in college prep courses: 15%

Percentage of foster youth who graduate from college: Less than 2% (vs. 24% of the general pop.)

Source: Cost Avoidance: Bolstering the Economic Case for Investing in Youth Aging Out of Foster Care. Cutler Consulting and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, 2009.

Name That Statistic:Workforce Questions

National youth employment rate: ____

The current national employment rate for African American males between ages 16 to 19: ____

Percentage of former foster youth who are not connected to the job market by age 24: ____

National Youth Employment Rate

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, youth between ages 16-19 were hardest hit by the recession and its aftermath (chart).

As of August 2012, the national youth employment rate has decreased further, and is now 28.9%

* United States Department of Labor, August 2012

National employment rate for African American males between ages 16 to 19: 24.9%

Source: CRS Report forCongress,CongressionalResearchService,May 10, 2012

Percentage of former foster youth who are not connected to the job market by age 24: 20 – 30%

Source: Chapin Hall Issue Brief : Employment of Former FosterYouth as Youth Adults: Results from the Midwest Study (2010)

Name That Statistic:Health Questions

Top two reasons why children enter foster care: ____

Percentage of former foster youth who experience PTSD: ____

National percentage of young people, ages 18-24 who reported lack of access to healthcare due to no medical insurance: ____

Top two reasons why children enter foster care: Abuse and Neglect

Percentage of former foster youth who experience PTSD: 65%

Source: Casey Family Programs’ Northwest Alumni Study, 2003

National percentage of young people, ages 18-24 who reported lack of access to healthcare due to no medical insurance: 65%

Foster Care Alumni of America’s“Culture of Foster Care”

Postcard Project

Challenges Facing Youth Who “Age Out” of Care

Point of Transition:Child and Adult Systems

Disconnection

Child Mental Health

Adult Mental Health

Child WelfareSpecial Education

Juvenile Justice Criminal JusticeSubstance AbuseVocational Rehabilitation

Housing

Group Activity

Youth-In-Crisis

Off - Track On - TrackYouth is homeless Transitional housing

Disconnected young person Workforce and/or Higher Ed

No healthcare Enrolled in Medicaid

Our Youth Lack Two Things

1. Preparation

2. A Safety Net

What’s an Exit Plan?

*a.k.a.

• “Discharge/Case-Closing Plan”• “Self-Sufficiency/Emancipation Plan”• “Transition Plan”• “Personalized Transition Plan”

Federal LegislationFostering Connections to Success and Increasing

Adoptions Act of 2008 Title II, Section 202

• Mandates that 90 days prior to emancipation from foster care, “a caseworker on the staff of the State agency, and, as appropriate, other representatives of the child provide the child with assistance and support in developing a transition plan that is personalized at the direction of the child, includes specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services, and work force supports and employment services, and is as detailed as the child may elect.”

Ohio Administrative Code

• Ninety days prior to the youth’s emancipation from the agency’s custody, the PCSA or PCPA shall work with the youth to develop a final transition plan.

• The plan shall be youth-driven and as detailed as the youth chooses.

Vital Documents:Prior to the youth’s emancipation from the agency’s custody, the PCSA or PCPA shall coordinate with the following agencies, to obtain necessary documents:

• an original birth certificate• an original social security card• a current state identification card

*OAC 5101:2-42-19: “Requirements for the provision of independent living services to youth in custody”

Essential Elements:

• Post-Emancipation Services (if available)

• Healthcare; insurance, power of attorney

• Higher Ed; secondary, post-secondary

• Housing; obtaining, paying for

• Budgeting; credit report

• Selective Services (males must register)

• Existing Court Fees (preexisting)

• Existing Benefits; i.e. Social Security

Life As A Juggling Act

“Name That Logo”

What are FUP Vouchers?

Housing Choice Vouchers

• “Youth 18-21 years old who left foster care after the age of 16 and lack adequate housing.” (Congress, Oct. 2000)

• Requires local partnership between public housing authorities and public child welfare agencies.

1998 Workforce Investment Act

WIA funds can be used for:

• One-Stop Centers

• Youth Service Programs (low-income, high risk)

• Residential Training Programs like Job Corps

Definition of an “Independent Student”

Three categories:• Student who is an orphan, in foster care, or a

ward of the court, at any time when the student was 13 years of age or older

• Student who is an emancipated minor or is in legal guardianship as determined by the court in their state of legal residence

• Applicant is verified as an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness and self-supporting

2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act

Benefits for eligible foster care youth

• The ETV program is a federally-funded, state-administered program that provides grants up to $5,000 per year to assist former foster youth pursing higher education.

• This includes college and vocational training institutions.• Funds can be used for: Tuition, books, textbooks, and

living expenses.• To learn more, visit:

ohio@statevoucher.org

Eligibility for ETV Funds

A current, or former foster youth who: – Was in foster care on their 18th birthday and aged

out at that time; OR– Was adopted from foster care with the adoption

finalized AFTER his/her 16th birthday; OR– Will have his/her foster care case closed between

the ages of 18 and 21.• At least 18, but younger than 21, to apply for the first

time. • Already accepted or enrolled in a degree, certificate

or other accredited program at a college, university, technical, vocational school.

• To remain eligible for ETV funding, students must show progress toward a degree or certificate.

• Students remain eligible for ETV up to age 23 if they received ETV funding prior to their 21st birthday.

John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program

Chafee funding can be used to pay for:

•Housing (up to 30% of allocation)•College Textbooks•Transportation•Credit Recovery•All fees associated with GED, SAT, ACT•All fees associated with Post Secondary Education Enrollment•And more….

B-E-G-I-N

Healthcare

• FCASPL 183 (Ind. Living Transition Plans)

• Family, Children, and Adult Services Procedure Letter No. 183, sent out by Director Lumpkin on October 5, 2009

• The plan must include a completed Medicaid application

Involving Youth Voice in Plans for Their Future

Empowering Youth to Plan for the Future

Interdependence

Recommended Reading: Transitioning Youth: Blending the Worlds of Permanency and Independent Living. The Casey Center for Effective Child Welfare Practice.

“The blending of the worlds of permanency and independent livingIs imperative if our youth are ever to be adequately prepared for life,love and work in adulthood.”

Who were the top three

people in your Safety

Net and why?

Copyright Lisa Dickson

Permanency Pact:

What exactly can I rely on you for?

It is critical to the youth’s success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care.

Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth’s safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult(s).

• A home for the holidays• A place to do laundry• An emergency place to stay• Care packages while in college• Storage• Someone to discuss problems with• A phone or computer to use

12 years old

Enter foster care

14 years old

All-girls

group home

16 years old

Co-ed group home,

Miscarriage

17 years old:

college sophomore, evicted, homeless,

high-risk behaviors

19 years old college, broke,

no medical insurance

Wife and (step)mother

Planning for the Future