“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...

they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.”

—To Kill a Mockingbird

Ending Homelessness for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

National Conference on Ending Family & Youth

Homelessness February 19th, 2014

Jim Theofelis MC, LMHC, CDC Executive Director and Founder

206-323-kids(5437) www.mockingbirdsociety.org jim@mockingbirdsociety.org

The Mockingbird Society Building a World-Class Foster Care System

Mission Statement: Building a World-Class Foster Care System

Mission The mission of The Mockingbird Society is to advocate for systems reform based on the personal experiences of children, youth and families impacted by the foster care system. Vision At The Mockingbird Society we are dedicated to building a world-class foster care system that ensures the care, support and resources necessary for children, youth and families to thrive.

We will have achieved our mission when every

child has the opportunity not only to survive, but to

thrive

Measuring Our Success

How We Are Going About Building . . .

• Change the Rules: Policy & Budget Allocation

• Change the Practice

• Humanize the issue by putting a face to the issue

• Operational definition of “world-class system”

The Mockingbird Society Programs

The Mockingbird Network

• A statewide network of local Chapters led by youth and alumni of foster and kinship care.

• Youth in care have a VOICE

Mockingbird Family Model

Programs

• Practice advocacy

• Practical, replicable STRUCTURE for foster care delivery

Public Policy & Communications

• Change the policy, change the practice

• Put a human face on the issues

What Is the Mockingbird Family Model?

A practical, replicable service-delivery structure that:

• Ensures the health, safety and development of children while achieving

stability and permanency

• Ensures that caregivers have the energy, capacity and support to

provide the highest quality of care.

“We cannot solve problems using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Mockingbird Family Model: Foster Care Application At A Glance

Host Agency (DCFS or Private Licensing Agency) MFM Support

MFM Fidelity

MFM Evaluation

Mockingbird Society

BIRTH HOME

About The Mockingbird Network

• Community Engagement Activities

• Individual Development

• System Reform Efforts

The Mockingbird Network is a statewide program that has a dual focus on policy and youth development. As part of The Mockingbird Network, youth have the opportunity to participate in:

Network Regional Chapters

Everett

Spokane Seattle

Yakima

Tacoma Olympia

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2

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3

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The Mockingbird

Network

Network Chapters

Mockingbird Times Speakers

Program

Annual Events

State Advisory Council

Leadership Trainings

Network Components

Youth-Inspired Priorities

Safe Housing Safety in Care Health & Well-being Youth Empowerment

2013 Extended Foster Care Allow youth participating in programs that break down barriers to employment to remain in care until age 21 (SB 5405) 2012 Extended Foster Care Allow youth pursuing their college or vocational education to remain in care until age 21. (HB 2592) 2011 Extended Foster Care First “opt-in” to federal Fostering Connections Act, allowing youth to remain in care to age 21 to pursue their high school diploma or GED. (HB 1128) 2009 Fostering Connections Extends Foster Youth Achievement Act. (HB 1961) 2007 Independent Youth Housing (HB 1922) 2006 Foster Youth Achievement Act First effort for post-18 housing/50 youth per year/ renamed Foster Care to 21 by CA officials. (HB 2002)

2011 Unannounced Visits Allow for a randomly selected portion of

foster homes to receive an unannounced

health and safety visit from a social

worker (HB 1697)

2013 Sibling Visits Prevent visits between siblings in care from being restricted as a form of punishment (SB 5389) 2007 Healthcare to 21 ALL youth exiting foster care, whether in housing with state or not, receive health coverage. (HB 1201)

2009 Notification of Rights in Foster Care (SB 5758) 2007 Creating verifiable WA “Identicard” for Foster Youth (HB 6792)

2013 72-Notification Allows youth shelters 72-hours to notify parents/caregivers of a runaway youth, giving them time to effectively serve the youth and safely reunify them with their families (SB 5147) 2008 Increased Housing Trust Fund to include youth 2005 Reprioritizing Adolescents and ensuring abuse investigation (SB 5583)

2010 Subsidized Guardianships to Kinship Families (HB 2680) 2009 Post-adoption Sibling Visits (HB 1938) 2009 Eight-hour Notification expanded in certain cases (HB 2752)

2010 Expanding Sealing of Juvenile Records (SB 6561) 2010 Youth vested with full voting rights on Transformation Design Committee. (SB 6832) 2010 Notification of Right to Counsel in dependency (HB 2735) 2004 Sealing Juvenile Records (HB 3078)

1999 Homeless Youth Prevention, Protection & Education Act (HOPE ACT) Emergency shelter program for adolescents in crisis, only program that youth can self-refer.

(HB 1493)*

2012 Homeless Assistance Surcharge Increased resources for Home Security Fund (HB 2048)

*Advocated by Jim Theofelis, pre-Mockingbird Idea originated with Network Idea originated from The Mockingbird Society/Partners

Legislative Accomplishments

How We Go About Engaging:

Youth-Led Trainings 25,000 Subscriptions

Annual Events

At the Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit youth 14-24 participate in:

• Leadership Development workshops that focus on:

• System Change

• Individual Development

• Community Engagement

• Bringing the voice of youth and alumni across the state to policy makers

At the Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit youth 14-24 participate in:

Annual Events

Report out to the Washington State Supreme Court

Commission on Foster Care

Annual Events

Speak Up!

As part of the speakers programs, youth/alumni: 1. Educate the public about

the life experiences of children and youth in care.

2. Present at conferences, workshops, etc.

3. Participate in system reform efforts.

State Advisory Council

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At chapter gatherings, participants share meals, develop friendships with peers and adult supporters, and engage in fun and empowering activities

in the community.

Community Engagement

Public Education

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Participants conduct trainings and speak in the community to raise consciousness about foster care and homelessness issues.

Civic Engagement

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Participants meet with local decision makers to put a human face on foster care and homelessness issues, and work on projects to improve their communities for foster

and homeless youth.

Systems Reform

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Participants develop ideas to improve systems and advocate for

them year round.

Youth Advocates Ending Homelessness(YAEH)

• Foster care directly links

to homelessness

• Homeless youth

participating in advocacy,

informing policy decisions

• City, county, and

statewide advocacy

• Statewide coalition of

homeless youth providers

• Breaking myths-from

victim to leader

I am not voiceless. I am not alone. We are

together and we are strong.

At The Mockingbird Society, we believe that our young people are not victims, clients, or problems to be

solved. As the driving force within the Mockingbird Network, they are establishing their position as

LEADERS in the community, ADVOCATES for themselves and their peers, and AGENTS OF CHANGE

in the child welfare system!

Youth-Inspired Priorities

Safe Housing Safety in Care Health & Well-being Youth Empowerment

2013 Extended Foster Care Allow youth participating in programs that break down barriers to employment to remain in care until age 21 (SB 5405) 2012 Extended Foster Care Allow youth pursuing their college or vocational education to remain in care until age 21. (HB 2592) 2011 Extended Foster Care First “opt-in” to federal Fostering Connections Act, allowing youth to remain in care to age 21 to pursue their high school diploma or GED. (HB 1128) 2009 Fostering Connections Extends Foster Youth Achievement Act. (HB 1961) 2007 Independent Youth Housing (HB 1922) 2006 Foster Youth Achievement Act First effort for post-18 housing/50 youth per year/ renamed Foster Care to 21 by CA officials. (HB 2002)

2011 Unannounced Visits Allow for a randomly selected portion of

foster homes to receive an unannounced

health and safety visit from a social

worker (HB 1697)

2013 Sibling Visits Prevent visits between siblings in care from being restricted as a form of punishment (SB 5389) 2007 Healthcare to 21 ALL youth exiting foster care, whether in housing with state or not, receive health coverage. (HB 1201)

2009 Notification of Rights in Foster Care (SB 5758) 2007 Creating verifiable WA “Identicard” for Foster Youth (HB 6792)

2013 72-Notification Allows youth shelters 72-hours to notify parents/caregivers of a runaway youth, giving them time to effectively serve the youth and safely reunify them with their families (SB 5147) 2008 Increased Housing Trust Fund to include youth 2005 Reprioritizing Adolescents and ensuring abuse investigation (SB 5583)

2010 Subsidized Guardianships to Kinship Families (HB 2680) 2009 Post-adoption Sibling Visits (HB 1938) 2009 Eight-hour Notification expanded in certain cases (HB 2752)

2010 Expanding Sealing of Juvenile Records (SB 6561) 2010 Youth vested with full voting rights on Transformation Design Committee. (SB 6832) 2010 Notification of Right to Counsel in dependency (HB 2735) 2004 Sealing Juvenile Records (HB 3078)

1999 Homeless Youth Prevention, Protection & Education Act (HOPE ACT) Emergency shelter program for adolescents in crisis, only program that youth can self-refer.

(HB 1493)*

2012 Homeless Assistance Surcharge Increased resources for Home Security Fund (HB 2048)

*Advocated by Jim Theofelis, pre-Mockingbird Idea originated with Network Idea originated from The Mockingbird Society/Partners

Legislative Accomplishments

Extended Foster Care (HB 1128) – Safe Housing for Youth in Care

Unannounced Visits (HB 1697) -- Increasing Safety in Care

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HB 2735: Notification of the Right to Request Counsel in Dependency Proceedings and Training

and Caseload Standards

Off Session Visits: Putting a Face on the Issue

Where to Start?

• Where you are at! Crawl-Walk-Run

• Youth identify an issue that is important to youth

• Do the background work (homework)

• Current policy; opposition-allies; Identify/develop

legislative and community champions (donors)

• Like-minded coalitions to join and/or adopt the issue

Benefits to Youth & Community

Youth:

• Re-frame the conversation: from victim to advocate;

treatment plan to leadership/identity development

• Locus of control

• Meaningful contribution equates healing (5 yr old…)

• Pro-social activity/passion development

Benefits to Community

• Myth buster: from “those” kids to “our” kids

• Media attention on youth in positive role

• Reframe the conversation: Juvenile prostitution to

CSEC; running away to running to

• Building political will among donors/community

leaders - “Mixed Choir”

“Do all we can, with what we have, in the

time we have, in the place we are.”

Nkosi Johnson, 1988-2001

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...

they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.”

—To Kill a Mockingbird

Ending Homelessness for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

National Conference on Ending Family & Youth

Homelessness February 19th, 2014