National Youth In Transition DatabaseAssociation for Criminal Justice Research

March 25, 2010

Shay O’Brien, Center for Public Policy Research, UC Davis

WHO ARE WE?WHO ARE WE?

The Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR) CPPR at the University of California, Davis serves state government and academic institutions.

We conduct research to bring science to policy.

We draw on the expertise of faculty and researchers at UC Davis and throughout the UC/CSU system.

Mission: To inform public policy through rigorous research and conscientious, impartial analysis of issues.

CPPRCPPRCPPRCPPR

Core CPPR Research Staff • Gail S. Goodman, Ph.D.—Professor & Director of CPPR• Michael J. Lawler, MSW, Ph.D.—Co-Director of CPPR• Rudy Haapanen, Ph.D.—Research Director• Ingrid Cordon, Ph.D.—Quantitative Analyst• Shay O’Brien, MSW—Research Writer• Drika Makariev, Ph.D. Candidate—Research Analyst

http://cppr.ucdavis.edu/

TODAY’S TALKTODAY’S TALK

I. What is NYTD? II. Confidentiality of NYTD InformationIII. Baseline SurveyIV. Follow-Up SurveyV. How You Can HelpVI. Discussion and Questions

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)Purpose: To gather nationwide information on the

recipients of foster care services who are reaching the end of their eligibility at age 18.

Goal: To evaluate Chafee-funded services designed to transition youth to independent living at the national level.

Secondary Goal: To provide CDSS with data and analysis for improving services to foster youth in California.

WHAT IS NYTD?WHAT IS NYTD?

NYTD consists of two types of data: Administrative Data (to be supplied by CDSS)• Basic demographics• Independent living services provided• Youth characteristics (e.g., education level, tribal membership)

Survey Data (to be collected by CPPR)• Baseline Survey of outcomes at age 17• Follow-up Survey of outcomes at age 19 and 21 (for a subsample of

the Baseline participants)

WHAT IS NYTD?WHAT IS NYTD?

SURVEY SCHEDULESURVEY SCHEDULE

Fiscal Year of Implementation

CDSS reports Independent Living services

Baseline Survey(17 yr. olds)

Follow-upSurvey(19 yr. olds)

Follow-upSurvey(21 yr. olds)

Year 1 X X (Cohort 1)

Year 2 X

Year 3 X X (Cohort 1)

Year 4 X X (Cohort 2)

Year 5 X X (Cohort 1)

Year 6 X X (Cohort 2)

Year 7 X X (Cohort 3)

Year 8 X X (Cohort 2)

On the survey, youth self-report outcomes in six areas 1. Employment and other sources of income2. Educational attainment3. Permanent relationships with adults4. Housing 5. High-risk behavior 6. Access to health care

Following national trends, California may elect to add additional questions or measures to address issues specifically for California.

WHAT IS NYTD?WHAT IS NYTD?

• We are all deeply committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of this vulnerable population.

• Project staff consulted with o State of California and UCD Institutional Review Boards

o CDSS legal staff, o the state foster care ombudsperson, and o the state Administrative Office of the Courts

regarding appropriate safeguards for participating youth.

• The Foster Care Ombudsperson supports the project, and has agreed to answer questions and address concerns of participating youth or others.

CONFIDENTIALITYCONFIDENTIALITY

• To be conducted by CPPR.

• All California youth who turn 17 while in foster care.

• First cohort: Birthdays between Oct 2010 and Sept 2011.

• Baseline Survey to be completed within 45 days of their 17th birthdays.

BASELINE SURVEYBASELINE SURVEY

The Importance of Broad Participation• The usefulness of the survey data depends on Representativeness Geographic coverage. • Different kinds of youth (e.g., ethnic background, reason

for foster care, or length of foster care) and/or different areas of the state (e.g., rural vs. urban) may differ greatly in services and outcomes.

• We don’t want to hear only from the “successes” or only from those youth who are easy to reach.

BASELINE SURVEYBASELINE SURVEY

CPPR is planning an extensive outreach program to educate and support stakeholders about NYTD.

• Foster youth• Foster parents• Families of foster youth• Caseworkers and other local staff• Probation officers• Court personnelEfforts will involve broadcast media, mail-outs, presentations, social

networking, and other online tools. We welcome your ideas and input.

BASELINE SURVEYBASELINE SURVEY

CPPR will contact every foster youth turning 17 and encourage them to participate in the survey.

Youth will be offered incentives for participation.Youth will be treated with dignity and respect.Youth may decline to answer any question.Youth will have the opportunity to contact the Foster Care

Ombudsperson with questions and concerns.We want youth to feel supported in participating in the survey and

to know why it is important.

BASELINE SURVEYBASELINE SURVEY

The NYTD survey will be designed to be easily-accessed and youth-friendly.

It may be completed• On-line (our primary method),• In groups at local social gatherings,• By telephone, or• In person (interviews).It will be available in English and Spanish, with additional explanation

for each question.It will include sound files in both languages so that youth can listen as

well as read.

BASELINE SURVEYBASELINE SURVEY

• A random sample of baseline survey participants.

• Follow-up surveys at age 19 and again at age 21.

• 60% of follow-up sample must complete the surveys or California will face Chafee Fund penalties.

FOLLOW-UP SURVEYFOLLOW-UP SURVEY

CPPR will attempt to maintain regular contact with youth in the follow-up sample.•birthday cards •newsletters•easily accessible websiteCPPR will offer incentives for youth to keep in touch and to update their contact information.•music downloads or other small incentives•monthly raffles of larger items for youth who update or verify contact information

FOLLOW-UP SURVEYFOLLOW-UP SURVEY

HOW YOU CAN HELPHOW YOU CAN HELP

• Be knowledgeable about and aware of the issues related to this important project.

• Discuss the purpose and procedures of NYTD with youth and other stakeholders to encourage participation.

• Assist youth to complete the survey as possible.• Share your expertise to help us do the best job possible of

completing this federally mandated project.• Contact us anytime to share ideas, get more information,

or pass along feedback you receive in the field.

CONTACT USCONTACT USCenter for Public Policy Research

1632 DaVinci Court Davis, CA 95618530-757-8616cppr.ucdavis.edu

Gail S. Goodman, Ph.D. (ggoodman@ucdavis.edu)

Michael J. Lawler, MSW, Ph.D. (mjlawler@ucdavis.edu)

Rudy Haapanen, Ph.D. (rahaapanen@ucdavis.edu)Shay O’Brien, MSW (sobrien@ucde.ucdavis.edu)

MORE INFORMATIONMORE INFORMATIONChildren’s Bureau Administration for Children and Familieshttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/systems/index.htm#nytd

National Resource Center for Youth Serviceshttp://www.nrcys.ou.edu/yd/nytd2.html

National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technologyhttps://www.nrccwdt.org/resources/nytd/nytd.html#nytd_links

Foster Club’s NYTD pagehttp://transition.fosterclub.com/article/nytd

Link to the Federal Rule and other important documentshttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/systems/nytd/federal_guidance.htm

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

DEMOGRAPHICS1. Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy):__________2. Sex:3. Race (check all that apply)○ American Indian or Alaska Native (you maintain tribal affiliation or

community attachment)o Asian○ Black or African American○ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander○ White○ Hispanic or Latino○ Unknown○ Declined

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS EMPLOYMENT (Yes/No/Declined to answer)

1. Currently are you employed full-time? (35 hours/week or more)

2. Currently are you employed part-time? (34 hours/week or less)

3. In the past year, did you complete an apprenticeship, internship, or other on-the-job training, either paid or unpaid?

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSOTHER SOURCES OF INCOME (Yes/No/Declined to answer) 4. Currently are you receiving social security payments

(Supplemental Security Income (SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or dependents' payments)?

5. Currently are you using a scholarship, grant, stipend, student loan, voucher, or other type of educational financial aid to cover any educational expenses?

6. Currently are you receiving any periodic and/or significant financial resources or support from another source not previously indicated and excluding paid employment?

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSOTHER SOURCES OF INCOME (Yes/No/Declined to answer)

(continued)

7. Currently are you receiving ongoing welfare payments from the government to support your basic needs (CalWorks)?

8. Currently are you receiving public food assistance?

9. Currently are you receiving any sort of housing assistance from the government, such as living in public housing or receiving a housing voucher?

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSEDUCATION 10. What is the highest educational degree or certification that you have

received?• ○ High school diploma/GED• ○ Vocational certificate• ○ Vocational license• ○ Associate's degree• ○ Bachelor's degree• ○ Higher degree• ○ None of the above• ○ Declined

11. Currently are you enrolled in and attending high school, GED classes, post-high school vocational training, or college?

BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSBASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONS

EDUCATION 10. What is the highest educational degree or certification that you

have received?○ High school diploma/GED○ Vocational certificate○ Vocational license○ Associate's degree○ Bachelor's degree○ Higher degree○ None of the above○ Declined

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSEDUCATION (Yes/No/Declined to answer)

11. Currently are you enrolled in and attending high school, GED classes, post-high school vocational training, or college?

PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS (Yes/No/Declined) 12. Currently is there at least one adult in your life, other than your

caseworker, to whom you can go for advice or emotional support?

HOUSING (Yes/No/Declined to answer/Do not know) 13. Have you ever been homeless?

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSRISKY BEHAVIORS (Yes/No/Declined to answer)

14. Have you ever referred yourself or has someone else referred you for an alcohol or drug abuse assessment or counseling?

15. Have you ever been confined in a jail, prison, correctional facility, or juvenile or community detention facility, in connection with allegedly committing a crime?

16. Have you ever given birth or fathered any children that were born?

17. Were you married to the child's other parent at the time each child was born?

BASELINE SURVEY BASELINE SURVEY QUESTIONSQUESTIONSACCESS TO HEALTH CARE (Yes/No/Declined to answer/Do not know or N-A

18. Currently are you on Medicaid or Medical?

19. Currently do you have health insurance, other than Medicaid?

20. Does your health insurance include coverage for medical services?

21. Does your health insurance include coverage for mental health services?

22. Does your health insurance include coverage for prescription drugs?