2016 real life 101
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Preparing and empowering Ohio foster care teens to build successful lives for themselves during and after foster care
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2016 real life 101
- 1. Real Life 101 Preparing teens in foster care for living on their own Lisa Dickson Communications Chair ACTION Ohio Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now
- 2. Two things our young people in and from foster care need the most: 1. Preparation (being informed, prepared and empowered) 2. A Safety Net
- 3. Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now We bring together the voices of foster care youth, alumni and allies, to create lasting change and generate hope for current and former foster youth, based on access to resources, ally support and alumni expertise.
- 4. Transition to Young Adulthood for a young person growing up with their biological family
- 5. Challenges faced by a young person who “ages out” of foster care
- 6. Point of Transition: Child Vs. Adult Systems Disconnection Child Mental Health Adult Mental Health Child Welfare Special Education Juvenile Justice Criminal Justice Substance Abuse Vocational Rehabilitation Housing
- 7. Root of the problem
- 8. FCAA Postcard Project Foster Care Alumni of America’s “Culture of Foster Care” Postcard Project
- 9. 12 years old Enter foster care 14 years old All-girls group home 16 years old Co-ed group home, Miscarriage
- 10. 17 years old: college sophomore, evicted, homeless, high-risk behaviors 19 years old college, broke, no medical insurance
- 12. • When is the shift from statistic to survivor? • Research tends to focus on teenagers and young people in their 20s...
- 13. Life’s Transitions Do Not Happen Overnight Recommended Reading: Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2012 Foster Youth Internship Report
- 14. Young Adulthood Statistics, while important: • Don’t tell the whole story • Promote low expectations • Are perpetuated by systemic barriers
- 15. What’s an Exit Plan? *a.k.a. • “Discharge/Case-Closing Plan” • “Self-Sufficiency/Emancipation Plan” • “Transition Plan” • “Personalized Transition Plan”
- 16. Federal Legislation Fostering 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.”
- 17. 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.
- 18. 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”
- 19. 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
- 20. “Name That Logo”
- 21. Job Corps • Job Corps is a great way to complete an education, learn a marketable trade, make friends and graduate with a good job in hand. • Each Job Corps Center is unique, but they all feature campus-like settings with dormitories where students can live.
- 22. Higher Ed and Earning a Living Wage • A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s • Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education • Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree • A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduate
- 23. Education Path • 75% of foster youth express a desire to attend college • Only 15% are enrolled in college prep courses in high school • Only 20% of foster youth with a GED/high school diploma enroll in post-secondary education vs. 60% of the general population
- 24. School Transfer Issues • How many school changes did you have? • Did the schools use the same textbook? • Did your credits transfer? • Who was your education liaison?
- 25. Stats Tell A Story • Attend five high schools on average • With each transfer, lose 4-6 months of academic progress • 65% change schools in the middle of the year • Higher rates of absenteeism, grade retention, special education, dropping out before graduation • 2008 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
- 26. Project iGRAD in Kansas • Immediate enrollment • Timely transfer of records • Protection of grades and credits
- 28. Competencies: • Caregiver Related 994-01-006: Knows the range of educational and vocational programs and schools available to children. Knows how to select the best school or school program based on the child’s abilities, talents or special interests. • Caregiver Related 994-01-007: Knows why it is important that children in care have opportunities for involvement in school activities. Knows resources and how to advocate so children can obtain sports equipment, special clothing or other items needed for the child.
- 29. Roadmap to Higher Ed College Bridge Programs: • GEAR UP: College Bridge program; “Gaining early awareness for undergraduate programs” • TRIO: First-generation college student Money for College: • ETV funds: Foster Care to Success: www.statevoucher.org (laptop, money/semester, v-mentoring)
- 30. Definition of an “Independent Student” on the FAFSA 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
- 31. • The purpose of Ohio Reach is to increase the number of foster care youth who enroll in and graduate from college. • This includes working to establish Foster Care Liaisons at Ohio universities and community colleges. • Ohio Reach improves post-secondary outcomes for foster care youth and alumni through leadership, empowerment, advocacy, research and networking (L.E.A.R.N.).
- 32. 2009 Ohio Reach Summit
- 34. Improving Outcomes • 50% more likely to be out-of-work and out- of-school • 40% receive public assistance • 62% unemployed for at least a year • One-third – one-fifth don’t connect with workplace between ages 19-25 • At age 24, less likely to earn a “livable income” than the general population Workforce path
- 35. Disconnect Between Systems • Child welfare professionals aren’t always connected with local workforce development programs • Youth employment experts are often unfamiliar with the child welfare system – and unaware of the unique challenges that foster care youth face when aging out of care
- 36. B-E-G-I-N
- 37. Early Employment Exposure • Getting connected with the workplace • Skills and interests, relating to jobs • Hands-on work experience • Engaged in the local community • NYTD requirement
- 38. What (Not) to Wear to Work? • Over 30% of 19-year olds in Midwest study reported being unable to afford to buy clothing • Dress for Success is only for women!!!
- 39. 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
- 41. Even if youth are sent back home • It’s not permanency or IL – we need both • Only 46%: 19 year old foster youth have savings account • Vs. 82% of the general population
- 42. “Food Insecurity” • Not knowing what you’re going to eat at the end of the day. • 50% young woman in one state received food stamps by age 21 • Casey IDA Program (Individual Development Accounts)
- 43. Competencies • Caseworker Specialized 202-05-001: Knows the range of skills necessary for independent living (such as financial management, household management, obtaining a job, etc.) and knows resources for training adolescents in these skills
- 44. Housing After Foster Care • “Nowhere to go but back where I came from.” • Youth don’t belong in adult homeless shelters • Young people have unique developmental needs
- 45. Homeless Experience • One in five former foster children will experience homelessness • Invest: Young people have open minds, high energy and a future-focus • Pay now or pay later: One in four homeless adults is a former foster child
- 46. Overcoming Barriers • AFDC (welfare) replaced by TANF • TANF: “Prevent and reduce out of wedlock pregnancies” • Message: “No housing assistance unless you come back with a positive pregnancy test.”
- 47. Housing Options • Dormitories • Scattered Site Apartments • Supervised Apartments • Boarding Houses • Host Homes / Adult Roommates • Shelters • Subsidized Housing *Lighthouse Youth Services: giving today’s youth time to struggle and room to grow
- 48. 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%
- 49. Who are or were the top three people in your personal Safety Net and why?
- 51. Permanency Pact:
- 52. 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
- 53. Please Involve Youth Voice in Plans for Their Future
- 54. Different Paths
- 55. Gang path Gray… because the statistics are grim: 2005 study of 19 yr-olds: - 37% no GED or high school diploma - 60% unemployed - 53% no health insurance - 14% homeless since discharge - 32% of females unwed pregnancy - 68% of males and 46% of females arrested - 52% of males and 29% of females incarcerated
- 56. Military path
- 57. 1. IDENTITY cards: Dealt to players at the beginning 2. CHANCE cards: When players land on purple squares 3. CHOICE cards: Players can choose to purchase throughout the game Three Types of Cards
- 58. Teen Parent Athlete Juvenile Justice Mental Health Issues Positive FC Experience Helpful IL Classes Reunification Sibling Contact Mentor Identity cards
- 59. Life isn’t always predictable. One of the biggest challenges of facing the adult world alone is dealing with the unexpected. Chance cards
- 61. 1. Yellow: Education 2. Green: Financial independence 3. Red: Relationships 4. Blue: Health Tokens to earn
- 66. Red token for relationships
- 67. Blue token for health
- 68. Decision points
- 69. Sometimes life deals out the unexpected Chance squares
- 70. Investing the time to “purchase” pays off! Choice squares
- 71. We define our own success! Ultimate outcome
- 72. 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 living Is imperative if our youth are ever to be adequately prepared for life, love and work in adulthood.”
Editor's Notes
- We do our work with VISION and we do our work with HOPE I like the term "inter-dependence.” Because it's not a question of choosing between permanency and life skills -- our young people need BOTH
- It has been estimated that nearly a quarter of the cost of raising children is now provided after the age of 17.The average parent of 18-34 year olds provides over $2,000/year to support them. Half of young adults ages 18-24 in the U.S.A. live at home with their parents, according Children's Rights. Most young adults in the general population rely upon their families for assistance with a place to live, financial support and other guidance as they transition to adulthood. Meanwhile, the 25,000 young people aging out of foster care each year don't have a parent's basement to live in. They don't have anyone to co-sign for them to rent an apartment. When they go to college, they can't call "mom" and "dad" if they blow their budget and need help, and they don't have a place to spend college breaks, unless their college has taken this need into consideration.
- Foster Care Alumni of America Postcard Project That’s a message that we hear a lot
- Aged out 16 years old, started college: brain-smart but no common sense Common sense isn’t born to you – it’s something somebody TEACHES you or that you LEARN over time And I had just suddenly gone from TOTAL RESTRICTION to TOTAL FREEDOM Age 17 – “Janice” – rescue her, save her (not uncommon II bio-mom, siblings) No one told me the AIRMASK analogy It was like I was DROWNING and trying to keep other people afloat (taking care of myself felt “selfish” at the time) Age 19 – still in college, switching majors Great circle of friends – Methodist dorm – weren’t stealing money from me
- Fast-forward a couple years: At what point was I a statistic? And when did I become a survivor?
- When is the shift from statistic to survivor? The studies tend to focus on teenagers and young people in their 20s... We know the stats: HomelessPregnancy, promiscuity UnemployedCarry on cycle of abuse UneducatedDrug abuse UninsuredPrison sentences
- Section of the 2012 CCAI's Foster Youth Internship Report titled, "Life's Transitions Do Not Happen Overnight:" *pg. 56 "Life's transitions are a critical part of human development." "The current foster system is designed with the expectation that the transition from adolescence into adulthood can occur overnight." "Autonomy plays a critical role in adolescent development; however... the strict rules and regulations placed on foster youth by the state, foster parents and group home staff limits the amount of independence the youth experience."
- Historically, the age of 18 was thought of as a divider between childhood and adulthood. Back in the early to mid-20th century, jobs were available to people with little or no education. Therefore, most young people could financial and social independence by their 18th birthday.Today, some people are over 30 before they:- Complete their schooling- Obtain steady work- Move out of the family home- Get married and have childrenHigher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
- Wouldn’t it be great if we planned for these things ahead of time. It’s wise to have an exit strategy. One tool = a 90-day exit plan. Its definition and purpose
- Preparing youth for the future – this is not an OPTION, this is FEDERAL LAW The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 outlines federal requirements regarding essential elements to be covered in the development of a 90-day transition plan.
- STATE LAW The reason that the Youth Developed Discharge Plan is being piloted (in five Ohio counties) is because Ohio youth have reported NOT being provided with / involved in the development of a 90-day transition plan. “The goal of an exit plan is to identify anticipated service needs for older youth who are in the process of transitioning out of foster care. Youth who have a comprehensive transition plan are better equipped to transition successfully from foster care to self-sufficiency. An unintended consequence of not preparing youth to exit from foster care is the youth becoming homeless.” (Missouri Dept. of Social Services)
- Youth Access to Vital Documentation The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 outlines federal requirements regarding essential elements to be covered in the development of a 90-day transition plan. Both federal law and Ohio Administrative Code require that prior to the youth’s emancipated from foster care, they need to receive ORIGINALS (not copies) of these three documents. What Other Documentation Might Help? Letter of Verification of Dependency Immunization records Free credit report (www.annualcreditreport.com) Tribal information when applicable Death Certificates of parents, when applicable Information on registering to vote Information to males to sign up for the selective services (30 days prior to 18 or 30 days after 18) Information on any existing court fees associated with the youth’s name prior to emancipation.
- The plan shall include information regarding: (WHITEBOARD ACTIVITY)
- NAME THAT RESOURCE – each logo represents an existing resource OR funding stream Dress for Success: ‘Suits to Self Sufficiency’- [email_address] Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and additional apparel when she becomes employed. After a client finds work, she can return to Dress for Success for her employment suiting, during which we attempt to provide her with enough additional apparel to mix and match for a week’s worth of outfits. Job Fair Ohio: Easy to use; lists job fairs by cities
- Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
- SOONER OR LATER, EDUCATION MATTERS: Approximately half of all high school dropouts return to school or obtain a GED by the time they are 25.
- SO, LET’S START WITH EDUCATION:
- WHOSE JOB IS IT TO CARE? - Educational liaison Guidance counselors, and teachers are often uninformed about foster care, resources and even which students are in foster care (confidentiality) Reach out and inform them - Fostering Connections to Success Act: Where possible, maintain in same school
- One of the top goals of iGRAD is helping students graduate at the same time as their same-age peers
- (Chafee can be used for enrichment, and so can WIA funds)
- How many of you have been taken on a college visit? Ever heard of GEAR UP, TRIO or AVID? Do you know what a FAFSA is, and how to fill one out? What are ETV funds? - Only 20% of youth with a high school diploma / GED enroll in postsecondary education, as compared to a 60% of the general population PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST TEENS WHO WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE GEAR UP: College Bridge program; “Gaining early awareness for undergraduate programs” TRIO: First-generation college student AVID: (Advancement via individual determination) Summer institutes (TX, FL, CA, Chicago) Up Where We Belong conference: Accelerating African American Male Student Achievement October 23-24, 2008Atlanta, GA
- College Cost Reduction and Access Act It amends the definition of an “independent student” by adding the following 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*Please note, the young person only needs to fit into one of the above categories in order to be eligible to claim independent status. Also, the act does not specify the length of time spent in foster care or the reason for exiting foster care.
- 20 colleges, universities and technical schools in California and Washington State
- 20 colleges, universities and technical schools in California and Washington State
- GOOD NEWS = resources exist to change those stats!!! 1. Annie E. Casey Foundation and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Connecting foster youth with first-time job experiences IF YOUR STATE IS A “CASEY” STATE States/cities that offer this program include: Baltimore, MD; Hartford, CN; Providence, RI; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA and Maine. 2. 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
- WORK AGAINST THE TREND: More likely to be get our phones turned off Depending on the state… 1/3 – 1/5 A “livable income” – def. When I married my hubby, I brought him ME – but I also brought him a lot of debt (SCARY CONVERSATION)
- Child welfare professionals aren’t always connected with local workforce development programs Youth employment experts are often unfamiliar with the child welfare system – and unaware of the unique challenges that we face when aging out of care Even if youth are sent home… It’s not permanency or IL – we need both (get to know employers in community, build relationship, educate them, that could be a WHOLE job = workforce guru, open up slots to employ foster youth = Best Practice)
- Early employment exposure = NYTD Requirement now (workforce training, vocational training, employment opps)
- although over 30% of young people in the Midwest study reported being unable to afford to buy clothing, there is only one program that I know of that addresses this problem, Dress for Success - and they only help women. It's hard to impress folks at a job interview if you are dressed inappropriately. WOSU- NPR interview
- GOOD NEWS = resources exist to change those stats!!! WIA funds (lots of stimulus dollars) WIA funds (Doris will explain different areas of funding available, contact local WIA providers, refer kid, handout re: federal law)
- Have participants draw their Ladder to Success
- The Midwest Evalution
- In one study 50% young women receive food stamps by age 21 Keep low % of 19 yr olds with savings account Financial Planning with Foster Youth (allowance in foster care, forces youth to learn how to budget, first time they budget is solo, ill-equipped bc never had money in hand)
- When young people age out of the foster care system without being connected with permanent family, we have often nowhere to go but the same messed-up family that landed us in foster care in the first place. Therefore it is not surprising that one in five former foster children report being homeless for some period of time after emancipating from foster care. Sadly, homeless young people often either ignored or lumped in with the rest of the adult homeless population Young adults differ from the adult homeless population, because they have unique developmental needs. Sadly, there is a lack of specialized services engage youth and effectively support them in acquiring stable housing. This is unfortunate, because with a bit of support and the right resources, it's possible to empower that young people and build them into future leaders. Investing in homeless youth is a financially wise decision, because it is cost-effective to establish programs for homeless youth between the ages of 18-25 years old. If you don't pay now, you will pay later - because the cycle will continue: 1 in 4 homeless adults is a former foster child.
- Being a homeless youth makes you vulnerable:- To recruitment by gangs, exposure to drugs and sexual exploitation by adults- When you couch-surf at someone's house or apartment, the situation might prove to be unsafe (e.g. host has hidden motives)- You might feel that you have to endure domestic violence because you have nowhere else to go- Being a young person in a homeless shelter filled with families and single adults, you are at risk of theft (and often feel very out of place)- The odds of being turned away at a shelter because there is not enough room for you are very high Investing in homeless youth is a financially wise decision, because it is cost-effective to establish programs for homeless youth between the ages of 18-25 years old. GO OUT THERE AND ASK PEOPLE: Regarding housing assistance, how do you want your tax dollars to be spent? Would you rather invest in these 25,000 young people aging out of foster care each year before they enter into situations of chronic homelessness, unwed pregnancy, unemployment and incarceration? Would you rather offer hope and assistance when they are in their late-teens and early-20s, a time when young people have an open mind, high level of energy and are actively engaged in the process of directing their future lives? If you don't pay now, you will pay later - because the cycle will continue: 1 in 4 homeless adults is a former foster child.
- One of the PURPOSES of TANF Scenario: A young woman ages out of foster care. She enters the adult world, totally on her own. This young woman enters college, and pursues her education. She has chosen to postpone creating a family of her own until after she has finished school and has the financial and emotional resources to build a healthy marriage and family.But when she hits a road bump, and needs temporary assistance to get back on her feet, this young lady applies for assistance, and is told she cannot receive help with housing unless she is pregnant.Now, tell me: "How does this work towards pregnancy prevention? Why should young women be advised to bring unwanted children in the world in order to acquire housing assistance?“ You can provide all sorts of classes and instruction about not getting pregnant -- but when you tell a young woman that she has to choose between getting pregnant or being homeless, getting pregnant becomes a method of survival.
- Now that we are all feeling depressed, let’s cheer up by looking at some HOUSING OPTIONS and BEST PRACTICES from around the nation
- one in five former foster children report being homeless for some period of time after emancipating from foster care.1 in 4 homeless adults is a former foster child. Counties may use up to 30% of their ILP funds for housing for emancipated foster youth. Can Use Chafee Funding to Pay for: Classes on Leasing and Mortgages Furniture, Household Goods Rent/Deposit for Housing Deposit and First Month’s Payment for Utilities How to Obtain/Clean Credit Reports When young people age out of the foster care system without being connected with permanent family, we have often nowhere to go but the same messed-up family that landed us in foster care in the first place. Therefore it is not surprising that one in five former foster children report being homeless for some period of time after emancipating from foster care. Sadly, homeless young people often either ignored or lumped in with the rest of the adult homeless population Young adults differ from the adult homeless population, because they have unique developmental needs. Sadly, there is a lack of specialized services engage youth and effectively support them in acquiring stable housing. This is unfortunate, because with a bit of support and the right resources, it's possible to empower that young people and build them into future leaders. Investing in homeless youth is a financially wise decision, because it is cost-effective to establish programs for homeless youth between the ages of 18-25 years old. If you don't pay now, you will pay later - because the cycle will continue
- What if you try to make the very best plans possible, but something falls apart along the way? If you are going to come hurtling through the sky, then obviously, you will want a SAFETY NET Safety net activity: Choose at least 3 adults that you trust. Fill in the contact information for each person in your safety net.
- FOSTERING CONNECTIONS ACT It does take a village: During a youth panel at the 2006 Casey It's My Life conference, young people said that they needed an entire network of connections, and not just one person. It is often up to us to identify those key figures in a child’s life, and to facilitate the building of future relationships. Concurrent Permanency Planning offers caseworkers a structured approach to moving children more quickly from the uncertainty of foster care to the stability and security of a permanent family (having a back-up plan). Historically, caseworkers have been taught to plan in a straight-line, sequential fashion: first to work diligently toward reunification with the biological family; and if after a year—or two or three—reunification looks unlikely, to then switch gears and start planning for adoption or another permanency option. Unfortunately, by this time, the parents have usually become alienated from their child and the case planning process, the child will probably have to be moved from the temporary foster home to a pre-adoptive home, and the child’s length of stay in foster care has been prolonged unnecessarily. Chart the Connections: There are a variety of different ways to map out on paper who the teenager has in their lives and the level of connectedness, and safety related to those connections (timeline, circle, ecomap, genogram, connectedness map) Do not ask the youth to make a Family Tree. DO invite and include youth input. Introduction: “I don't know if you remember her but she remembers you as someone important in her life. As a social worker, I won’t always be around, but I want this information for her We’re worried about what might happen if she leaves foster care with no family connections.” (Ask for photos from childhood!!) Even if they can't parent the youth, they can provide some support to the youth. Tell them, “Your family has some responsibility for her - and here are some ways to help.” (my bio-fam could have been helpful) Reconnecting Can Be Painful Hearing that your biological father asked for a DNA test, for example… CBS interview with Leslie Stahl: Teens reunited with father -- only to discover that he was an alcoholic, their mother had died from a drug overdose and that their father has a total of 10 children, none of whom he had cared for. Imagine if you had built up hopes about your long-lost father. How he would come back into your life with a reason for being gone for so long. He was... abducted by aliens... in the Secret Service... stranded on a desert island. But, all the time he had been thinking of you, right? He had always been thinking of you. In that dream, your father isn't off fathering other children. He's not drowning his sorrows in a bottle. When dreams die, we feel sadness, anger and disappointment. That is a normal reaction to facing the rift between ideal and reality. Teens are idealists; they want adults to display perfection. It is hard to face human frailty, false promises… Preparation for permanency includes grieving the loss of people from their past, continuing to form personal identity, building trust and security through relationships, and developing an openness to forge permanent connections. Pain comes into our lives through relationships – but healing comes that way, too. Paint a realistic picture for the youth: Finding a permanent family is not fast and there is no guarantee of success. Be prepared for the youth to become impatient or discouraged. Prepare for daily questions from the youth about how the search is going. Discuss their expectations. Ask the youth if they would like to bring anything to share with the family, such as art work, crafts or a video. Take it slow: Give the youth details ahead of time, so they can mentally and emotionally prepare. Introduce the youth to the family member or other adult in a supervised setting. Accompany and support them during the visit. Make the first visit short and fun – and, if necessary, shorten visits to minimize stress and anxiety (my father’s birthday). Debrief after: Debrief after the meeting. Don’t minimize the complexity of a youth's post-visit feelings. Listen to and validate youth concerns and reactions, and recognize them as a part of the process. Adults cope with impermanence by building on an accrued sense of self-reliance and by anticipating and planning for a time of greater constancy. Teens in foster care have a backlog of painful memories to fall back on… (vs. RC: secure base)
- Permanency PactYouth transitioning from foster care are often unsure who they can count on for ongoing support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed. 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).Suggested Supports include: a home for the holidays, a place to do laundry, emergency place to stay, food/occasional meals, care package at college, employment opportunity, job search assistance, career counseling, housing hunt, recreational activities, mentor, transportation, educational assistance, relationship counseling, assistance with medical issues, storage, motivation, someone to discuss problems with, a phone to use, a computer to use, clothing, spiritual support, legal advise, etc.Copies of the Permanency Pact for each of the adults who has indicated a willingness to provide support should be made for the youth and placed in the Health and Education Passport, a document distributed to youth when they age out of care.
- 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). Permanency PactYouth transitioning from foster care are often unsure who they can count on for ongoing support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed. 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).Suggested Supports include: a home for the holidays, a place to do laundry, emergency place to stay, food/occasional meals, care package at college, employment opportunity, job search assistance, career counseling, housing hunt, recreational activities, mentor, transportation, educational assistance, relationship counseling, assistance with medical issues, storage, motivation, someone to discuss problems with, a phone to use, a computer to use, clothing, spiritual support, legal advise, etc.Copies of the Permanency Pact for each of the adults who has indicated a willingness to provide support should be made for the youth and placed in the Health and Education Passport, a document distributed to youth when they age out of care.
- Youth need to speak candidly and articulately about what they want for their lives, not just today but for their futures. If given responsibility and adequate support they will be able to create a constructive action plan that will help them reach their goals. They are the best advocates for themselves and must be a part of the process.
- Room to Fail Virtual Space to Experiment (V Street) - College (yellow-orange path) - Tech school / Vocation (green path) - Gang (gray path - thug, prostitution mentality) Army (camouflage path) Gang: Gray pathMilitary: Camouflage path Workforce: Green pathCollege: Yellow path This game was designed to reflect: the multiple opportunities available to young people aging out of foster care The multiple resources (ETV, FAFSA) that young people can access to reward young people for taking advantage of available services, even if they have to invest time (miss a turn) in order to do so
- ￭ Study Guide Zone provides online study guides for the ASVAB, NET, etc. www.studyguidezone.com ￭ Eligibility requirements ￭Benefits: money, housing
- Players will start out with Identity cards that are just dealt to them (chance) but where they end up along the board will depend largely upon the choices that they make along the way. There are Choice cards that they can choose to purchase, whenever they land on blue squares. And also Chance cards that they can land on (indicated by a question mark on the game card). They will start out with some cards that are just dealt to them by chance, but where they end up along the board will depend largely upon the choices that they make along the way.
- At the beginning of each game, players are each given an identity card. Every player in this game will be ‘identified’ as a former foster child. The identity cards provide additional background information, and determine how many chips you will be given at the beginning of the game.
- Chance cards: When players land on purple squares
- Choice cards: Players can choose to purchase throughout the game
- Everyone starts off with a certain number of tokens:(number, type) tokens. There are four colors of tokens that players can earn
- Only 20% of youth with a high school diploma / GED enroll in postsecondary education, as compared to a 60% of the general population How many school changes did you have? Did the schools use the same textbook? Did your credits transfer? Who was your education liaison? Attend five high schools on average With each transfer, lose 4-6 months of academic progress 65% change schools in the middle of the year Higher rates of absenteeism, grade retention, special education, dropping out before graduation Project iGrad in Kansas Immediate enrollment Timely transfer of records Protection of grades and credits
- 75% of foster youth express a desire to attend college Only 15% are enrolled in college prep courses in high school Only 20% of foster youth with a GED/high school diploma enroll in post-secondary education vs. 60% of the general population College Cost Reduction and Access Act amends the definition of an “independent student” by adding the following 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*Please note, the young person only needs to fit into one of the above categories in order to be eligible to claim independent status. Also, the act does not specify the length of time spent in foster care or the reason for exiting foster care.
- although over 30% of young people in the Midwest study reported being unable to afford to buy clothing, there is only one program that I know of that addresses this problem, Dress for Success - and they only help women. It's hard to impress folks at a job interview if you are dressed inappropriately.
- Dress for Success: ‘Suits to Self Sufficiency’- [email_address] Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and additional apparel when she becomes employed. After a client finds work, she can return to Dress for Success for her employment suiting, during which we attempt to provide her with enough additional apparel to mix and match for a week’s worth of outfits. Job Fair Ohio: Easy to use; lists job fairs by cities
- Amanda Dunlap
- Amanda Dunlap: OHIO MEDICAID
- The paths will intertwine at 'Decision Points.' (Kind of like the fork in the road; the watershed moment). Choices you didn’t know you had: Life is very redemptive.. As long as you are living and breathing, you have hope. Each day of life is a second chance. Choices: job, college, vocational school
- Chance cards: (mention samples)
- Choice cards: (mention samples) Blue CHOICE squares are decision points where players can choose to go in one direction or another. When landing on a blue square, players can also choose to purchase one Choice card to help them in their journey ahead.
- Please note that: Board games are generally played for points, but in the game of life, we define our own success. The ultimate question rests on our personal values, which influence our future happiness with decisions made.
- I like the term "interdependence."Because it's not a question of choosing between permanency and life skills -- our young people need BOTH Goal: To create/maintain meaningful connections for youth (Erikson Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation) Otherwise, youth age out with no reliable adults to advise them or provide emotional support, so when they make a mistake, its life altering, and they nothing to fall back on. A mentor would be nice….