The document discusses a goal of finding permanent families for children in New York who have emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges and are in residential treatment facilities. It estimates the target population is around 325 youth and aims to serve 87 youth, with a goal of achieving at least 50 placements. It also discusses recruiting and training families to meet the specialized needs of these children and eliminating systemic barriers preventing permanence.

2. A Parent for Every Child New York State Office of Children and Family Services

3. Collaboration NYS Office of Children and Family Services Hillside Children’s Center Parsons Child and Family Center You Gotta Believe! Chapin Hall Center for Children

4. Goal: Finding permanent families for New York’s freed children with emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges so severe that they have required residential treatment……by finding and developing families that meet the distinctive needs of these children

5. Specifics of our target group Freed children in NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) or Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) Licensed facilities Freed children in Juvenile Justice facilities Freed children in Child Welfare Residential Treatment Centers (RTC) whose permanency goal is not adoption

6. Estimated population 325 youth Freed children in NYS OMH and OMRDD Licensed facilities Freed children in Juvenile Justice facilities Freed children in Child Welfare RTC whose permanency goal is not adoption 159 Youth identified 141 Youth identified 25 Youth estimated by calling facilities Target Population Service Estimate for Grant Serve 87 Youth Achieve at least 50 placements

7. Who are they? Averages (excluding the JJ youth) In care 11 years Waiting for adoption over 7 years All but one youth over 8 years old Similar racial/ethnic make up to overall in-care population

8. Permanency Planning Goals tell a story

9. Plan Understand and address the systemic issues Customize best practice permanency practice to the needs of this group Education and awareness

10. Systemic issues In Regulation Law Policy Practice Attitudes Intermingle questions Who is their family Where they live Who pays for treatment

11. Proposed Program Components Recruiting General – Dispelling misconceptions Targeted – Likely groups “ Caring Professions” Experienced special needs parents and families Child Specific – Family Search and Engagement Adoption Navigators Specialized training and development

12. At the end of the grant At least 50 youth will have permanent families Eliminated the barriers in NYS that is impeding permanence for children in congregate care Developed an in-depth knowledge of what works with this very special group of youth Shared that knowledge across the county