1、The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999,17th Annual Risky Business Conference Des Moines, Iowa,Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to IndependenceApril 23, 2002,The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999,The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program: Strengthening the Systems Capacity t
2、o Help Young People Make Healthy Transitions to Adulthood,What Does the FCIA Do?,Increases funding from $70 to 140 million/year Expands services to former foster youth 18-21 years old. Gives states the option to provide Medicaid to 18-21 yo former foster youth Changes the state planning and applicat
3、ion process. Increases youth asset limit to $10,000. Increases access to CIP services for Native American tribes.,Strong focus on collaboration, youth involvement, permanency, relationships with caring adults, and achievement of positive outcomes for youth served in CIP programs.,What Opportunities
4、does the New Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Offer to States, Communities, and Other Stakeholders?,Strengthen the continuum of services and supports available to older foster youth. Fill current gaps in services, especially for youth who have left the system. Increase the pool of stakeholder
5、s committed to supporting young people in making successful transitions.,What Opportunities does the New Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Offer to States, Communities, and Other Stakeholders?,Engage young people as partners in strengthening the service system. Increase child welfare focus on
6、supporting positive development and successful outcomes for all youth in foster care.,Important Planning Issues,Eligibility Level of services to youth who have left care Use of CIP funds for room & board - housing options In-kind match Medicaid Identifying stakeholders Developing 5-year plan Identif
7、ying resources,Implementing the Plan,Continuum, continuum, continuum! Engage youth as partners; short term and long term. Move away from classroom type instruction to learning by doing. Identify housing options that allow for safe transitions. Create & maintain partnerships.,Some Background,2001 AFC
8、ARS - Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Estimated 1999 data regarding foster care and adoption in the U.S. - from 49 jurisdictions including Puerto Rico and D.C. Available on-line at www.dhhs.gov,Background, contd,1999 estimates: 507,011 children, youth and young adults in foste
9、r care Under 1 Yr 4% 23,396 1 thru 5 Yrs 25% 143,268 6 thru 10 Yrs 26% 150,574 11 thru 15 Yrs 28% 164,134 16 thru 18 Yrs 16% 90,293 19 + Yrs 2% 9,335,Where are they?,Children, youth, and young adults in care are in a range of placements:Pre-Adoptive Home 4% 20,969 Foster Family Home (Relative) 26% 1
10、40,817 Foster Family Home (Non-Rel) 46% 252,326 Group Home 8% 42,096 Institution 10% 52,501 Supervised Ind Living 1% 4,597 Runaway 1% 7,038 Trial Home Visit 3% 14,307,Background,263,762 45% should be considered as the gross eligible population for Chafee Services. The 16+ group is almost 20%- close
11、to 100,000 young people. In 1998, states reported that 75,000 youth received IL services. This estimate includes one-time services, such as conferences.,Chafee Program,The legislation requires that the Secretary of HHS, in consultation with key stakeholders, develop a set of outcomes and measures to
12、 assess state performance; list of 34 outcomes generated which involved six discussion groups with key stakeholders. List then provided to members of the Standing Workgroup for feedback 2000-2001: Development of the National Youth In Transition Information System (NYTIS) Pilot of NYTIS,Evaluation &
13、Outcomes,Traditionally neglected area of work. Challenges related to confidentiality, ability to contact youth, resources. Need to focus on creative strategies for follow up. Work with child welfare information systems and non-CIP caseworkers to ensure follow up after emancipation, not after complet
14、ion of CIP services.,Evaluation & Outcomes,Dont forget relationships; this qualitative result may be the most important thing you do! Coordinate with other data collection efforts, e.g. TANF, Workforce Investment Act, School-to-Work.,NYTIS - National Youth in Transition Information System - Six outc
15、omes focus,Increased number of youth who have resources to meet their living expenses. Increased number of youth who have a safe and stable place to live. Increased number of youth who attain educational/voc goals,NYTIS - National Youth in Transition Information System - Six outcomes focus,4. Increa
16、sed number of youth who have positive personal relationships with adults in the community. 5. Increased number of youth who avoid involvement with high risk behaviors 6. Increased percentage of youth who can access needed phy and mental health services.,Plan for collection of data,Current plans, not
17、 finalized Collect outcome data at discharge for youth ages 14 and older Collect outcome data annually for youth up to age 20 receiving IL services Collect youth characteristics and services info at 6 mo. or yearly intervals,Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 1: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Hav
18、e Resources to Meet Their Living Expenses 1.1 What % of youth currently employed, full/part time? 1.2 What % of youth held a job, apprenticeship, internship for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months? 1.3 What % of youth are currently relying on financial resources other than employ
19、ment? 1.4 What % of youth currently have a bank or credit account?Indicates measures relevant to outcomes specified in the Chafee Independence Act of 1999,Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 2: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Have A Safe and Stable Place to Live2.1 What % of youth have been homeles
20、s at some point since discharge? 2.2 For youth who have been homeless, what was the duration of homelessness? (3 or fewer nights; more than 3 nights but less than 2 weeks; 2 weeks to a month, or more than one month),Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 3: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Attain Educa
21、tional (Academic and Vocational) goals 3.1 What % of youth have received a hs diploma, GED, AA/BA? 3.2 What % of youth have received a vocational certificate or license? 3.3 What % of youth are currently enrolled in, and attending hs, GED classes, or post hs vocational training or college?,Proposed
22、Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 4: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Have a Positive Relationships with Adults in Their Lives4.1 What % of youth report that there is at least one adult in their lives they can go to for emotional support? 4.2 What % of youth report that there is at least one adult in their
23、 lives they can go to for job/school advice or guidance?,Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 5: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Avoid High Risk Behaviors 5.1 What % of youth were referred or self-referred for alcohol or substance abuse assessment or counseling during the year? 5.2 What % of youth w
24、ere incarcerated or detained in a jail, prison, or juvenile justice or community detention facility at some time during the past year? 5.3 What % of youth gave birth or fathered a child born during the past year? 5.4 For youth who gave birth or fathered a child born during the past year, what % were
25、 married to the childs other parent?,Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 6: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Are Able to Access Needed Health Services 6.1 What % of youth have medical insurance? 6.2 What % of youth have insurance with mental health benefits? 6.3 What % of youth have insurance with p
26、rescription drug benefits? 6.4 What % of youth require on-going medication for maintenance of physical or mental health? 6.5 For youth require on-going medication, what % are able to access resources to continue receiving their medications?,Proposed Outcomes/Measures,Outcome 7: Increase the Percent
27、of Youth Who Have or Can Obtain Essential Documents7.1 What % of youth received, or were given information on how to obtain, their birth certificates, social security cards, medical records, and educational records at the time of discharge?,Decisions About Outcome Assessments,Decisions to be made in
28、 two key areas: Initial Outcome Assessment Follow-up Outcome Assessments Options: Conduct initial assessment at point of discharge for all youth in foster care age 16 and older Conduct the initial assessment on all youth in foster care near the time of their 17th birthday, for those youth who were i
29、n foster care for at least six months Option 2 seems preferable,Other Important Issues for Adolescents in Out-of-Home Care,Youth Permanency,AFSA did not specifically speak to adolescent permanency Chafee was seen as legislation to specifically address youth issues Both missed opportunities to highli
30、ght Youth Permanency Issues Independent Living is not the enemy of Youth Permanency Although IL is a service not a permanency plan, all youth need an Independent Living Plans IL and Youth Permanency need to be seen as concurrent plans for all adolescents,Youth Permanency cont,All youth need permanen
31、t, connections with caring adults Concurrently, as youth are being prepared for self-sufficiency, workers should also explore an array of permanency options; i.e., adoption, mentoring relationships, self-sufficiency, development of fictive kinship networks of mutual support and the like. Youth perma
32、nency can be achieved in many ways, but adoption and the development of specific families for adolescents should also be investigated as permanency options NRCFCPP is committed to focusing attention, resources, and time on exploring the continuum of youth permanency options and strategies,Independen
33、t Living Issues,Initial IL Assessments; Semi-Annual Assessments; Discharge Assessments; After-Care Assessments IL Curriculums Life Skills Formal verses Informal Training Tangible and Intangible Skills Relationship Building After Care Services,IL Program Types,Relative Care Homes Family Foster Homes
34、Agency Operated Boarding Homes AOBH Community Based Group Homes Group Residences Supervised Independent Living Programs SILPs Transitional Living Programs TLPs Residential Treatment Centers,What are the Outcomes We Want for Young People?,Success in youth programs, school, and work Happiness; a sense
35、 of fulfillment Strong relationships Self-awareness Health Self-sufficiency Are there others you would add?,How do Youth Workers Support Positive Youth Development?,Provide a balance of challenge and support Have strong self-awareness Focus on youths strengths and capacity Help youth build bridges t
36、o the community,Youth workers.,What are Some of the Systemic Challenges to Successful Outcomes for Youth in Foster Care?,The child welfare system can foster dependency in children and youth System often focuses on problems and perceived deficits of clients (and families) Youth are often worked with
37、apart from family and community contexts Youth workers can get caught up in a culture of control,What is a Culture of Control and why is it a Problem?,Focus of problems is client issues apart from contexts and relationships Quick fix mentality of more rules/more restrictions More problems lead to pe
38、rsonalization of issues by staff, which leads to more problems,What Impact Does a Culture of Control Have on Youth Workers?,Frustration toward program and youth Increased attention to information/data/ points/rules, and less attention to youth Burnout from over-personalization High turnover rates In
39、ability to access youth potential,What Impact Does a Culture of Control Have on Young People?,Learned helplessness Manipulation/ acting out Increased ability to push staff buttons Decreased ability to look at self instead of system,Reflect on Program Challenges,What is the role of staff in creating
40、and perpetuating barriers to program and youth success? Does individual training and supervision address the need to understand the youth workers role in staff/client relationships? Is equal time spent on strengthening youth workers self-awareness and personal growth skills, in comparison to client
41、supervision and administration?,How Do We Promote Systemic Culture Change for Youth Workers and Youth Programs?,Organizations must: Adopt a strengths-based, or positive youth development- focused mission Promote accountability to the mission through supervision and evaluation,Managers/ supervisors m
42、ust: Provide training and supervision that support a youth development approach Model a strengths-based approach to work with staff Emphasize self-awareness and personal growth,How Do We Promote Systemic Culture Change for Youth Workers and Youth Programs?,Program Design must: Provide opportunity fo
43、r youth participation Hold youth and staff accountable for active youth participation Avoid reliance on behavior management,Youth Workers must: Invest time and effort in personal growth and self-awareness Model a strengths-based approach in work with peers Connect youth to the community and identifi
44、ed family,Reflect on Walking the Positive Youth Development Talk,Addressing the culture of control is one way to increase youth workers ability to promote youth development. Are there other systemic barriers to successful program and youth outcomes? Are there characteristics of the system that make
45、it easier to promote positive youth development? What are they? What is one change you could make today to help you work with youth?,Conclusions,“Young people may forget what you say and do, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”Dr. Michael Carrera,NRCFCPP,Gerald P. Mallon, DSW, Director The National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning Hunter College School of Social Work 129 East 79th Street New York, New York 10021 (212) 452-7043 Phone (212) 452-7051 - FaxM www.guthrie.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp,
