The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of

1999

17th Annual Risky Business Conference

Des Moines, Iowa

Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Independence

April 23, 2002

The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999

The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program:Strengthening the System’s Capacity to 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 application 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 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 stakeholders 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 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 Identifying 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 AFCARS - 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, cont’d 1999 estimates: 507,011 children,

youth and young adults in foster 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% 140,817 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 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 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 & 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 completion of CIP services.

Evaluation & Outcomes

Don’t 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 outcomes focus

1. Increased number of youth who have resources to meet their living expenses.

2. Increased number of youth who have a safe and stable place to live.

3. Increased number of youth who attain educational/voc goals

NYTIS - National Youth in Transition Information System - Six outcomes focus

4. Increased 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 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 HaveResources 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 employment?

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/MeasuresOutcome 2: Increase the Percent of Youth Who HaveA Safe and Stable Place to Live

2.1 What % of youth have been homeless 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 AttainEducational (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 Outcomes/Measures

Outcome 4: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Have a

Positive Relationships with Adults in Their Lives

4.1 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 lives they can go to for job/school advice or guidance?

Proposed Outcomes/MeasuresOutcome 5: Increase the Percent of Youth Who Avoid HighRisk 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 were 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 married to the child’s 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 prescription

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 of Youth Who

Have or Can Obtain Essential Documents

7.1 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 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 in 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 highlight 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 con’t All youth need permanent, 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 permanency 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

Independent 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 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 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 youth’s strengths and capacity

Help youth build bridges to 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 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 personalization 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 Inability 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 and perpetuating barriers to program and youth success?

Does individual training and supervision address the need to understand the youth worker’s role in staff/client relationships?

Is equal time spent on strengthening youth worker’s self-awareness and personal growth skills, in comparison to client supervision and administration?

The Youth Worker’s SystemThe Youth Worker’s System*Chart does not reflect a *Chart does not reflect a hierarchal hierarchal or infl uentialor infl uentialrelationship among component members: I t simplyrelationship among component members: I t simplyreflects current examination of youth worker’s rolereflects current examination of youth worker’s role

Group SupervisionGroup Skills Training

Team MeetingsStaffing of C lients

Youth W orkers as Group"The Team "

Skill Based TrainingProgram Design

Program SupervisionClient Interaction

Youth in Program"Clients"

"Participants""Consum ers"

Orientation/SupervisionEvaluation

Com m unity RelationsAdm inistration

The OrganizationMission

Com m unityManagem ent

IndividualYouth

W orker

Self-AwarenessClinical Supervision

Personal learningExperience

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 must:

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 for 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 identified 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 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

NRCFCPPGerald P. Mallon, DSW, Director

The National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning

Hunter College School of Social Work129 East 79th Street

New York, New York 10021(212) 452-7043 – Phone

(212) 452-7051 - Fax

Mrengmal@aol.comwww.guthrie.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp