78 subgroups of youth transitioning to adulthood from foster care based on longitudinal study in...
TRANSCRIPT
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Subgroups of Youth Transitioning to Adulthood from Foster Care
• Based on longitudinal study in three states in the Midwest led by Mark Courtney
• Suggested four subgroups with distinctive characteristics
• Youth can and do move among the subgroups
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Accelerated Adults• 36% of total group• 2/3 of group is female• Most likely to live on
own in stable situation• Almost all have high
school diploma• Most likely to be
employed• Over half have
attended some college
Accelerated Adults
• Low rate of criminal conviction
• Nearly ½ have resident children
• Most likely to have completed key transitions
• “Grow up” faster & “take on adult responsibilities”
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Struggling Parents• 25% of total group• Nearly ¾ female• More likely to be African
American• Most have resident
children• Most likely to be married
or cohabiting• Equally likely to live on
own, or with relatives, friends or others
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Struggling Parents• Least likely to have finished
high school or attend college
• Least likely to be currently enrolled
• 25% unemployed• Lowest rate of employment• Low rate of criminal
conviction• Low level of social support
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Emerging Adults• 20% of total group• Slightly over 50% male• All living with friends,
relatives or in settings not their own
• Majority have finished high school
• Second highest rate of having some college
• Second highest rate of current employment
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Emerging Adults
• Least likely to have children• Those that have children, 2/3
are nonresident• Least likely to have been
married• Least likely to have been
homeless or couch surfed• Some delayed adult markers
but have avoided hardship
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Troubled and Troubling
• 20% of total group• Vast majority are male• Most likely to be
currently incarcerated, otherwise institutionalized, homeless and/or experienced high residential mobility
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Troubled and Troubling
• 2/5 have not finished high school
• 1/10 have some college• Least likely to be
employed• Nearly half have children
but do not live with them• Over 4/5 have a criminal
conviction since age 18
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Troubled and Troubling
• Least likely to be prepared to be on their own at exit from care
• Most likely to report mental health and/or substance abuse problems
• Most likely to have been homeless or couch surfed
• Lowest level of social support
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Building New Relationships
• Identify youth’s perspective on need for new relationships
• With adults
• With peers
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Rebuilding Old Relationships
• Youth has decision making
• Safety issues• Balanced
perceptions• Assistance with
contacts• Debrief experiences
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For All Relationships
• Issues of trust• Issues of
accountability• Issues of
dependability• Positive contribution
–To youth’s life–Youth to lives of
others90
Meeting the Needs of Non-Minor Dependents
• Exploring the practice implications for working with non minor dependents
• Three opportunities for deep conversations
• Spend 20 minutes talking, doodling, writing down phrases, ideas, thoughts, inspirations
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Harvesting Wisdom• Each table needs a
volunteer host• Briefly recap prior
conversations for next group
• Summarize ideas for presentation to larger group
• All participants should chime in
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Placement Considerations• NMD youth are adults• Placements should be
least restrictive• Encourage independence• Developmental needs and
readiness for independence
• Decisions are made in conversation with the youth
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Living Options
• Relative or NREFM placement
• Foster care including foster family agency placement and intensive therapeutic foster care
• Continued group care if indicated by medical necessity (includes mental health needs)
• Small Family Home• Whole Family Foster
Home
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Living Options
• THPP• THP + FC• SILP (Supervised
Independent Living Placement)– College dorm– Rented room– Shared apartment or
living arrangement
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Assessment for SILP
• Readiness assessment must be completed–State approved
assessment already in use for TILP may be used (Ansell Casey Life Skills or Daniel Memorial)
• Assess knowledge of financial skills/developmentally ready for daily living
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Assessment for SILP• Assess readiness
generously• Denial of SILP can be
made for reasons such as– Rent and utilities
exceeds income– Unstable income– No knowledge of money– Unable to care for self
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Shared Living Agreements
• In any shared living arrangement (foster care, NREFM, SILP that includes shared living arrangement)
• Spells out concrete details
• In the event of disagreements
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Maltreatment of Non-minor Dependents
• Maltreatment of a NMD by a licensed caregiver is reportable by a placement agency
• Responsibility for intake and evaluation of risk is extended to NMD
• Requirement for cross reporting is extended to NMD
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At Transitional Planning• If youth is listed as victim on
Child Abuse Central Index report
• At age 18, youth may request removal of information from Child Abuse Central Index
• Make written request to Department of Justice
• Must be notarized and include name, address, SSN and DOB
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Case Plans
• Case plans shall have a goal of Permanent Placement with Planned Permanent Living Arrangement
• Routinely updated per current regulations
• Be youth driven, team-based
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Case Plans for Group Home Placement
• Must address:– Group home as best placement
to meet needs– Transition to independent living– Treatment strategies that lead
to less restrictive setting– Target date for discharge from
group home– Periodic review
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Case Plans for SILP
• Placement in a SILP must be specified in case plan
• Appropriate for developmental needs
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Benefits of Youth Leadership• Engagement increases
when there is a feeling of choice
• People who choose what they do are more excited, interested, & confident
• When youth choose activities, they have more positive mood, higher well-being, & perform better
• Contributes to growing self-efficacy
• Greater optimism, hope & persistence
• Better mental health, coping and less depression
• Adopt healthy habits and maintain behavior change
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