PowerPoint Presentation

Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care

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Erin RussThe American Youth Policy Forum

1People think being in foster care is cut and dry, but thats not really true. People watch these movies and think that being in foster care means one thing, and only one thing, but it can mean a lot of different things to different people. Sherika, Youth Villages

2Goals of this SessionUnderstand and discuss the unique challenges faced by youth in foster care in postsecondary education.

Identify opportunities to address these challenges through state, local, and institutional policies and programs.

Connect with others in the field to share information and resources.

Introduction and OverviewAbout AYPF

Overview Over 26,000 youth turn18 and age out of foster care each year.Unique challenges:Less than 10% complete four year college education.140% experience homelessness or couch surfing.2More vulnerable to financial fraud.Ongoing emotional turmoil.2008 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act gave states added flexibility to address transitional youth.

1. Wolanin, Thomas.HigherEducationOpportunitiesforFosterYouth:APrimerforPolicymakers.The Institute for HigherEducationPolicy,2005. http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/m--r/OpportunitiesFosterYouth.pdf.2. Courtney, Mark and Dworsky, Amy.Assessing the Impact of Extending Care beyond Age18 on Homelessness: Emerging Findings from the Midwest Study, Chicago: Chapin Hall,2010 http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/publications/Midwest_IB2_Homelessness.pdf.

AYPFs publication documents the challenges faced by the more than 26,000 youth who turn 18 each year and exit the child welfare system nationwide. Their unique challenges are highlighted here, including significantly decreased postsecondary success rates, increased homelessness, financial instability, and emotional turmoil from past and ongoing traumatic experiences. With the 2008 passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, states have increased flexibility and parameters for serving this population. AYPF asked how states are using this flexibility to expand access to opportunities for youth in transition from foster care. 6Information CollectionHow are states implementing policies that support youth in transition from foster care?

AYPF gathered information from:

Outside reportsConversations with state- and local-level service providersInterviews with policymakers and researchersSite visitsDiscussions with youthData synthesisFeedback from other events such as webinars and discussion groups

7Policy LandscapeFederal PolicySeveral federal policies available to states:Title IV-E of the Social Security ActChafee Foster Care IndependenceEducation and Training Vouchers (ETV)McKinney-Vento 2008 Foster Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions ActFostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions ActAlso known as the Fostering Connections Act.States can provide Title IV-E payments to youth up to age 19, 20, or 21.Title IV-E of the Social Security Act authorized Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs to provide federal matching funds to states for directly administering these programs.Youth must meet certain education, training, or work requirements to qualify for extended Title IV-E funds.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, also known as Fostering Connections, was signed into Federal law in 2008.Many aspects of foster care and adoption were modified,Including an important change that was one of our main focuses.

States can choose to provide title IV-E payments to youth up to age 19, 20, or 21

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act authorized Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs to provide federal matching funds to states for directly administering these programs.

The objectives of Title IV-E were to improve the quality of care of children in foster care.

By extending Title IV-E funds to youth up to age 21, Fostering Connections allows youth to have prolonged quality of care and help them transition more safely to adulthood.

However, youth must meet certain education, training, or work requirements to qualify for extended Title IV-E funds

http://calswec.berkeley.edu/frequently-asked-questions-faqs-about-title-iv-e-msw-program#Q3http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/resource/title-ive-foster-care 10Fostering Connections: Requirements for Federal Extension (Title IV-E) up to Age 21Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential.Enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education.Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment.Employed for at least 80 hours per month.Incapable of doing any of the afore mentioned due to a medical condition.

The first two requirements focus on education, First, that the youth must be in the process of completing their secondary education or be a part of a program leading to an equivalent credential.Second, that the young person be enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education.

The next two requirements look at training and work participation,Either youth must participate in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment.Or they need to be employed for at least 80 hours per month.

The final requirement helps youth who are unable to go to school or work due to a medical condition.

The passing of this federal law, which has been adopted by 19 states and the District of Columbia, also encouraged states to make, or extend, their own similar requirements for foster care extension.11

Image excerpted from AYPFs Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care12Challenges and OpportunitiesIn Your WordsWhat challenges do youth who age out of foster care face in general?

And when trying to access postsecondary opportunities like 2-year/4-year education, jobs, etc.? Challenges, Needs, and Opportunities Three categories of need emerged:

Sustainable Social CapitalPermanency SupportsPostsecondary Opportunities

AYPF documented policies andprograms across states to meetsthese needs.

Image excerpted from AYPFs Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care. 15Sustainable Social CapitalThe skills, resources, and community needed to independently overcome barriers and navigate adulthood. Strategies and Examples:Youth Villages Transitional Living MentorsSouthern California Foster Family & Adoption Agency Co-MentoringPermanency SupportsWithout basic needs like housing, transportation, healthcare, and financial support, it becomes difficult to pursue long-term education and employment goals. Strategies and Examples:Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity PassportCalifornia Transitional HousingNational Center for Housing and Child WelfarePostsecondary OpportunitiesYouth from foster care have difficulty accessing, persisting, and completing postsecondary education, especially four-year college. Financial aid remains an obstacle availability and strategic use. Strategies and Examples:MPowering My Success, University of Michigan-FlintGuardian Scholars, multi-stateState tuition supplements/vouchersFoster Care to Success planning and counseling services

RecommendationsRecommendation Highlights In order to address these challenges, AYPF made the following recommendations:

Highlight a range of postsecondary optionsCoordinate systems and servicesDevelop professional capacityEngage youth in decision-makingChange the Conversation: Transitioning to Opportunities

Our recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers are centered on the goal that all young people in and transitioning from foster care should have access to opportunities that lead to a healthy, independent adult life, and include the following:Highlight a range of postsecondary options. Planning and exposure should begin early, and should include industry-recognized credentials, 2-year and 4-year degree programs, and workforce training opportunities. Coordinate systems and services that provide opportunities, such as education, housing, health & human services, and workforce, and at all levels. As weve noted, the needs of this population are complex and overlapping, and systems should coordinate services. Develop professional capacity those working directly with youth, as well as those making decisions about programs and systems that serve youth should be knowlegable about evidence-based practice, and how to access resources.Engaging youth in decision-making is also key, and this means soliciting the opinions and feedback of young people as well as acting on their advice and empowering them as decision-makers. And finally, changing the conversation instead of transitioning out of, AYPF encourages dialogue about transitioning to opportunities.

With that in mind, we would like to transition to our panel, each of whom is here today to discuss the policies and programs in their state that facilitate access to opportunities for youth in transition from foster care. 20Increasing Postsecondary Access and SuccessIndividual ConnectionsProgrammatic and Institutional ResourcesPolicy SupportsIncreasing Postsecondary Access and Success for Youth in Foster CareThink, Pair, ShareIn your professional capacity, what challenges exist for youth in foster care trying to go to and complete college? How are you addressing those challenges?

Pair up with someone near you and discuss.

Closing Thoughts and Questions?Contact InformationErin RussProgram Associateeruss@aypf.org@WatchErinTweet