2016 challenges faced by aging out youth

Editor's Notes

• #2: Welcome. We are here today to talk about Challenges Faced by young people “who age” out of foster care during their journey into young adulthood. First of all, what does this picture make you think of? Imagine this young person run-run-running out of foster care and taking the big LEAP out into the sky and into adulthood Our young people are Ready to Launch – but can feel like a free fall Today, we are going to explore the barriers that impede their success and RESOURCES that can improve their long-term OUTCOMES
• #3: We do our work with VISION and we do our work with HOPE I like the term "inter-dependence.” Because it's not a question of choosing between permanency and life skills -- our young people need BOTH
• #4: Foster Care Alumni of America Postcard Project That’s a message that we hear a lot
• #6: Aged out 16 years old, started college: brain-smart but no common sense Common sense isn’t born to you – it’s something somebody TEACHES you or that you LEARN over time And I had just suddenly gone from TOTAL RESTRICTION to TOTAL FREEDOM Age 17 – “Janice” – rescue her, save her (not uncommon II bio-mom, siblings) No one told me the AIRMASK analogy It was like I was DROWNING and trying to keep other people afloat (taking care of myself felt “selfish” at the time) Age 19 – still in college, switching majors Great circle of friends – Methodist dorm – weren’t stealing money from me
• #7: Fast-forward a couple years: At what point was I a statistic? And when did I become a survivor?
• #8: When is the shift from statistic to survivor? The studies tend to focus on teenagers and young people in their 20s... We know the stats: HomelessPregnancy, promiscuity UnemployedCarry on cycle of abuse UneducatedDrug abuse UninsuredPrison sentences
• #9: Historically, the age of 18 was thought of as a divider between childhood and adulthood. Back in the early to mid-20th century, jobs were available to people with little or no education. Therefore, most young people could financial and social independence by their 18th birthday.Today, some people are over 30 before they:- Complete their schooling- Obtain steady work- Move out of the family home- Get married and have childrenHigher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #10: Section of the 2012 CCAI's Foster Youth Internship Report titled, "Life's Transitions Do Not Happen Overnight:" *pg. 56 "Life's transitions are a critical part of human development." "The current foster system is designed with the expectation that the transition from adolescence into adulthood can occur overnight." "Autonomy plays a critical role in adolescent development; however... the strict rules and regulations placed on foster youth by the state, foster parents and group home staff limits the amount of independence the youth experience."
• #12: Wouldn’t it be great if we planned for these things ahead of time. It’s wise to have an exit strategy. One tool = a 90-day exit plan. Its definition and purpose
• #13: Preparing youth for the future – this is not an OPTION, this is FEDERAL LAW The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 outlines federal requirements regarding essential elements to be covered in the development of a 90-day transition plan.
• #14: STATE LAW The reason that the Youth Developed Discharge Plan is being piloted (in five Ohio counties) is because Ohio youth have reported NOT being provided with / involved in the development of a 90-day transition plan. “The goal of an exit plan is to identify anticipated service needs for older youth who are in the process of transitioning out of foster care. Youth who have a comprehensive transition plan are better equipped to transition successfully from foster care to self-sufficiency. An unintended consequence of not preparing youth to exit from foster care is the youth becoming homeless.” (Missouri Dept. of Social Services)
• #15: Youth Access to Vital Documentation The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 outlines federal requirements regarding essential elements to be covered in the development of a 90-day transition plan. Both federal law and Ohio Administrative Code require that prior to the youth’s emancipated from foster care, they need to receive ORIGINALS (not copies) of these three documents. What Other Documentation Might Help? Letter of Verification of Dependency Immunization records Free credit report (www.annualcreditreport.com) Tribal information when applicable Death Certificates of parents, when applicable Information on registering to vote Information to males to sign up for the selective services (30 days prior to 18 or 30 days after 18) Information on any existing court fees associated with the youth’s name prior to emancipation.
• #16: The plan shall include information regarding: (WHITEBOARD ACTIVITY)
• #18: The plan shall include information regarding: (WHITEBOARD ACTIVITY) Post-Emancipation Services (if available) Healthcare; insurance, power of attorney Higher Ed; secondary, post-secondary Housing; obtaining, paying for Budgeting; credit report Selective Services (males must register) Existing Court Fees (preexisting) Existing Benefits; i.e. Social Security
• #19: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #20: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #21: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #22: (Chafee can be used for enrichment, and so can WIA funds)
• #23: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #24: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #29: Explain FCAA’s national postcard project: This postcard expresses one of the characteristics of the Culture of Foster Care: Having to beat the odds in order to succeed.
• #30: 20 colleges, universities and technical schools in California and Washington State
• #31: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #32: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #33: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #35: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #36: FCAA Postcard “Don’t expect me to know your hidden rules”
• #37: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #38: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #39: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #40: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #41: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #42: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #43: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #44: Prefrontal cortex grows during pre-teen years, and is pruned back during adolescence.
• #45: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #46: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #47: NAME THAT RESOURCE – each logo represents an existing resource OR funding stream Dress for Success: ‘Suits to Self Sufficiency’- [email_address] Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and additional apparel when she becomes employed. After a client finds work, she can return to Dress for Success for her employment suiting, during which we attempt to provide her with enough additional apparel to mix and match for a week’s worth of outfits. Job Fair Ohio: Easy to use; lists job fairs by cities
• #48: Higher education is becoming necessary, in order to earn a living wage:- A bachelor's degree today is the equivalent of a high school degree in the 60s- Two-thirds of all new jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education- Adults who have only a high school degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor's degree- A typical high school graduate, with no additional education, will earn over his/her lifetime half as much as a college graduateDemands for increasing education have created a larger gap between childhood and adulthood. Therefore, developmental experts now recognize a transitional stage of Young Adulthood.
• #49: GOOD NEWS = resources exist to change those stats!!! 1. Annie E. Casey Foundation and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Connecting foster youth with first-time job experiences IF YOUR STATE IS A “CASEY” STATE States/cities that offer this program include: Baltimore, MD; Hartford, CN; Providence, RI; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA and Maine. 2. 1998 Workforce Investment Act WIA funds can be used for: One-Stop Centers Youth Service Programs (low-income, high risk) Residential Training Programs like Job Corps
• #51: Stereotypes vs. Reality Who I was THEN vs. who I am NOW
• #52: I like the term "interdependence."Because it's not a question of choosing between permanency and life skills -- our young people need BOTH Goal: To create/maintain meaningful connections for youth (Erikson Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation) Otherwise, youth age out with no reliable adults to advise them or provide emotional support, so when they make a mistake, its life altering, and they nothing to fall back on. A mentor would be nice….
• #53: What if you try to make the very best plans possible, but something falls apart along the way? If you are going to come hurtling through the sky, then obviously, you will want a SAFETY NET Safety net activity: Choose at least 3 adults that you trust. Fill in the contact information for each person in your safety net.
• #54: FOSTERING CONNECTIONS ACT It does take a village: During a youth panel at the 2006 Casey It's My Life conference, young people said that they needed an entire network of connections, and not just one person. It is often up to us to identify those key figures in a child’s life, and to facilitate the building of future relationships. Concurrent Permanency Planning offers caseworkers a structured approach to moving children more quickly from the uncertainty of foster care to the stability and security of a permanent family (having a back-up plan). Historically, caseworkers have been taught to plan in a straight-line, sequential fashion: first to work diligently toward reunification with the biological family; and if after a year—or two or three—reunification looks unlikely, to then switch gears and start planning for adoption or another permanency option. Unfortunately, by this time, the parents have usually become alienated from their child and the case planning process, the child will probably have to be moved from the temporary foster home to a pre-adoptive home, and the child’s length of stay in foster care has been prolonged unnecessarily. Chart the Connections: There are a variety of different ways to map out on paper who the teenager has in their lives and the level of connectedness, and safety related to those connections (timeline, circle, ecomap, genogram, connectedness map) Do not ask the youth to make a Family Tree. DO invite and include youth input. Introduction: “I don't know if you remember her but she remembers you as someone important in her life. As a social worker, I won’t always be around, but I want this information for her We’re worried about what might happen if she leaves foster care with no family connections.” (Ask for photos from childhood!!) Even if they can't parent the youth, they can provide some support to the youth. Tell them, “Your family has some responsibility for her - and here are some ways to help.” (my bio-fam could have been helpful) Reconnecting Can Be Painful Hearing that your biological father asked for a DNA test, for example… CBS interview with Leslie Stahl: Teens reunited with father -- only to discover that he was an alcoholic, their mother had died from a drug overdose and that their father has a total of 10 children, none of whom he had cared for. Imagine if you had built up hopes about your long-lost father. How he would come back into your life with a reason for being gone for so long. He was... abducted by aliens... in the Secret Service... stranded on a desert island. But, all the time he had been thinking of you, right? He had always been thinking of you. In that dream, your father isn't off fathering other children. He's not drowning his sorrows in a bottle. When dreams die, we feel sadness, anger and disappointment. That is a normal reaction to facing the rift between ideal and reality. Teens are idealists; they want adults to display perfection. It is hard to face human frailty, false promises… Preparation for permanency includes grieving the loss of people from their past, continuing to form personal identity, building trust and security through relationships, and developing an openness to forge permanent connections. Pain comes into our lives through relationships – but healing comes that way, too. Paint a realistic picture for the youth: Finding a permanent family is not fast and there is no guarantee of success. Be prepared for the youth to become impatient or discouraged. Prepare for daily questions from the youth about how the search is going. Discuss their expectations. Ask the youth if they would like to bring anything to share with the family, such as art work, crafts or a video. Take it slow: Give the youth details ahead of time, so they can mentally and emotionally prepare. Introduce the youth to the family member or other adult in a supervised setting. Accompany and support them during the visit. Make the first visit short and fun – and, if necessary, shorten visits to minimize stress and anxiety (my father’s birthday). Debrief after: Debrief after the meeting. Don’t minimize the complexity of a youth's post-visit feelings. Listen to and validate youth concerns and reactions, and recognize them as a part of the process. Adults cope with impermanence by building on an accrued sense of self-reliance and by anticipating and planning for a time of greater constancy. Teens in foster care have a backlog of painful memories to fall back on… (vs. RC: secure base)
• #55: Permanency PactYouth transitioning from foster care are often unsure who they can count on for ongoing support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed. It is critical to the youth’s success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth’s safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult(s).Suggested Supports include: a home for the holidays, a place to do laundry, emergency place to stay, food/occasional meals, care package at college, employment opportunity, job search assistance, career counseling, housing hunt, recreational activities, mentor, transportation, educational assistance, relationship counseling, assistance with medical issues, storage, motivation, someone to discuss problems with, a phone to use, a computer to use, clothing, spiritual support, legal advise, etc.Copies of the Permanency Pact for each of the adults who has indicated a willingness to provide support should be made for the youth and placed in the Health and Education Passport, a document distributed to youth when they age out of care.
• #56: It is critical to the youth’s success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth’s safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult(s). Permanency PactYouth transitioning from foster care are often unsure who they can count on for ongoing support. Many of their significant relationships with adults have been based on professional connections which will terminate once the transition from care is completed. It is critical to the youth’s success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care. Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth’s safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult(s).Suggested Supports include: a home for the holidays, a place to do laundry, emergency place to stay, food/occasional meals, care package at college, employment opportunity, job search assistance, career counseling, housing hunt, recreational activities, mentor, transportation, educational assistance, relationship counseling, assistance with medical issues, storage, motivation, someone to discuss problems with, a phone to use, a computer to use, clothing, spiritual support, legal advise, etc.Copies of the Permanency Pact for each of the adults who has indicated a willingness to provide support should be made for the youth and placed in the Health and Education Passport, a document distributed to youth when they age out of care.