Preparing for a "Next Generation" Evaluation of Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care

Preparing for a Author: Marla McDaniel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 10

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Book Description
Youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood need multiple supports to navigate the challenges they face. Over the past three decades, federal child welfare policy has significantly increased the availability of those supports. In 1999, the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program was created, increasing the amount of funds potentially available to states for independent living services. As part of the process of planning for evaluation of these services, these authors developed a conceptual framework outlining the core developmental assets youth need to succeed as adults and the ways the foster care system can help facilitate their preparation. They also created a typology of existing independent living programs, identifying 10 different domains and describing available research evidence on each. To further aid research planning in the three key areas of education, employment, and financial literacy and asset-building, the authors gathered current evidence for program effectiveness and identified potential programs for serving youth in foster care. This brief presents the conceptual framework, typology, and central conclusions from these efforts to inform future program development and evaluation. [This brief series is a product of the Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Project, contracted by the Administration on Children and Families and led by the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.].

Preparing for a "Next Generation" Evaluation of Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care

Preparing for a Author: Marla McDaniel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 10

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Book Description
Youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood need multiple supports to navigate the challenges they face. Over the past three decades, federal child welfare policy has significantly increased the availability of those supports. In 1999, the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program was created, increasing the amount of funds potentially available to states for independent living services. As part of the process of planning for evaluation of these services, these authors developed a conceptual framework outlining the core developmental assets youth need to succeed as adults and the ways the foster care system can help facilitate their preparation. They also created a typology of existing independent living programs, identifying 10 different domains and describing available research evidence on each. To further aid research planning in the three key areas of education, employment, and financial literacy and asset-building, the authors gathered current evidence for program effectiveness and identified potential programs for serving youth in foster care. This brief presents the conceptual framework, typology, and central conclusions from these efforts to inform future program development and evaluation. [This brief series is a product of the Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Project, contracted by the Administration on Children and Families and led by the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.].

Supporting Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care. Issue Brief 1

Supporting Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care. Issue Brief 1 PDF Author: Amy Dworsky
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood need many supports to navigate the challenges they face. Over the past three decades, federal child welfare policy has significantly increased the availability of those supports. In 1999, the Foster Care Independence Act amended Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to create the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (the Chafee Program). This amendment doubled the maximum amount of funds potentially available to states for independent living services and gave states greater discretion over how they use those funds. More recently, a provision in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 gave states an option to extend eligibility for Title IV-E foster care for youth beyond age 18 until age 21. In states that have taken this option, young people can receive an additional three years of foster care support to prepare for the transition into adulthood. ACF contracted with the Urban Institute and its partner Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago to plan for the next generation of evaluation activities funded by the Chafee Program. This brief focuses on educational programs. The brief reviews what we currently know about educational attainment of youth in foster care, considers the existing evidence on the effectiveness of educational programs, and concludes with issues for the field to consider as we move toward the next evaluation of the Chafee Program. [This brief series is a product of the Planning a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Project, contracted by the Administration on Children and Families and led by the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.].

Youth Transitioning from Foster Care

Youth Transitioning from Foster Care PDF Author: Adrienne L. Fernandes
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781606920695
Category : Foster children
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Nearly half of states have laws that explicitly permit the state child welfare system to continue providing foster care for children beyond the age of majority (usually no later than 19). However, the number of states that actually facilitate youth remaining in care beyond their 18th or 19th birthdays is significantly smaller. Over 20,000 young people have been emancipated from foster care annually from FY2002 through FY2006. While most young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in care and those who age out of care often face obstacles to developing independent living skills and building supports that ease the transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or a lack of emotional and financial supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on several outcome measures. Recognising the difficulties faced by older youth in care and youth emancipating from foster care, Congress created a new Independent Living initiative (P.L. 99-272)in 1986 to assist certain older foster youth as they enter adulthood. The legislation authorised mandatory funding to states under a new Section 477 of the Social Security Act. In 1999, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act (P.L. 106-169) replaced the Independent Living Program with the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and doubled the total annual funds available to states from $70 million to $140 million. The law also expanded the population of youth eligible to receive independent living services - with no lower age limit - and gave states greater flexibility in designing independent living programs. Independent living services can refer to assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, training in daily living skills, and training in financial management, among other services. Amendments to the CFCIP in FY2002 (P.L. 107-133) authorised discretionary funding for states to provide education and training vouchers to eligible youth. Along with the CFCIP, federal child welfare law and other federal programs are intended to help older current youth in care and foster care alumni make the transition to adulthood. The federal foster care program has protections in place to ensure that older youth in care have a written case plan that addresses the programs and services that will assist in this transition, among other supports. Further, federal law authorises funding for states to provide workforce assistance and housing to older foster youth. Despite these efforts and the resilience displayed by current and former foster youth, policymakers and child welfare practitioners have suggested that at a minimum, young people need better support to build stronger connections with caring adults before leaving foster care and should have the option to remain in care upon reaching their 18th or 19th birthdays.

Youth Transitioning from Foster Care

Youth Transitioning from Foster Care PDF Author: Congressional Research Service
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781502842176
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 50

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Book Description
While most young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in foster care and those who are emancipated from care often face obstacles to developing independent living skills and building supports that ease the transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or a lack of emotional and financial supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on several outcome measures. The federal government recognizes that older youth in foster care and those aging out are vulnerable to negative outcomes and may ultimately return to the care of the state as adults, either through the public welfare, criminal justice, or other systems. Under the federal foster care program, states may seek reimbursement for youth to remain in care up to the age of 21. In addition, the federal foster care program has certain protections for older youth. For example, states must annually obtain the credit report of each child in care who is age 16 or older (age 14 and older as of late 2015). States must also assist youth with developing what is known as a transition plan. The law requires that a youth's caseworker, and as appropriate, other representative(s) of the youth, assist and support him or her in developing the plan. The plan is to be directed by the youth, and is to include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors, workforce supports, and employment services. Other protections will go into effect in late 2015 that will require states to ensure that youth age 14 and older are consulted about the development and revisions to their case plan and permanency plan, and that the case plan includes a document listing certain rights for these youth. Separately, the federal government provides funding for services to assist in the transition to adulthood through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The law enables states to provide these services to youth who are likely to age out of foster care (with no lower age limit), and youth age 16 or older who left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. Independent living services may include assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, and preventive health activities, among other services. The CFCIP requires that states ensure youth in independent living programs participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living, and further that they “accept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.” The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program separately authorizes discretionary funding for education and training vouchers for eligible youth to cover their cost of postsecondary education (until age 23). A recent evaluation of independent living programs, such as those that provide mentoring and life skills, shows mixed results. One promising independent living program has social workers who oversee a small caseload and have regular, ongoing interactions with the youth. The youth in this program are more likely to attend college and stay enrolled than their peers not in the program. Along with the CFCIP, other federal programs are intended to help current and former youth in foster care make the transition to adulthood. Federal law authorizes funding for states and local jurisdictions to provide workforce support and housing to older foster youth and youth emancipating from care. Further, the law that established the CFCIP created an optional Medicaid eligibility pathway for youth who age out of foster care; this pathway is often called the “Chafee option.

Aging Out of Foster Care

Aging Out of Foster Care PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Foster children
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description


"Getting Ready" Independent Living Skills Program

Author: Luz Maria Varela
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Foster children
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
This project describes a 12 week pilot program that was designed to offer further resources to the foster youth who are 'aged out' of the foster care system.

Independent Living Strategies

Independent Living Strategies PDF Author: William V. Griffin
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Adolescence
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
Abstract: The purpose of this book is to provide a practical model for an adolescent independent living program. The benefits of this type of program for the adolescents, the public agency and the allied social service agencies are explained. The book addresses three key areas: 1) adolescent population and services provided by an independent living program; 2) tasks and activities in an independent living program for adolescents; and 3) methods for implementing an independent living program. This text provides resources, a bibliography, and examples of state level independent living policy/regulations.

Preparing Adolescents for Life After Foster Care

Preparing Adolescents for Life After Foster Care PDF Author: Anthony N. Maluccio
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
In recent years, attention has been given in the foster family care literature to adolescents' readiness for living on their own following aging out of their foster care placement. This book offers ideas on ways to help adolescents master the tasks required to successfully prepare for independent living following discharge from foster care. It is practice-oriented and draws upon the experience of researchers, trainers, consultants, and families. The chapters in Part 1 examine the various dimensions of the problem including the concept of interdependence as the goal of services for this population. It also discusses recruiting foster parents, examining adolescent development, and the need for these young people to mourn their losses before they can move on. Part 2 considers meeting the challenges of preparing these adolescents for life after foster care from the perspective of policy and program. Emphasis is placed on the importance of involving biological parents as resources for adolescents and the resources that black foster parents offer to teenagers in their care. Part 3 focuses on practice methods and strategies in work with adolescents and their foster parents. Also discussed are the needs of minority teenagers; problems of maltreatment; discipline; and assessment tools that can measure the independent-living skills of adolescents. (Contains over 300 references.) (JDM)

Effectiveness of the Independent Living Program Relating to Foster Youth 'Aging Out' of the Foster Care System

Effectiveness of the Independent Living Program Relating to Foster Youth 'Aging Out' of the Foster Care System PDF Author: Andrew J. Dabbous
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 55

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Book Description
Every year 20,000 youths 'age out' of the foster care system in the United States. Many lack the necessary skills to transition successfully from foster care to independent living. These unsuccessful transitions usually result in the individual experiencing barriers such as under-education, unemployment, lack of permanent housing, inadequate social support, and involvement with the criminal justice system. However, with the help of independent living programs these low rates of success can be reversed to reveal better outcomes for youths emancipating from care. Research has observed that participants involved with independent living programs have more successful rates in the areas of educational attainment, length of employment, stable housing, fewer encounters with justice system and better social support than those not participating in any types of services. The purpose of this study was to review the Independent Living Program and its mandates as well as the various independent living programs operating throughout the United States in an attempt to identify which program elements are effective in preparing youth to live successfully upon emancipation from the foster care system. The following study conducted is a review of the research literature on independent living services and programs for foster care youths. Existing studies were gathered to provide evidence about whether or not the independent living program and its services have been shown to be effective. Benefits of this literature review can provide information for future policy makers, social workers, and administrators. By knowing what appears to work and what has shown to produce positive results and outcomes, federal, state, and local legislators can use this information to adapt, revise existing laws or to create new laws for children and youth that are in the system to help them prepare for their future outside of the foster care system.

Uncertain Futures

Uncertain Futures PDF Author: Edmund V. Mech
Publisher: C W L A Press
ISBN:
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
Discusses the plight of youth who have aged out of the system. It provides meaningful, practical solutions for teaching youth to support themselves before they are forced out of care, and details programs that assist youth in becoming self-supporting once they do leave the foster care system.