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AB 12 Question of the Week
Q: I’m the former foster parent of a youth who is now in Extended Foster Care, living in a THP+FC program. She is exiting the program next month and wants to know how much money has been saved on her behalf that she can access when she exits. Can you tell me what the savings requirements are for non-minor dependents participating in THP+FC programs? For the answer, follow this LINK.
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JBF Releases 2015-16 THP-Plus & THP+FC Annual Report
The John Burton Foundation has released the 2015-16 THP-Plus and THP+FC Annual Report. This report highlights the achievements and challenges of the state’s transitional housing programs in helping youth in the foster care and juvenile probation systems make a safe, supported transition to adulthood, and provides practice and policy recommendations for the future.
Over FY 2015-16, 1,695 youth were served by THP-Plus and 3,048 youth were served by THP+FC, both across 48 different counties. Participants in these programs continue to see gains in income and employment, and those in need are accessing public benefits.
Most importantly, the THP-Plus program is addressing homelessness among former foster youth. Over FY 2015-16, while 29 percent of youth entered a THP-Plus program directly from homelessness or unstable housing and 46 percent reported having experienced homelessness between foster care and THP-Plus, a full 89 percent exited the program to stable housing. However, not all youth in need are able to access these programs and in the midst of a housing crisis, youth homelessness persists.
Other challenges remain for youth in both programs, including staggering rates of college attendance and retention, and an increasing rate of youth becoming parents both prior to entrance and during their time in the program. Of youth who exited a THP+FC program over FY 2015-16, the percentage of youth enrolled in college actually dropped between entrance and exit, from 23 to 21 percent. The percentage of youth who were custodial parents more than doubled between entrance and exit for both THP-Plus and THP+FC.
The report offers recommendations for addressing these and other challenges, and outlines how THP-Plus, which as a statewide program is underspent, can be better utilized to meet the needs of the population and to address youth homelessness. To read the report, follow this LINK.
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Two of Three Bills Pass, Addressing Over-Prescription of Psych Meds to Foster Youth
On September 29th, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1174 (McGuire) and Senate Bill 1291 (Beall), two of three bills sent to the Governor’s desk this year addressing the over-prescription of psychotropic medication to foster children youth.
SB 1174 subjects prescribing physicians to heightened scrutiny by enabling the Medical Board of California to collect and analyze data, and, where warranted, conduct investigations of physicians who frequently prescribe outside recognized safety parameters for children. SB 1291 will monitor counties to see that they offer mental health services for children in foster care that include non-drug treatments.
The third measure, Senate Bill 253 (Monning) which was vetoed by the Governor, would have established standards for the courts to apply when deciding whether or not to authorize psychotropic medications, ensuring a single point of accountability for this system of oversight that spans multiple agencies and stakeholders.
As noted in a press release from National Center for Youth Law, the sponsor of the bills, taken together these bills represent one of the most comprehensive state efforts to rein in the misuse of psychotropic medications in foster care, a national problem highlighted by the federal government in 2011.
The passage of SB 1174 and SB 1291 follow the enactment of three bills last year (SB 238, SB 319, SB 484) addressing the over-prescription of psychotropic medication to foster youth, significant media coverage on the issue, and an August 2016 state audit which found that the state and counties failed to adequately oversee the prescription of psychotropic medications to foster youth.
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Web Seminar on 2015-16 THP-Plus/THP+FC Annual Report & Legislative Wrap-Up
The 2016 legislative session has come to an end and a variety of new laws have passed that impact foster youth and homeless youth in California.
The John Burton Foundation has also released the 2015-16 THP-Plus & THP+FC Annual Report, which highlights the achievements and challenges of the state's transitional housing programs in helping youth in the foster care and juvenile probation systems make a safe, supported transition to adulthood, and provides practice and policy recommendations for the future.
On Wednesday, October 26th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., the John Burton Foundation will host a web seminar to share highlights from the Annual Report, and also discuss how recently enacted state legislation will impact foster youth and homeless youth in the years ahead. To register for the web seminar, follow this LINK.
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Web Seminar to Debunk Myths Underlying Federal Foster Care Reform Efforts
When policymakers and advocates envision reform to federal child welfare policy, they are often motivated by the common misperception that there is an overreliance on foster care as an intervention. Further, current federal proposals to reduce reliance on congregate care and ensure every child should be raised in a family should be grounded in the experiences of states, like California, that are already engaged in those efforts.
On Wednesday, October 19th, the California Child Advocates for Change is hosting a web seminar debunking the myths that underlie many of our federal foster care reform efforts and highlighting the key areas of reform needed at the federal level. For more information, download a flyer or contact Adina Kuncz at A.Kuncz@kids-alliance.org. Register for the webinar by following this LINK.
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