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Question of the Week
Q: We have a non-minor dependent (NMD) who would like to purchase a “tiny house”. This NMD has saved up the down payment and the former foster parents have agreed to let this youth park it on their property. The tiny house is mobile so the NMD could move the house as their situation changes.
Can this NMD reside in the tiny house as a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP)? For the answer, follow this LINK.
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How Many Dual Status Youth Are There in California? We'll Soon Know
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has released All County Letter (ACL) 17-59 to inform counties about new requirements established by Assembly Bill (AB) 1911 (Eggman) regarding minors involved with both the child welfare services and probation agencies, known as “dual status youth”.
In 2016 AB 1911 passed, required the Judicial Council to establish a stakeholder committee to develop recommendations to facilitate, enhance and track data outcomes for dual status youth, and report them to the State Legislature by January 1, 2018. Until CDSS implements a function in its case management system to allow counties to identify and track dual status youth (as required before January 1, 2019), temporary project codes have been implemented to serve this purpose.
The report to the Legislature will include recommendations regarding a statewide common identifier to reconcile data across the child welfare and juvenile justice systems; standard definitions for dual status youth; identified and defined outcomes for dual status youth such as recidivism, health, pregnancy, homelessness, employment and education; established baselines and goals for outcomes; an assessment of costs and benefits to implement the committee’s recommendations; and an assessment of whether a single case management system is needed to track dual status youth. To read the ACL, follow this LINK.
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New Report Asks: Is Extended Foster Care “Enough” to Improve College Outcomes?
John Burton Advocates for Youth has released a report sharing findings from a pilot project to transform housing providers into college success programs. Preliminary data suggest that the extension of foster care to age 21 has had a positive impact on the college attendance rates of foster youth. Over 2012-13 – the first year of implementation of Extended Foster Care – 22,866 current and former foster youth were attending community college. This number increased to 27,061 in 2015-16.
While these are positive early indications, important questions remain, including, is remaining in foster care “enough” to improve college outcomes, or is it necessary to change the practice of providers serving transition-age current and former foster youth to increase their emphasis on college enrollment and retention?
To answer this and other questions, JBAY launched the Post-Secondary Education Training Series which provided a cohort of THP-Plus and THP+FC providers with training and technical assistance, and financial support for their youth enrolled in college. Working off of a Core Practice Model, providers transformed their programs including changes to their case management models, the way they support youth with the financial aid process, and how they foster a “college-going” culture.
A number of important findings surfaced over the course of the project, and are included in the report, along with information about next steps. Last Thursday, JBAY hosted a web seminar sharing findings from the pilot and marking the release of the report. To read the report, follow this LINK.
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Youth Scholarship Deadline for Blueprint for Success Conference 1 Month Away
California College Pathways is providing scholarships to foster youth scholars to attend the 2017 Blueprint for Success Conference to inform and lead the effort to create more college and career pathways for foster youth. The scholarship application deadline is August 31.
Youth selected will be provided travel and hotel accommodations to attend the conference in Los Angeles, learn from leading California and national experts, network with other peer and professional advocates from across the state, build skills and gain knowledge to assist youth on their educational paths, and help improve the foster care system and education services for foster youth.
Youth will arrive on Sunday, October 15th to participate in a special leaders’ training session, and will participate in professional workshops at the conference, October 16 and 17. Eligible youth have had some experience with being in foster care and must be living in California, with priority given to current college students.
For more information about youth scholarships, including how to apply, follow this LINK. For more information about the Blueprint for Success Conference, follow this LINK.
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It's Go Time: Burton Book Fund Launches for 2017-18 Academic Year
Are you working with a current or former foster youth who will need college text books? How about foster youth enrolled in career and technical education programs? If so, now is the time to help them access the Burton Book Fund for the 2017-18 academic year.
The Burton Book Fund was established in 2013 and has since provided $1.5 million in text books to 5,436 foster youth attending 96 college campuses in California. The Burton Book Fund provides $250 in text books for students enrolled in 12 or more units, $175 to students enrolled in 9 to 11 units and $100 to students enrolled in 6 to 8 units.
The Burton Book Fund officially kicked off the 2017-18 academic year on Wednesday, July 19 and the program is now in full swing. Funds are limited, so it is important to help the youth you serve access the funding as soon as possible.
To learn more about the Burton Book Fund, read a general information sheet, watch a recent web seminar about it, view the presentation or review a Frequently Asked Questions. If you have questions or need assistance, contact Martha Joseph.
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