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Question of the Week
Q: If an undocumented minor is charged with a sexual crime, does that automatically disqualify him or her from applying for some type of immigration status (e.g. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, U Visa)? For the answer, follow this LINK.
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Brief Finds Odds of Going to College 66% Lower for Parenting NMDs vs. Non-Parenting
As part of the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study, Professor Mark Courtney and his colleagues at the University of Chicago have released an issue brief examining a wide range of predictors of high school completion and college entry at ages 19 and 20.
The study found that foster youth with alcohol or substance use problems and those who experienced sexual abuse prior to entering care may be at heightened risk of not completing high school. The study also found that youth in rural and suburban counties were more likely to finish high school than were youth in large urban counties.
A number of predictors of college enrollment were also uncovered. Foster youth who had not repeated a grade, who had higher reading proficiency, and who aspired to go to college were more likely to enroll. Young people who had changed placements more often while in care were less likely to enter college, along with those who became parents. The odds of going to college were about 66 percent lower for participants who were already parents at age 17 compared to non-parents.
Lastly, the amount of time youth remained in care past age 18 was significantly associated with both the likelihood of completing a high school credential and the likelihood of entering college. Each month in care past age 18 increased the expected odds of completing high school by about eight percent, and of entering college by about six percent. To read the issue brief, follow this LINK.
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Web Seminar to Explore Short Program Stays and High Rates of Involuntary Exit Among Youth in THP+FC and THP-Plus
A report to be issued John Burton Advocates for Youth in September found that youth participating in the California's two publicly-funded transitional housing programs for current and former foster youth are experiencing short lengths of stay and high rates of involuntary discharge.
According to the report, to be issued on Thursday, September 14, 33 percent of exits from THP+FC and 36 percent were involuntary among youth who exited in 2016-17. The average length of stay was 14.1 months in THP+FC and 13.1 months in THP-Plus, even though youth are eligible for the programs for two to three years.
These findings and their policy implications will be shared on a web seminar on Thursday, September 14 from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. The report will also explore how youth are faring educationally and in the work world, as well as their criminal justice involvement and the impact of being homeless and parenting. To register for the web seminar, follow this LINK.
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State Notices Counties about Youths' Right to Object to Out-of-County Placements
The California Department of Social Services has released All County Letter (ACL) 17-81 to notify counties about new requirements established by Assembly Bill 1688 (Rodriguez) in 2016 regarding foster youth placed outside their counties of origin.
Prior to the implementation of AB 1688, when a youth was placed outside of their county, the social worker was required to provide notice to the parent, who may object to the placement change. AB 1688 requires social workers to also provide written notice to the child’s attorney, and to the child if he or she is ten years of age or older. Additionally, AB 1688 allows foster children to object to the out-of-county placement.
The notice must be provided at least 14 days prior to the placement change unless the child’s health or well-being would be endangered by delaying placement or by giving prior notice. Foster children may object to the out-of-county placement within seven days of receiving the notice, and the court is required to hold a hearing no later than five days after the objection and prior to the placement. For more information, read the ACL.
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Summer Means More Employment & Less Enrollment for Youth in THP+FC & THP-Plus
John Burton Advocates for Youth has released program snapshots for the two transitional housing programs for current and former foster youth. These snapshots are released quarterly and provide moment-in-time, statewide, aggregate data for the THP+FC and THP-Plus programs in the areas of education, employment and income, involvement with the criminal justice system, and parenting status.
Participant data from the quarter ending on June 30, 2017 indicated slight changes from the previous quarter ending on March 31, 2017, mainly illustrating changes likely brought about by the start of summer. In both programs, less youth were enrolled in school, with 40 percent in THP+FC, a drop from 48 percent in March; and 34 percent in THP-Plus, a drop from 42 percent in March.
In THP-Plus, 70 percent of youth were employed, a slight increase from 67 percent in March. The employment rate in THP+FC remained consistent at 46 percent. Both programs experienced an increase in the proportion of employed youth working full-time, and working youths’ average hourly wage increased slightly.
Rates of involvement with the adult criminal justice system have dropped slightly in THP-Plus. In THP+FC, the proportion of youth who are custodial parents increased from 13 percent in March to 15 percent in June.
The program snapshots are based on data from the THP+FC and THP-Plus Participant Tracking Systems, online databases that provide demographic and outcome data on 511 THP+FC participants and 658 THP-Plus participants. To view the THP+FC Program Snapshot, follow this LINK. To view the THP-Plus Program Snapshot, follow this LINK.
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The Legislature Reconvenes for Final Push
The summer recess is officially over, with the California State Legislature reconvening on Monday, August 21. Friday, September 1 is the deadline for the fiscal committees of both houses to meet and report bills to the floor and September 15th is the last day for bills to be passed. The Governor then has one month to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature before September 15th. Legislative proposals that make it through the process will become state law effective January 1, 2018.
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