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Question of the Week
Q: A social worker told me that there are new rules regarding the Supervised Independent Living Placement. He stated that non-minor dependents are now allowed to reside with the parent from which they were removed, including their biological parent. Is this true? If so, are there any sort of guidelines? For the answer, follow this LINK.
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Prevent “Undermatch” Among Foster Youth: CSU Application Open Until November 30
Research has shown that as many as 40 percent of college-bound students “undermatch.” This occurs when a student attends a less selective school, even though their academic credentials would have permitted them to attend a more selective college or university.
Undermatch may likely be occurring among foster care in California. A new report by John Burton Advocates for Youth found that 35,484 foster youth attended a public college or university in California in the 2015-16 academic year. Of the figure, 8 percent attended a campus of the California State University (CSU) system and 4 percent attended a campus of the University of California system, while the balance (88%) attended a community college. Statewide, 70 percent of students attend a community college, 21 percent attend a CSU and 9 percent attend a UC.
Undermatch has serious implications for students due to the considerable gap in graduation rates between two and four-year colleges. A May 2016 report by the Public Policy Institute of California found that the six-year graduation rate in the CSU system is 57 percent. Among students who entered community college, just 15 percent earned a Bachelor’s degree within six years in California, according to a 2016 report by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University.
An important opportunity to prevent undermatch and promote academic achievement is upon us: the application for the 23-campus CSU system opened on October 1. The CSU application will remain open until November 30. The same application is used for all 23 campuses. Please take a moment to share this information with youth you are serving.
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Curriculum & Training on Psychotropic Medication in Foster Care Now Available
New curriculum, Psychotropic Medication in Foster Care has been developed and is now available, to train individuals working with children and youth in foster care about the uses, benefits, and risks of psychotropic medication, trauma, treatment plans, substance use disorder, and the court authorization process.
This training is available as a one-day classroom training for county social workers, probation officers and foster care public health nurses, or as a 90-minute e-Learning for any other interested parties including caregivers, foster youth, children’s attorneys, Court Appointed Special Advocates, foster care social workers, administrators of group home and short-term residential treatment programs and judicial staff.
Senate Bill 238 required the California Department of Social Services to convene a workgroup to address several concerns related to foster youth and psychotropic medications. The classroom training for county social workers, probation officers and public health nurses is offered through the four Regional Training Academies. Links for course enrollment are included in a recently released All County Information Notice.
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I Need ID to Get ID? Article Offers Strategies to Help Disconnected Youth Obtain an ID
The American Bar Association has issued an article outlining barriers youth face in obtaining and maintaining their vital identification documents who are homeless, on their own, or are aging out of the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems.
According to the article, identification requirements have become progressively more stringent in federal and state law. The article describes several problems youth experience including the “catch 22” of needing identification to obtain identification, residency verification problems, barriers based on cost, age limitations of who can obtain ID without parental consent, lack of places to keep documents safe, lack of a youth-friendly and understandable process, and not having appropriate and accessible policies for gender marker changes.
Several advocacy strategies are outlined to simplify the processes required for obtaining identification for homeless youth, and to make these processes more responsive to the realities of youth and young adults. To read the article, follow this LINK.
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Updated Fact Sheets Provide Answers about Foster Care Education Law
The California Foster Youth Education Taskforce has released newly updated California Foster Care Education Law Fact Sheets covering seven areas: Educational Rights and School Stability, Educational Decision-Making for Foster Youth, Early Care and Education, Special Education, School Discipline, Foster Youth Graduation Exemption Requirements, and Transition Services to Support College and Career.
These fact sheets include an introduction to each area, corresponding requirements, laws, definitions, resources and supports. For example, the Foster Youth Graduation Exemption Requirements Fact Sheet explains that foster youth are exempt from local graduation requirements if they transfer after their second year of high school, are meeting state graduation requirements, and are not reasonably able to complete the additional local requirements within their remaining four years of high school.
The Transition Services to Support College and Career Fact Sheet discusses campus support programs, various forms of financial aid, priority registration, and the foster youth verification process. It also cites state law specifying that before terminating dependency jurisdiction, the state must assist youth in foster care with applying for admission to college, a vocational training program, or other education institution and obtaining financial aid. To download the seven fact sheets, follow this LINK.
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Which Bills Will Become Laws? Join a 10/25 Webinar to Find Out
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is hosting a web seminar on Wednesday, October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. summarizing the key bills being signed into law this year. These reforms will impact caregivers, recruitment, retention, and the services and supports available to families in the child welfare system.
Joining the Alliance on the webinar are experts from the Children’s Law Center, Children Now, Tipping Point Community and John Burton Advocates for Youth to share about key aspects of the reforms, when they will be implemented, and how these laws will impact children, youth and families. To download a flyer, follow this LINK. To register for the webinar, follow this LINK.
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