Transcript Partnering to Serve Emerging Adults

CASA After 18
1
Introductory Activity
2
What We Know About
Transition Age Youth…
3
An estimated
29,500 youth
exited foster care
in FY 2008 (U.S.
DHHS, 2009).
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Education
Approximately 1.2
million youth drop out
of high school each
year, more than half
of whom are youth of
color (Editorial
Projects in Education
Research Center,
2008).
5
Homelessness…
 On
any single day, 53,000103,000 of the homeless
population are between 18
and 24. (Burt, Aaron, & Lee,
2001).
 One in five youth who age out
of foster care will experience
homelessness (Fernandes,
2008).
 Three in ten homeless adults
have had experience in the
foster care system (Gardner,
2008).
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Legislative Background

The Foster Care Independence Act of
1999, helps foster youth who are aging
out of care to achieve self-sufficiency.
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Legislative Background

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing
Adoptions Act of 2008 is the most recent piece of major federal
legislation addressing the foster care system. This bill
extended various benefits and funding for foster children
between the age of 18 and 21 (contingent upon appropriation
by legislature) and for Indian children in tribal areas.

California passed AB12, the California Fostering Connections
to Success Act, in October of 2010; it goes into effect on
January 1, 2012
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Emerging as an adult…
What does the research say about the
process of becoming an adult?
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Some struggle; Some Prosper

Need right balance of the adolescent pushing for
independence and the society giving the correct
amount of support

Not pushing too hard or holding back too much

As W&IC section 11403(i) notes – in
implementing AB12, the state is obligated to
develop regulations that allow young adults to
exercise incremental responsibility as they grow
and develop
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Youth of Color

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During emerging adulthood, ethnic
minorities have to deal with the larger
culture and figure out their own identity in
the context of the larger society.
For children of immigrants, that can be
especially challenging.
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Foster Youth Transitioning

Extended foster care allows foster youth
age 18, who meet the federal participation
criteria, to remain in care as follows:

Beginning 1/1/12, up to age 19
 Beginning 1/1/13, up to age 20
 Beginning 1/1/14, up to age 21 if funding is
appropriated
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Preparing for Extended
Foster Care
The conversation about EFC and its
benefits should begin with all foster youth
when developing the initial TILP and at all
TILP updates.
 Youth are more likely to take advantage of
the program if they hear about it a lot.

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Eligible Youth include…

Youth who turn 18 in 2011 who meet the high
school completion rule on 1/1/12

Youth who turn 18 in 2011 and continue in
foster care under juvenile court jurisdiction on
1/1/12 (even if they do not meet the high
school completion rule)

Youth who turn 18 in 2012

Youth who are on probation and under an
order for foster care placement
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Eligible Youth (continued)

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Youth who are eligible for
state only foster care
Youth who are in a nonrelated legal guardianship
through dependency court
Youth who reside out of
county
Youth who reside out of
state
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Ineligible Youth include…

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Youth who had their dependency
case dismissed in 2011
Youth in a non-related legal
guardianship through the probate
court
Married youth
Youth in the military
Incarcerated youth are ineligible while they
are incarcerated, but are eligible upon
release (as long as they meet other eligibility
requirements)
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Traditional Youth
Services
Positive Youth
Development
• Focus on problems
• Focus on positive outcomes
• Reactive
• Pro-active
• Targeted youth
• All youth
• Youth as recipients
• Youth as active participants
• Programs
• Community response
(systemic change)
• Professional providers
• Community members
Competence
The ability and motivation for
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Civic and social engagement
Cultural engagement
Physical health
Emotional health
Intellectual achievement
Employability
Confidence
Having a sense of mastery and future
 Having a sense of self-efficacy

Character
Having a sense of responsibility and
autonomy
 Having a sense of spirituality and
self-awareness
 Having an awareness of one’s own
personality or individuality

Connection
Membership and belonging
 Having a sense of safety and structure

Contribution

Being involved as active participant and
decision maker in services, organizations
and community
Adultism
Young people are systematically mistreated and
disrespected by society, with adults as the agents of
oppression. The basis of young people’s oppression is
disrespect. Manifestations of the oppression include:
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Systematic invalidation
Denial of voice or respectful attention
Physical abuse
Lack of information or misinformation
Denial of power
Lack of rights
Source: Youth on Board, Get the Word out! 2001
Adult Allies
When we act as allies, we advocate
and support young people. We
assist young people in their lives,
support them when they struggle,
and let them know how important
they are and that change is
possible.
Source: Youth on Board, Get the Word out! 2001
What is Strengths Based
Approach?
Emerging from the field of social work, it is a
set of ideas, assumptions, and techniques:
 People are active participants in the helping
process (empowerment)
 All people have strengths, often untapped
or unrecognized
 Strengths foster motivation for growth
 Strengths are internal and environmental
Source: Saleebey, Dennis. 1992. The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice. Longman: White Plains, NY
Research Supporting
Extending Foster Care

Midwest Study
Surveyed 732 youth who exited foster
care from Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin at
ages 18, 19, 21, and 24
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Outcomes @ age 24
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2.5 times more likely to get BA
61% pay differential for BA (nearly doubles
lifetime earnings)
Sub-baccalaureate pay boost too (12-17% for
associate degree equaling $400k work-life
earnings; $300k for at least some college)
38% reduction in risk of becoming pregnant
Better personal and family health, etc…
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Four Subpopulations
Accelerated Adults
 Struggling Parents
 Emerging Adults
 Troubled and Troubling
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How do we serve them?
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Accelerated Adults
36.3% of sample
 63% are female
 Most likely to live on their own
 Almost all have HS diploma and some
college
 Most likely to have a college degree
 Most likely to be employed
 Less likely to have criminal conviction

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Struggling Parents
75% are female
 Most likely to be African American
 Least likely to finish HS
 Most likely to be married or cohabitating
 Low level of employment and most likely
to be receiving government benefits

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Emerging Adults
Slightly over half are male
 All are living with friends, relatives or other
setting not their own
 Vast majority finished HS and have some
college
 Least likely to have children
 Second highest rate of employment
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Troubled and Troubling
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Majority of this group is male
Most likely to be incarcerated, institutionalized,
homeless and/or have experienced high
residential mobility
Least likely to be employed
Nearly half have children, all are non-resident
Most likely to report criminal conviction since 18
and report mental health or substance abuse
problems
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Activity
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What kind of support do these groups
need?
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