Transcript Independent Living Resource Center at the Hunter College School of Social Work The Foster Care Independence Act of 6/10/02 Strengthening the System’s Capacity to Help Young.

Independent Living Resource
Center at the Hunter College
School of Social Work
The Foster Care Independence Act of
1999
6/10/02
Strengthening the System’s Capacity to
Help Young People Make Healthy
Transitions to Adulthood
What Does the FCIA Do?
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Increases funding from 70 to
140 million/year
Expands services to former
foster youth 18-21 years old.
Gives states the option to
provide Medicaid to 18-21 yo
former foster youth
Changes the state planning
and application process.
Increases youth asset limit to
$10,000.
Increases access to CIP
services for Native American
tribes.
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Strong focus on
collaboration, youth
involvement, permanency,
relationships with caring
adults, and achievement of
positive outcomes for youth
served in CIP programs.
What Opportunities does the New Chafee Foster
Care Independence Program Offer to States,
Communities, and Other Stakeholders?
Strengthen the continuum of services and
supports available to older foster youth.
 Fill current gaps in services, especially for
youth who have left the system.
 Increase the pool of stakeholders committed
to supporting young people in making
successful transitions.
 Engage young people as partners in
strengthening the service system.
 Increase child welfare focus on supporting
positive development and successful outcomes
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for all youth in foster care.
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Important Planning Issues
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Eligibility
Level of services to youth
who have left care
Use of CIP funds for room &
board - housing options
In-kind match
Medicaid
Identifying stakeholders
Developing 5-year plan
Identifying resources
Planning for the Plan
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Understand where we are now:
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Identify stakeholders.
Understand the law & requirements
of the new program.
Decide on a process for development
of the plan.
Plan for *increased role of youth
*increased collaboration with
other systems and
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organizations
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*Who
are we serving? *Who are we not serving? *What
do our customers say? *How are young people
who leave our system doing?
Developing the Plan
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Bring diverse stakeholders together.
Focus on strengthening the continuum of
services and supports.
Think outside of the box of traditional
independent living programs and services.
Think of the first multi-year plan as a pilot.
Work with TA organizations to develop an
infrastructure for the development, delivery,
and evaluation of CIP services.
6/10/02in the extra effort to include youth.
Put
Implementing the Plan
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Continuum, continuum,
continuum!
Engage youth as partners;
short term and long term.
Move away from classroom
type instruction to learning
by doing.
Identify housing options that
allow for safe transitions.
Create
& maintain
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partnerships.
Evaluation & Outcomes
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Traditionally neglected area of work.
Challenges related to confidentiality, ability to
contact youth, resources.
Need to focus on creative strategies for follow up.
Work with child welfare information systems and
non-CIP caseworkers to ensure follow up after
emancipation, not after completion of CIP services.
Don’t forget relationships; this qualitative result may
be the most important thing you do!
Coordinate
with other data collection efforts, e.g.
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TANF, Workforce Investment Act, School-to-Work.
We Can...
6/10/02
 Get
Connected!
 Get
Informed!
 Get
Energized!