Teen Parent Connection A holistic approach to representing minor parents who are in foster care.” Presented By: Molly Casey, System of Care Administrator.
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Transcript Teen Parent Connection A holistic approach to representing minor parents who are in foster care.” Presented By: Molly Casey, System of Care Administrator.
Teen Parent Connection
A holistic approach to representing minor
parents who are in foster care.”
Presented By:
Molly Casey, System of Care Administrator. Teen Parent Connection
Darice M. Good & Diana Rugh Johnson, Georgia Office of Family Representation
The Honorable Vincent Crawford, Juvenile Court of Dekalb County.
Teen Parent Connection
Creation and funding
What is Teen Parent Connection?
Who do we serve?
How do we select who we serve?
How are teen parents referred to us?
What services do we provide?
Pyramid of Services?
Teen Parent Connection Process
Referrals (phone call, email, fax)
DFCS, DJJ, CASA, Attorney, Self/Family
TPC Staff
Determine
Eligibility
YES
NO
Information is provided
and referrals are made to
other needed services,
i.e. 211, TANF, WIC,
EmpowerMEnt
Life Coach contacts
teen, DFCS case
manager, core
providers and all
related team
members.
st
1 visit – Teen accepts service and
leveling and Intake forms completed
2nd visit – Teen and Life Coach
develop ISP, and completes other
data collection
Regular contact with Life Coach –
based on need. Bimonthly
Implementation Team meetings.
Teen declines
services.
Teen discharged
after: 1) no
contact for 6
weeks, 2) met all
goals, 3) moved
out of state, 4)
disappears
Follow-up contact
attempted at a
minimum of 3
months, 1 year
and 2 years after
discharge.
EVALUATION
DATA COLLECTION
TPC Staff determine
Life Coach
availability and
request additional
information.
Teen Parent Connection
What are our services?
Life Coaches directly provide or ensure referrals to provide:
Screenings and assessments;
Peer support and advocacy;
Job skills training;
Career placement;
Foster parent and teen parent training;
Parenting skills including child development, nutrition, empathy and
nurturing parenting skills;
Financial literacy;
Educational support;
Medical and healthcare support;
Childcare assistance;
Legal consultation and support;
Transportation assistance;
Housing referrals;
Additional resources targeted to the individual needs of the teen parent and
her/his child.
Appendix I
Service Delivery Structure
Teen Parent Connection
When do services begin and end?
How do we work?
Partners
Independent Living Program of Georgia DFACS
Multi Alliance Agency for Children
Georgia Campaign for the Prevention of Pregnancy
Georgia Office of Family Representation
House of Dawn, Inc.
Ringer Employment Services – Youth on the M.O.V.E.
Georgia EmpowerMEnt
Creative Community Services
CHRIS Kids
Teen Parent Connection
Role of Georgia Office of Family Representation
Legal Consultation
Life Coaches
Legal Presentations
Life Coaches
Partners
Teens
Legal Representation
Know Your Rights brochure
Teen Parent Connection
All parents—including minor parents—have a
right and obligation to the Care, Custody, and
Control of their children
It is the joint and several duty of each parent to
provide for the maintenance, protection, and
education of his or her child until the child reaches
the age of majority. . . except to the extent that the
duty of the parents is otherwise or further defined
by court order.
Teen Parent Connection
Different Roles of Representation
Parents Attorney for Minor Parent
Guardian Ad Litem for Minor Parent
Guardian Ad Litem for Minor Child
Child Attorney for Minor Parent
Child Attorney for Minor Child
CASA for Minor Parent
CASA for Minor Child
Teen Parent Connection
Minor Child does not have to be in foster care
even if Minor Parent is in foster care.
Know your state’s Policy and Federal Law
Georgia DFCS Policy: (Georgia EmpowerMent) The IV-E
Program allows a state to claim IV-E reimbursement for
the cost of an infant living in the same placement as
his/her minor parent. This provision does NOT require
DFCS to obtain custody of the child.
NOTE: The child shall remain in the custody of his or her
minor parent, unless it is otherwise determined by the
SSCM that the minor parent’s protective capacities places
the infant in danger of imminent harm and that the
placement resource’s protective capacities are not
sufficient to mitigate the risk of harm.
Teen Parent Connection
Help Minor Parent make a game plan to prevent
removal.
Be active and health conscious during your pregnancy.
Read materials and attend classes on pregnancy and parenting.
Attend and be involved in all medical appointments.
Follow all rules of your current placement.
Attend School and/or find or continue employment.
Participate in and actively utilize your Written Transitional Living Plan.
Plan for quality Child Care
Plan for Medical Coverage for Child.
Identify Family, Friends or Groups for support.
Ensure
Department makes reasonable efforts to
prevent removal
The WTLP for a pregnant foster youth
Case plan
Housing
Employment
Medical Care
Nutrition
Participation by Minor Parent
Teen Parent Connection
If removal is necessary or you cannot
prevent removal.
Try to have minor child placed with minor
parent.
Look at alternatives to custody.
Protective Orders
Temporary Custody to Relative
Safety Resource
Teen Parent Connection
Make sure Minor Parent documents his/her case.
Keep a File
Case plan, safety plan
Individual service plan (ISP)
Written Transitional Living Plan (WTLP)
Medical records
Educational records
Court Reports
Court Orders
Keep a log
Court hearings
All telephone conversations, attempted calls, and messages left
DFCS/CM/ILC
Attorney
Child Attorney
Guardian Ad Litem
CASA
Always Use Email and Written Communication
Teen Parent Connection
Regaining custody of the Minor Child
Motion to Modify Custody
Review Hearing
Options
With Protective Order
Without Protective Order
If regaining custody is not possible,
Termination of Parental Rights
Alternatives:
Temporary and Permanent Guardianship to relative or 3rd
party.
Motion to Modify Custody to relative or 3rd party.
Compelling reason and continued placement with DFCS.
Teen Parent Connection
Five Measurable Outcomes that the Court
looks for as Minor Parents age out of care
and regain custody of their Minor Child.
Education: Youth acquire sufficient education,
training, and opportunities that provide them with
choices to pursue post-secondary education.
Employment: Youth generate a sufficient income to
support themselves by obtaining and retaining steady
age-appropriate employment leading to a viable
career path.
Teen Parent Connection
Housing: Youth have access to safe, stable, appropriate,
affordable housing in the community that is near public
transportation, work or school.
Health: Youth have sufficient and affordable health
insurance for medical, dental, and mental health needs.
Permanency/Supportive Relationships: Youth have in place
supportive relationships that are able to assist them with
accessing services in the community to help achieve their
personal goals and support their efforts to contribute to civic
life.
Teen Parent Connection
What is the Court’s role in reviewing the five
measurable outcomes and what can the Court to do to
ensure the five measurable outcomes are being met?
Review Hearings
Review both case plan for Minor Child and Minor Parent
Review minor parent’s WTLP within thirty (30) days of
turning fourteen.
Periodic review hearings.
Review WTLP within ninety (90) days of turning 18.
Permanency Hearings
Teen Parent Connection
Questions that the Court should be
asking the Minor Parent:
Are you familiar with the Independent Living Program?
What is your understanding?
Are you familiar with signing yourself back into care?
What is your understanding?
Have you met and gone over plan with a representative
from DFCS concerning ILP program?
Have you met and gone over plan with child
advocate/CASA/GAL?
Are there any changes or amendments you would like to
make to the plan?
Teen Parent Connection
18 and older additional questions;
Have they explained and you understand the benefits concerning?
Education
Housing
Financial
Are you signing yourself back into care? (90 Days from 18th birthday)
Did you take the Ansell Casey Risk Assessment?
Do you have your Birth Certificate, SSC and Identification?
Are you participating in the ILP program?
Did you sign a WTLP plan?
Are you satisfied with that plan?
Where do you plan to live? Relatives?
Teen Parent Connection
Court’s Motto:
If you Fail to
Plan you Plan to
Fail!
Teen Parent Connection
Why does it matter?
Evaluation of teens participating in similar programs show an increase in:
HS graduation rates and GED attainment; enrollment in advanced education
Employability
Child support
Reunification with their children
Stable housing
These teen moms show improvement in:
Life skills such as budgeting, nutrition, planning, regular health care
Parenting/nurturing skills: improved parenting inventory scores on
inappropriate expectations, empathy and role reversal
Teen moms in these programs show a decrease in:
Child abuse
Subsequent pregnancies
TANF benefits
Children of these teen mothers show an increase in:
Immunizations; health checks
Age appropriate development
Success
Teen Parent Connection
of Teen Parent Connection
“Y’all help me with everything! You helped me get to appointments,
find a job and enroll in specialized parenting classes to help me
mother an autistic child.” (JR, age 18, 2 children, 3yrs; 11 mos.)
“Teen Parent Connection has helped me to become a better mother."
(DW, age 18, 2 children 4yrs; 3 weeks)
“TPC has helped me in so many ways." (DB, age 19, 1 child, 18 mos.)”
“I like having someone to call who listens to me. I love my coach.”
(OD, age 15, 1 child, 4 mos.)
“You help me meet my goals so I can have my baby back.” (EJ, age 17,
1 child, 4 yrs.)
“I love the classes--especially the parenting and child development
classes.” (NJ, 19, 2 children, 5yrs. & 1yr.)
Teen Parent Connection
Thank you!
Molly Casey
[email protected]
Darice M. Good
[email protected]
Diana Rugh Johnson
[email protected]
Judge Vincent Crawford
[email protected]