Independent Living Resource Center at the Hunter College School of Social Work

1
Independent Living Resource Center at the Hunter
College School of Social Work

• The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999
• Strengthening the Systems Capacity to Help Young
  People Make Healthy Transitions to Adulthood

2
What Does the FCIA Do?

• 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.

• Strong focus on collaboration, youth involvement,
  permanency, relationships with caring adults, and
  achievement of positive outcomes for youth served
  in CIP programs.

3
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 for
  all youth in foster care.

4
Important Planning Issues

• 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

5
Planning for the Plan

• Understand where we are now Who are we serving?
  Who are we not serving? What do our customers
  say? How are young people who leave our system
  doing?
• 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 organizations
  

6
Developing the Plan

• 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.
• Put in the extra effort to include youth.

7
Implementing the Plan

• 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 partnerships.

8
Evaluation Outcomes

• 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.
• Dont forget relationships this qualitative
  result may be the most important thing you do!
• Coordinate with other data collection efforts,
  e.g. TANF, Workforce Investment Act,
  School-to-Work.

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We Can...

• Get Connected!
• Get Informed!
• Get Energized!