1. NC LINKS Construction Tips National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices October 27-28, 2005 Tampa, Florida

2. History  North Carolina’s Independent Living program began in 1988. The program focused primarily on educational supports and skills training.  1996: Evaluation of IL program looked at 4 outcomes: housing and living arrangements; education and training; employment and earnings; and financial self- sufficiency.  The researchers made a total of 23 recommendations for improvement to the ILP program. These recommendations are available as a handout.  The recommendations have been systematically incorporated into policy, training and practice of the NC Independent Living Program and the NC LINKS program.

3. 1997-1999: implementing the recommendations from the study Training for LINKS staff and foster parents improved Counties were required to apply for funds and to plan their program for the year Trust Fund was established to help provide aftercare services for teens who left care after age 16. Incorporation of Youth Development principles into policy

4. Formation of IL Advisory-2000  Redesign of program; renamed NC LINKS. Collaborative included youth, IL staff, other governmental partners in MH, WIA, JJ, VR, homelessness coalition; also private agencies including care providers and ILR, Incorporated in Durham.  Incorporated 1996 recommendations for improvement  Used outcomes developed through Caliber project as backbone of policy and practice

5. Program outcome goals 1.Safe and stable place to live 2.Sufficient income 3.Adequate education/vocational trg. 4.Avoidance of high risk behavior 5.Postpone pregnancy 6.Personal support network of 5+ 7.Access to needed medical, dental, or mental health care

6. LINKS Special Funds  Established LINKS Special Funds to address more individual needs based on success of Trust Funds.  $400,000 of grant set aside to reimburse counties for expenditures on behalf of individual youth. This helps to “even the playing field” between counties of high/low wealth and resources.

7. Trust Funds  Trust Funds: Up to $500 for aftercare expenses for youth who would have been eligible for the old Independent Living Program (must have been in foster care after age 16, now not older than 21.) About $350,000 remains from the old IL funds.

8. Scholarship Funds  Scholarship Funds are available to assist all LINKS-eligible youth and young adults with costs for services or items that are needed to help a youth do better in school, remain in school, attend vocational training, participate in educational activities, etc. Up to $750 is available to youth 13 to 21 per year.

9. Transitional Housing Funds  Transitional Housing Funds are available ONLY to young adults who were in foster care on their eighteenth birthday and who are not yet 21. Up to $1000 is available per young adult per year.

10. High Risk Funds  High Risk Funds are available to reimburse counties for expenditures on behalf of youth who are at high risk of failing to make a successful transition to adulthood. The use of the funds must have a reasonable chance of reducing that risk. Up to $1000 per year. May NOT be used for housing. Available to youth and young adults ages 13 to 21.

11. Institution of County Survey 2001-05  Process and outcome-based program- what we are doing and how it is working  Looks at comparative [though imperfect] survey data over 4 year period  Currently conducting youth risk behavior survey to help guide practice and set additional baselines.  State data and goals returned to counties this year to have them look at their outcomes as compared to rest of the state and to incorporate changes into their plans to address problem areas.

12. So how are we doing?

13. Sufficient Income  According to the 2005 all- county survey, 70% of young adults 18-21 who aged out of foster care had enough income to live on.  This is compared to 47% in 2004.

14. Safe and Stable Housing  Counties reported that in 2004, 91.5% of aged out youth are in safe and stable housing.  This compares to 75% in 2003 and 72% in 2001.

15. But…….  However the percentage of aged out young adults who have experienced homelessness at some point crept upward from 17% to 17.4% last year.

16. Job Stability  According to the 2004 survey, 42.9% of young adults who aged out of care had maintained the same job for at least 6 months in the previous year, up from 33% in 2003.

17. Educational/Vocational training  The survey indicates that 56.4% of young adults who age out of care receive their high school diploma; another 13.7% got their GED.  This has improved over 2004, when the graduation rate was 44% and the GED rate was 11%. In 2001 the graduation rate was 30% and the GED rate was 6%.

18. Personal Support System  81.2% of young adults who aged out in 2004 have personal support networks of at least 5 caring adults.  In 2004, the survey indicated that 62% had these supports.

19. Where to next?  Increase accuracy of data collection;  Building NC FAST system to help develop more accurate data base and collection system  Increased expectation for focused county plans to improve both county and state outcome data  More statewide training and programs to address problem areas

20. State collaboratives  North Carolina Collaborative on Youth in Transition;  LINKS Advisory to develop standards for transitional foster care and independent living programs.

21. Summary of key steps  Evaluation of where we were  Incorporation of recommendations  Collaborative effort to redesign program  Established outcome based program  LINKS Special Funds  Continue to measure program effectiveness through county surveys, data system improvement and feedback

22. Final thoughts  Be creative- figure out what needs to be done first and then figure out how to do it.  Don’t be afraid to look at where you really are.  Use what you learn about yourself to change what you are doing.  Be consistent from year to year and compare data.  Celebrate your successes!

23. Contact Information  Joan.McAllister@ncmail.net Joan.McAllister@ncmail.net  NC Division of Social Services  MSC 2409  325 North Salisbury St., Suite 715  Raleigh, N.C. 27699-2409  Tel: 919-851-9674 FAX: 919-715-0766