Transitioning to Independence Jana Pearce Section Chief, Office of Families and Children | ODJFS Nashawn Lariviere Foster Youth Advocate, OFC | ODJFS

Purpose Understand the challenges faced by young adults emancipating from foster care Identify programs to help emancipated young adults Learn how you can help a young adult emancipating from foster care. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Our population Concurrently championing traumas & vulnerabilities Difficulty maintaining steady healthy long-term Relationship/Friendships/Mentorships An unintentional outcome of being in our care and placement is the lack of ability and knowledge of handling tasks unassisted Many struggle with either educational attainment or maintaining gainful employment Why are extended care programs for foster youth important?   Nationally more than 24,000 young adults “age out” of foster care every year. In Ohio, approximately 850 young adults in foster care age-out each year. Outcomes for these young adults have been poor. According to research conducted by the Annie E. Casey foundation, less than 50% are employed full-time, 40% of the adult homeless population spent time in foster care, 48% of females become pregnant at a younger age, and by age 19, only 54% have earned a diploma or GED compared to 87% of youth in the general population.

Emancipating from Foster care This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND Emancipating from Foster care Programs that help young adults

Bridges vs PCSA Post-Emancipation

Young Adult Services (YAS) Also referred to as Post Emancipation Services These services and supports are to complement the young adult's own efforts to achieve self- sufficiency. – Ohio Administrative Code 5101:2-42-19.2 All young adults who have left the care and placement of a PCSA after the age of 18 are able to receive/access an array of services from the county Children Services where they reside.

YAS Supportive Services These are the 11 Independent Living Skills that are offered when young adults are in custody as well as young adult services. Academic Support Health Education & Risk Prevention Post Secondary Educational Support Family Support & Marriage Education Career Preparation Mentoring Employment Programs & Vocational Training Supervised Independent Living Budget & Financial Management Room & Board Financial Assistance Housing Education & Home Management

Young Adult Services (YAS) Young adults may obtain these services by contacting their local PCSA and voicing they would like to receive these Post Emancipation services. We can provide support for our young adults to advocate for themselves in initiating these services.

Bridges Bridges is a voluntary program designed to provide housing and case management supports to young adults that have emancipated from the custody of a PCSA. Bridges can assist with stable housing and offer support in working towards educational, employment and other personal independence goals. Bridges is separate from the PCSAs current Post-Emancipation Supports.

Bridges Eligibility Young adults must have emancipated from the custody of a PCSA at the age of 18, 19, or 20 years old, and meet at least one of the 5 eligibility;

Bridges Eligibility Criteria & Activities Completing a secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrollment in school to receive high school diploma Enrollment in GED program Enrolled in an institution that provides post- secondary or vocational education; Public or Private 4 year college or university Community College Vocational Programs Technical Schools

Bridges Eligibility Criteria & Activities Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment; CCMEP Job Corps Job skills training Employed for at least eighty hours per month; Regular Employment AmeriCorps Internship/Externship Incapable of doing any of the above activities due to a medical condition, which incapacity is supported by regularly updated information from a qualified practitioner.

Bridges Supportive Services Monthly visits Financial management Positive young adult development Self-advocacy Health and self-care Young adult driven plan Permanent connections Critical thinking skills Community resources Home management and life skills Employment & career preparation Education

Outcomes The last data we have is that 28 states have either implemented a fostering connections program or passed laws to develop a fostering connections program. For the states that have been implemented long enough to have data to evaluate, they have seen Increases in school enrollment, earning a diploma, and adult connections Decreases in homelessness, incarceration, and having a child This chart compares Ohio’s foster youth outcomes with those states that have already implemented a fostering connections program

Applying for Bridges You as an adult supporter and/or your young adult can apply via the Bridges website Bridgestosuccess.jfs.ohio.gov If young adult is still in custody of PCSA they may request a warm handoff to Bridges once they are close to their emancipation date/ 18th birthday.

Additional Resources The Ohio Education & Training Voucher (ETV) https://www.fc3sprograms.orf/ohio/ Comprehensive Case Management & Employment Program (CCMEP) jfs.ohio.gov/owd/CCMEP/index.stm

Contact Us Jana Pearce; Jana.Pearce@jfs.ohio.gov Nashawn Lariviere; Nashawn.Lariviere@jfs.ohio.gov This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA