PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference Aging Out of Care: Challenges and Opportunities to Support Older Youth Presented By: Emily C. Keller, Esq. Juvenile Law Center Youth Fostering Change

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 2 Goals Of Presentation Understand the various issues faced by older youth as they age out of care Review new Pennsylvania Court Rules related to older youth Learn strategies to support older youth as they plan to transition from care to independence Learn strategies to engage older youth in their planning

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 3 Aging Out Of Care Each year over 20,000 youth age out of foster care at age 18 or older, without a safe, permanent family.

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 4 What Are Some Challenges Facing Youth As They Age Out Of Care?

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 5 Aging Out & Education 25% of foster care alumni who aged out did not have a high school diploma or GED 2% finished college compared with 23% of youth in the general population

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 6 Aging Out & Homelessness Over half of youth who aged out experienced one or more episodes of homelessness

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 7 Aging Out & Incarceration Nearly 20% were incarcerated at some point – many times higher than the rate for other young adults

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 8 Aging Out & Employment/Health Care Foster youth who age out of care earned lower wages and are less likely to be employed or have health insurance than peers who had not been in foster care

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 9 What we can do to improve these outcomes?

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 10 Youth Fostering Change Project

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 11 What We Can Do To Improve These Outcomes? Planning! –Independent Living Plan –Transition/Discharge Plan

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 12 New Pennsylvania Court Rules New rules in effect in July 2011 to help youth transition successfully to adulthood. –Rule 1608 (Independent Living Planning) –Rule 1613 (Transition Planning)

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 13 Independent Living Plan Beginning at age 16, youth should have an independent living plan This plan should be updated every 6 months

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 14 New Independent Living Court Rules Requires the court to make certain specific findings for all youth age 16 and older at every six month court hearing Opportunity to advocate for/order needed assessments and services Lays the foundation for successful transition to adulthood

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 15 Independent Living Planning: OLD RULE Must make findings regarding “…services needed to assist a child who is sixteen years of age or older to make the transition to independent living.”

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 16 Independent Living Planning: New PA Court Rules For youth age 16+, the court (at every six-month hearing) must make certain findings, including: Independent living services provided & areas of need Least restrictive, most family-like setting? Connections with supportive adults Educational progress Job readiness services/employment goals Physical/behavioral health needs Plans for stable housing post-discharge

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 17 Transition Planning: PA Court Rules Old rule allowed case to close when child is 18 years old and no longer wanted services

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 18 Transition Planning: New PA Court Rules Before terminating supervision, must be a hearing at least 90 days before termination. Before the hearing, the child must have the opportunity to discuss his/her transition plan with the county agency.

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 19 Transition Plan Requirements: New PA Court Rules Housing Source of income Plans for educational or vocational training Employment Health insurance plan Any continued health or behavioral health needs Mentors/positive adult connections Vital identification documents and records Any other needed support services

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 20 Transition Hearing: New PA Court Rules Child must attend. Court must review the transition plan. –If requirements are not met, the judge must schedule another hearing.

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 21 Transition Hearing: New PA Court Rules The court may not terminate its supervision of the child without approving an appropriate transition plan, unless the child (after an appropriate transition plan has been offered), chooses to discharge himself from care, and the court decides that this discharge is warranted.

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 22 Characteristics of Good Transition Plans: Build upon independent living plans and child permanency plans. Begin development long before mandated 90 days before discharge Concrete, outcomes-oriented Usable resource for youth after leaving system Youth is involved The transition planning team should include other adults the youth identifies as supportive adults in his/her life. (cont’d)

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 23 Activity: Sienna What does Sienna need? What is missing from her plan? If you were advocating for Sienna, what would you advocate? What should be in the court order?

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 24 How to Engage Youth in Transition Planning Start engaging and empowering youth in decisions early Have ongoing/informal conversations about plans Engage other supportive adults or youth in the process Let youth take the lead in discussing plans and goals

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 25 Transition Planning Tools Juvenile Law Center Transition/Discharge Plan (in Know Your Rights Guide): available at Youth Fostering Change Discharge Planning Court Form FosterClub Transition Toolkit: available at ansition_toolkit_v3.pdf ansition_toolkit_v3.pdf

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 26 Transition Planning Tools Juvenile Law Center Transition/Discharge Plan (in Know Your Rights Guide): available at Youth Fostering Change Discharge Planning Court Form FosterClub Transition Toolkit: available at ansition_toolkit_v3.pdf ansition_toolkit_v3.pdf

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference 27 Contact Information Juvenile Law Center: Youth Fostering Change: (in PA)