San Francisco Unified School District Student Support Services Department Foster Youth Services Program FYS Liaison Orientation

Who are foster youth? Foster youth are children who are removed from the care of their parents primarily because of abuse and neglect that resulted from complex family, social and environmental conditions. Foster youth are overseen by county Child Welfare Services or the Juvenile Probation Department.

Through No Fault of their own The majority of youth who enter the foster care system have been victims of abuse or neglect. Types of Abuse: Physical Sexual Emotional Neglect (not providing for basic needs)

How many foster youth are there? In the United States…………… In California…………………… In San Francisco……………… In SFUSD……………………… Over 500,000 Over 80,000 Almost 2000 Between (estimated) How Long? The average length of stay in the California foster care system is 21 months.

Where do foster youth live?  Kinship Care/Relative Placement  Foster Family Homes (county)  Foster Family Agency Homes  Group Homes  Residential Treatment Facilities

Educating Foster Youth  35% of foster youth have experienced 4 or more school changes  75% of foster youth are working below grade level  46% do not complete high school  16.1% of former foster youth completed a vocational degree and 1.8% completed a bachelor’s degree.  Over 70% of youth in foster care report that they desire to go to college

Educating Foster Youth Children in foster care move frequently among emergency shelters, foster family, guardian homes (kinship/relative or non-relative) and group homes. These changes often result in multiple school placements. Because of these complexities in their lives, many foster youth perform below grade level, are held back in school, and have lower graduation rates than their peers.

Foster Youth Services Program In 1997, an advisory committee formed to address the educational outcomes of foster youth in San Francisco. Vision: effective collaboration among organizations to meet foster youth’s needs Advisory Committee Members: SFUSD SF Family & Juvenile Court SF Human Services Agency Juvenile Probation Department City College of SF Honoring Emancipated Youth Independent Living Skills Program Court Appointed Special Advocates Legal Services for Children

How do we do that? SFUSD/SHPD Foster Youth Services Program Steering Committee Interagency communication and policy formation Foster Youth Census Identification of Foster youth students within SFUSD Professional Development Training on foster youth educational needs Educational Records Facilitation of school notification and transfer of records Post-Secondary Support Guardian Scholars Summer Academy. Case Management Individual/group support & advocacy by MSW interns Educational Support Services Individual Tutoring Services TDM Consult Juvenile Detention Transitional Services

Enhancing Support: Foster Youth Services Liaisons

Foster Youth Services Liaison GOAL: Improve educational outcomes for foster youth students by providing on-site support and coordinated services. Policy Support Student Support/Outreach Foster Care Month Awareness Activity Administrative Duties

Supporting foster youth in your school: Policy Support Assembly Bill 490 (AB 490) (Steinberg; Stats. 2003, ch. 862) As of January 1, 2004, AB 490 imposes new duties and rights related to the education of youth in foster care. Under this Act foster youth are ensured access to the same opportunities to meet academic achievement standards to which all students are held, maintain stable school placements, be placed in the least restrictive educational placement, and have access to the same academic resources, services and extracurricular and enrichment activities as all other children. For more information: San Francisco County AB490 Interagency and Community Agreement

Supporting foster youth in your school: Student Support/Outreach Facilitate “intake” and “exit” meetings with foster youth identified at your school site. Assess student educational needs and interests. Coordinate and collaborate with care providers, social workers, service providers, school counselors. Help connect youth to resources, services and opportunities. Involve students and care providers in school and community activities. Discuss the student and any needs at Student Assistance Program (SAP) meetings. Support school site representation at Team Decision Making Meetings. Set high expectations and continue to encourage, motivate and inspire.

Supporting foster youth in your school: Foster Care Month Awareness Event Coordinate two school-wide Awareness events: May is National Foster Care Month & Our Community, Our Youth Foster/Adopt SF Foster Youth Recruitment Campaign

Supporting foster youth in your school: Administrative Duties Complete and submit FYS student intake forms by November 6, Complete and submit FYS student exit forms by May 28, Submit Foster Care Month activity log by May 28, Distribute the FYS Census to site administrator and SAP team members. Make a brief presentation to school site staff each semester at a faculty meeting regarding Foster Youth Services Support Liaison role and responsibilities. Provide students, caregivers, and school site staff with FYS materials and appropriate school based and community resources. Attend FYSL mid-year meeting on February 4, 2010.

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