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

2. 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.
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3. 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.

4. Emancipating from Foster care
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Emancipating from Foster care
Programs that help young adults

5. Bridges vs PCSA Post-Emancipation

6. 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:
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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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;

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

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

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