1. From Jail to Yale Dr. Robert McNamara Associate Professor of Sociology Director of the Center for Social Research Furman University

2. Group Exercise #1 What Kinds of Qualities Do Kids Who Beat The Odds Need to Possess?

3. Depression/Suicide Definition: Is frequently depressed and/or has attempted suicide. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

4. Violence Definition: Has engaged in three or more acts of fighting, hitting, injuring a person, carrying a weapon, or threatening physical harm in the past 12 months. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

5. School Problems Definition: Has skipped school two or more days in the last four weeks and/or has below a C average. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

6. Illicit Drug Use Definition: Used illicit drugs (cocaine, LSD, PCP or angel dust, heroin, and amphetamines) three or more times in the past 12 months. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

7. Delays Gratification Definition: Saves money for something special rather than spending it all right away Percentage of Youth Number of Assets.

8. Helps Others Definition: Helps friends or neighbors one or more hours per week Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

9. Resists Danger Definition: Avoids doing things that are dangerous Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

10. Succeeds in School Definition: Gets mostly A’s on report cards Percentage of Youth Number of Assets.

11. Group Exercise #1: Assets Asset #1 Family Support: 64% Asset #9 Service to Others: 50% Asset #10 Safety: 55% Asset #15 Positive Peer Influence: 60% Asset # 18 Youth Programs: 59% Asset # 19 Religious Community: 64% Asset # 20 Time at Home: 50%

12. Group Exercise #1: Assets Asset # 21 Achievement Motivation: 63% Asset # 22 School Engagement: 64% Asset # 24 Bonding to School: 51% Asset # 28 Integrity: 50% Asset # 29 Honesty: 63% Asset # 30 Responsibility: 60% Asset # 39 Sense of Purpose: 55%

13. Group Exercise #1: Assets Asset # 40 Positive View of Personal Future: 70% The 4Hs Helping Hoping Heading Healing

14. Group Exercise # 2 What Kinds of Qualities Do Case Managers Need to Possess to Help Kids Succeed?

15. Foster Care: The Current State of Affairs Congressional Mandate: Permanency Plan How long do children remain in care? How many placements? Why has there been an increase? Who are the children in care? What are the implications after children leave care?

16. The Current State of Foster Care Revolving Door of Foster Care—continuous time in foster care. Consequences of being in foster care: 3-6 times more likely to have emotional, behavioral and developmental problems. Like what? Attachment disorders, conduct disorders, depression, difficulties in school, impaired social relationships. Some experts estimate that about 1/3 of children have severe emotional problems.

17. The Current State of Foster Care 586,000 children currently living in some form of out of home care Fastest growing segment of children in foster care are infants and children under four years old, esp. with medical, physical, and mental challenges 1/3 of all children in foster care are bw ages 13 and 18. This age group represents about 12% of the population.

18. The Current State of Foster Care Reasons: Increase in Child Abuse: over 3 million children reported abused or neglected. A 50% increase from 10yrs ago and 300% increase since 1976. Half were neglected, ¼ physically abused and 10% from sexual abuse. Remember, these are only reported cases.

19. The Current State of Foster Care Educational Needs are substantial Cycling out of Foster Care: 25, 000 kids cut adrift each year…are they ready? Does the problem go away? Recent study estimated in NYC that 60% of the homeless population are former foster children. Need foster parents. 142,000 for 586,000 kids in foster care

20. The Current State of Foster Care 35% of foster families have no children placed with them and 40% leave fostering in the first year of being licensed. What about social workers? High turnover rate…upwards of 70% Costs of foster care, at least $7 billion, or about $13,000 per child per year. How much do we spend on prison inmates?

21. The Current State of Foster Care Privatization of foster care smaller caseload, greater flexibility, greater care…but also corruption, abuse, exposure of children to risks, excessive corporal punishment, “creaming” This is so sad, but what can I do? Resilient children Michael Rutter’s research on at risk children Emmy Werner’s 38 yr. study of children in Kauai

22. The Current State of Foster Care Research on resiliency, or the ability to bounce back successfully, tells us what is needed. Resilient child works well, plays well, loves well, and expects well. Four attributes of resilient children: Social competence, problem-solving skills, autonomy, sense of purpose and future.

23. Foster Care: The Current State of Affairs What are the costs of foster care? Financial and Social What about adoption as an option? How many foster children eligible for adoption? Are people willing to adopt foster children? Why are states dragging their feet on this issue?

24. Understanding Issues in Foster Care The 4Hs Helping Hoping Heading Healing