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California Permanency for Youth Project Conference
November 2-3, 2006
Workshop Title:
“SUPPORT FOR CONNECTIONS”
PRESENTERS:
Charles Chambers,
Program Director,
Kinship Center - Family Ties
Falope Fatunmise, M.A. San Mateo Regional Director,
Edgewood Community Based Services
A brief overview of relative care needs in CA and the US
Program specific responses to relative care needs by two private sector agencies
Creative funding strategies to sustain programs Use of relative caregivers as staff
The voice of relative caregivers regarding the issues they face and the services that meet their needs
State Funded - Kinship Support Services Program and other programs and services statewide
Legal Guardianship and Adoption definitions.
Changing Roles; Changing Hats
The Importance of Using Rituals and Ceremonies to Mark Transitions
in Family Roles and Legal Standing.
Children’s Developmental Understanding of all that has happened in their lives.
How to Talk About the Tough Issues with the Child.
KINSHIP CENTER®
is dedicated to the creation, preservation and support of foster, adoptive and relative
families for children who need them.
Kinship CenterPrograms and Services
founded in 1984 as a 501(c)3 corporation provides a full range of foster and adoption placement
services including special needs children offering permanency-competent child mental health
and child development services post adoptive family wraparound program a relative caregiver support program expert training for parents and professionals
Kinship Center®
Monterey County Department of Social Services
a program of
and
Edgewood’s mission is to strengthen children, youth, families,and their communities through: Service, Training, Advocacy,and Research.
Edgewood was started in 1851 as a shelter for orphans of theCalifornia Gold Rush. They are one of the oldest children’scharities west of the Mississippi. Though their reputation forexcellence and innovation is national, their work is local.Edgewood’s residential, community and school-based programsoffer hope and support to children and families in San Franciscoand San Mateo counties.
Edgewood Kinship Program
Established in 1992 from a relationship with a group called Grandparents Who Care. GWC was founded in 1989 to provide support groups for grandparents stressed by the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren. The San Mateo program was started in 1999.
Our Mission:
Strengthening FamiliesNurturing ChildrenEmpowering Caregivers
What is Kinship Care?
The Child Welfare League of America defines kinship care as: the full-time nurturing and
protection of children who must be separated from their parents by relatives, members of their tribe or clans, godparents, stepparents, or other
adults who have a kinship bond with a child.
(CWLA 1994: 2)
Nationally, around 6 million children are being raised by relatives and 2.5 million are with grandparents.
In California, nearly 480,000 grandparents reported having the direct responsibility for their grandchildren’s care.
43% of the Foster Care population are with relatives
30% of caregivers are over 60 (2000 Census)
Components of Kinship Relationships
Familiar culture, food, neighborhood
Inherent love of family
No sense of displacement, but belonging
No non-verbal assumptions
Continuity of heritage and legacy
LLegacies are patterns of behavior, values and traditions that are passed on between generations and
among family members.
The children’s legacies are reinforced.
CAREGIVER TIPS
Once the child realizes they will be moving feelings of loss and grief will be triggered. As the caregiver you will need to help the child manage their loss, grief and anxiety.
The kin kids, birth parents, schools, medical bills, rent, car fuel and repairs, health, etc. are pouring down on you and you don’t have a boat to get out. You don’t understand how you’re keeping afloat now and there are even greater challenges lurking around you.
Types of Relative Care
Public: placement of dependents of the court
Voluntary: social service placement without court involvement
Private: without social service involvement (77% of all kinship arrangements)
The Puzzling Situation
They get less help!
Funding is
lacking
Public Policy Favors Relative
Placement
Should Anyone Care?Should Anyone Care?
60% exit FC into relative homes
County FC caseload with kin: 30–65%
Voluntary kin placements get no services
Kin placements high risk for re-entry to FC
Supported kin have permanency outcomes
Opportunities to develop services to kin
caregivers – KSSP expansion efforts
Public Kinship Care
Approved/LicensedPlacement with court
involvementFoster care benefitsTANF possibleBackground check
and home inspectionChildren are MediCal
eligible
VoluntaryPlacement without
court involvementNo foster care
benefitsTANF child-onlyNo allowances or
specialized careChildren may be
eligible for MediCal
Why KSSP Services are So Important
KSSP programs provide services to assist caregivers to protect and promote the safety, permanency and well being of children in their families.
Definition of Adoption
Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of rights from one set of parents to another. It holds the adoptive parents to the same standards of rights and obligations as any parent where the child is born to them.
•What is Legal Guardianship
•How Guardianships Work FAQ•What does a guardian do?•What is the difference between a guardianship and an adoption?•When does a guardianship end?•What is a guardian ad litem?•If a child lives with me, do I need a guardianship?•If You Want to Avoid a Formal Guardianship
Funds Available to Caregivers
Cal WORKS
Foster Care
KINGAP
AAP
Social Security
Retirement
Wages
Other
SSI Caregiver/Child
Services Available to Kinship Caregivers
WIC
Head Start
Healthy Start
FIRST 5
FUNDING FOR CURRENT PROGRAMS
•KSSP•COUNTY CONTRACTS•AREA A•FIRST 5•FEMA•DEPT OF CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES•OOFFICE OF JUVINLE JUSTICE AND DELINQUINCY PREVENTION
FUNDING FOR CURRENT PROGRAMS CONTINUED
•PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS•PRIVATE DONORS•CAREGIVER
What Caregivers Appreciate
Resources – Case ManagementHaving a peer group Educational support RespiteSchool-related servicesHealth and mental health careLegal assistanceAchieving family stabilitySpecial events/outings
Kinship Support Programs Offer:Kinship Support Programs Offer:
Case managementSupport GroupsYouth ServicesHealth and mental health careLegal assistanceFamily group conferencingRecreationRespiteFood and clothing programsTutoring
Edgewood HighlightsEdgewood HighlightsProvided Kinship Services for 15 years
600 families and nearly 1000 children annually
95% of families remain stable after participating
90% of the families give a grade of A
Capacity of 5 languages
Less than 3% enter or re-enter foster care system.
Family Ties 2 yr. Highlights
753 children served4 entries in foster care from caregiver830 attended camps/recreation events122 legal guardianships or adoptions50 received mental health services35% no longer require intensive services730 children had holiday giftsFood and clothing needs met
Child Welfare and Foster Care Reform
•Foster care reform. Increases funding for Foster Care and Child Welfare by $82 million (state General Fund) above the Governor’s May Revision:
Caseload Reduction and Program Improvement. Increases funding by $98 million ($68 million state General Fund) in ongoing investments to improve outcomes of foster children and youth.
Kinship Care Parity. Increases funding by $8 million (state General Fund) to provide kin care providers additional support in a specialized care increment to meet a child’s special needs and clothing allowance currently only available in foster care placement. Also extends eligibility for kin care assistance to certain probation youth who have been living with a relative for at least 12 months.
Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP). Approves the $2.5 million (state General Fund) proposed in the Governor’s Budget to expand Kinship Support Services and allow all counties to apply for KSSP funding. The 40% requirement has been discontinued
Housing for Emancipated Youth. Increases funding for the Transitional Housing Placement Program Plus by $4 million (state General Fund) by eliminating the county share of cost for the program.
Education for Foster Children and Youth. Expands the Foster Youth Services Education Program statewide to foster children and youth in all types of placements and funds this with $8.2 million (state General Fund).
Higher Education for Foster Youth. Increases funding by $5.7 million (state General Fund) to fund additional financial aid for foster youth attending two-year or four-year colleges under the Chafee Scholarship program. This increase should fully fund all eligible foster youth.
Adoption of Hard-to-Place Youth. Increases funding by $4 million (state General Fund) above the $6.3 million (state General Fund) in the Governor’s proposed budget in January for efforts to help with the adoption children and youth over age 9.
Adoptions. Approves $12.2 million ($7.1 million state General Fund) proposed in the Governor’s Budget to hire additional state and county adoptions caseworkers.
Dependency Drug Courts. Increase funding for Dependency Drug Courts by $3 million (state General Fund) above the Governor’s May Revision amount of $2.1 million (state General Fund) to expand the program to additional counties.
IV-E Waiver. Approves $25.5 million ($10 million state General Fund) proposed in the Governor’s May Revision to facilitate county participation in the State’s new pilot project which caps federal funding in a flexible block grant to be used for a broad array of services, including upfront prevention. These funds may also be used for Program Improvement activities.
Where to Get More Information
Kinship Center: www.kinshipcenter.orgEdgewoodCenter:
www.edgewoodcenter.org Generations United: www.gu.orgAARP: www.aarp.orgChild Welfare League of America
www.cwla.org
Adoption Resources:
www.tapestrybooks.com www.loveandlogic.com www.nacac.org www.adoptivefamiliesofamerica.com www.adoption.com www.adoptionshop.com www.adoptionlearningpartners.com
Contact Information Falope Fatunmise
San Mateo Regional Director Edgewood Community Based ServicesOffice 415/375-7600 Cell 415/725-0665 Fax 650/[email protected]
Charles ChambersProgram Director, Family TiesOffice 831/443-0662Cell 831/262-4594Fax 831/[email protected]
Thank You
for the Privilege of
Spending This Time with You.
