Education Advocacy:

Preparing Youth in Care for High School Graduation, College and Careers

Welcome and Introductions

Legal Center FCE

Collaboration between ABA and Casey Family Programs, in conjunction with the Juvenile Law Center and Education Law Center, with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Stuart Foundation

A national technical assistance resource and information clearinghouse on legal and policy matters affecting the education of children and youth in out-of-home care

Website: www.abanet.org/child/education Listserv, Conference Calls, Publications, Searchable

Database, Fostering Connections

Agenda

Background

Focus on advocacy – advocate may be from child welfare, education, courts, or outside agency

Consideration of student-level practices, and system-level policies.

Goal – for participants to identify at least one idea they will take to their jurisdiction.

Academic challenges

70% of former foster youth

express a desire to attend college

Students in foster care

General student

population

•www.cwla.org^ Casey Northwest Alumni

Study

Foster Care Alumni Studies: Education Outcomes

Promising data Youth who experience even one fewer

placement change per year are almost twice as likely to graduate from high school before leaving care

The odds of graduating from high school were almost 3 times higher for youth in foster care who participated in a mentoring program than their peers

Odds of graduating from high school were twice as high if they had experienced 6 or fewer school changes than if they had experienced 10 or more

**Education is the Lifeline for Youth in Foster Care

Rank Your Priorities Improve School Stability Ensure Immediate Enrollment Provide Mentoring and other Adult support Improve Access to Services (special ed,

remediation) Prioritize Access to Early Childhood Education Engage Youth in Leadership Opportunities Support Post-Secondary Education Improve Responses to Discipline and Truancy Address Discrimination Engage Caregivers

Benefits of Partnership

Improve student performance Improve graduation rates and decrease

dropout rates Increase college and career readiness Turn around our lowest performing schools

Enhanced permanency

Improve life outcomes for youth

The Pennsylvania Experience

Advocacy to Improve Educational Outcomes for

Youth in Care

PennsylvaniaChild Welfare Bulletin on Education

Single point of contact

Overview of relevant education rights

Requirement of collaboration

Caseworker to conduct education screen for youth in-home and out-of-home

Pennsylvania Education Screen for Caseworkers

Caseworkers ensure that they have addressed:

Records Stability/Enrollment Special School Settings Progress Toward Graduation Preparation for Post-Secondary Education Special Education Disability Accommodation

Tool provides information about relevant laws and steps to take

Pennsylvania Tool for Educators

Provides background about youth in care. Suggests steps to ensure their success,

including:

Tips for engaging the child in school Communication with the child’s decision-maker   Keeping education records up-to-date. Helping the student avoid education disruptions. Ensuring that the student has needed support and

guidance Addressing the student’s behavioral health needs Planning for graduation and post-secondary

education

PennsylvaniaRules for Juvenile Court Judges

School stability

Appropriate education Remedial education Special education

Disabilities accommodation

Education decision-maker

Foster Youth Education in California

Foster Youth Services Program

CA Education Code Sections 42920-42925

2011-12 CA State Budget

Appropriated approximately $15 million for educational services to foster youth

Includes programs for 6 core programs, 57 countywide programs, and 28 juvenile detention programs (2010-11)

Services to an estimated 25,000 foster youth

CA Education Code Section 42921

FYS programs may provide services to foster children who reside in “licensed foster homes” or county-operated juvenile detention facilities.

“Licensed foster homes” include: Licensed foster family homes Certified foster family agency homes Court-specified homes Licensed care institutions (group homes)

Foster Youth Services (FYS) Legislative intent is that FY with the

greatest need for services be first priority. FYS Programs may prescribe the

methodology for determining which foster youth (FY) to serve.

Methodologies for determining FY to serve may include, but aren’t limited to, the following: Specific age groups Specific geographic areas FY with greatest academic need

FYS Program ServicesEach FYS Program shall include guiding principles that establish a hierarchy of services in the following order:

Provide or arrange for referral to -1. Tutoring2. Services that meet local needs identified through

collaborative relationships and local advisory groups,

including but not limited to:

Mentoring Counseling Transitioning services Emancipation services

Program Services (Continued)

3. Facilitating timely Individual Education Programs

4. Establishing collaborative relationships and local advisory groups

5. Expediting transfer of health and education records

Planning and Implementation

FYS Programs shall have at least one FY Education Services Coordinator.

Programs to develop plans that identify methodology for determining FY to serve, guiding principles, and hierarchy of services.

Programs must utilize community and advisory groups.

Coordinator Responsibilities

1. Work with the child welfare agency to minimize changes in school placement.

2. Facilitate prompt transfer of educational records (including the health and education passport) when educational placement changes are made.

3. Provide education-related information to the child welfare agency to assist in the delivery of services to FY.

Coordinator Responsibilities (Continued)

4. Respond to requests from the juvenile court to ensure delivery and coordination of educational services.

5. Share information with the foster care provider regarding available training programs that address FY educational issues.

6. Refer caregivers of FY who have special education needs to special education programs and services.

Coordinator Responsibilities (Continued)

7. Work to obtain, identify, and link children to mentoring, tutoring, vocational training, and other services.

8. Facilitate communication between the foster care provider, the teacher, and any other school staff or education service providers.

AB 490 Educational Liaison for Foster Youth

County offices of education and school districts must have an educational liaison for foster students who will:

Ensure checkout from school and proper school placement (responsibility shared with placing agency)

Ensure IMMEDIATE enrollment of foster youth, even without academic or medical records, immunization records, proof of residency, school uniform, or fees/materials owed to prior school

Assist with timely transfer of grades, credits, and records when students transfer schools

Complete school transfers within two business days

EC 48853.5

Treehouse Educational Advocacy Program (WA State)

Treehouse Educational Advocacy Program

Created in King County in 2001 (originally privately funded)

Currently, 17 Advocates co-located in CA offices

Referrals made by CA social worker/screener Eligibility: out-of-home care, PreK – 12th

grade, serves all 295 school districts

Treehouse Educational Advocacy Program (Continued)

Funding: 2001 through 2005: privately funded, King County

only (greater Seattle area), 300 youth served at peak, $150,000 program

2006: start of funding by WA State Children’s Administration, statewide coverage, 1,000 youth served in the first year, $650,000 program year one

2010 through present: funding 2/3 by WA State Children’s Admin (20% of which are federal Title IVE funds) and 1/3 by Treehouse, 1,400 youth served in 2011, $1.1 million program

Treehouse Educational Advocacy Program (Continued)Levels of Service:

Direct Advocacy: cases requiring intensive, Advocate-led interventions, approximate length of 9 months

Consultation: cases where Advocate can coach, guide and provide behind-the-scenes support , approximate length of 7 months

Information and Referrals: brief, one-time dispensing of policy, practice or strategy information which allows the sw or cg to provide the advocacy, 30 minutes average, over 1,200 I & R’s annually

Treehouse Educational Advocacy Program (Continued)

Four Primary Outcomes:

Increase and Improve Access to School Services and Programs

Reduce School Changes and Speed Enrollment

Decrease Disciplinary Referrals

Academic Progress is made – students progress to the next grade and graduate

Increase and Improve Access to School Services and Programs

278 students with Individual Education Plans received improved services to better fit their needs

Advocates referred 215 youth for school evaluations. 102 students qualified for Special Education or 504

and 69 evaluations are still in process Of the 44 who did not qualify for Special Education or

504, 36 have been connected with specialized services to improve their success, i.e tutoring, mentoring

Reduce School Changes and Expedite Enrollment

200 students experienced 244 placement changes. 61 stayed in their original schools, more than half of these youth missing no school in the transition. 146 students enrolled in a new school, 55% enrolled within 3 days and an additional 26% enrolled within one week

195 children were enrolled in school who were previously not enrolled and not attending. 96 students transitioned to a more effective school program, thus engaging them in continued education

Much of the school stability work is undertaken by social workers after trainings by the advocates, as evidenced by the high number of Information & Referrals which focus on enrollment issues: 212 in the last year

Decrease Disciplinary Referrals

Advocates were able to dismiss or reduce 73% of expulsions and 62% of long term suspensions

109 Students facing long term suspension and expulsions were reinstated in school more quickly

Academic Progress is made – students progress to the next grade and graduate

90%90% of high school seniors served by Educational of high school seniors served by Educational Advocates received a high school diploma, Advocates received a high school diploma, completed a GED program, or are still engaged in completed a GED program, or are still engaged in high school completion serviceshigh school completion services

74% 74% of high school youth who entered this program of high school youth who entered this program behind in credits, were actively making up credits by behind in credits, were actively making up credits by the end of the yearthe end of the year

Of the youth in grades Pre K – 8th, Of the youth in grades Pre K – 8th, 95%95% (n=260) are (n=260) are moving on to the next grademoving on to the next grade

Ed. Advocacy Training Program

Funded by the Stuart Foundation, begun in 2008Funded by the Stuart Foundation, begun in 2008

Peer Trainer model, trained over 3,000 adults since 2008Peer Trainer model, trained over 3,000 adults since 2008

Provide trainings at statewide conferences, regional Provide trainings at statewide conferences, regional caregiver groups, etc.caregiver groups, etc.

Modules•General Advocacy

•Early Learning•Post-Secondary•Special Topics

•Youth Self-Advocacy (2011)

Audience•Social

Workers/Professionals•Foster Parents

•Kinship Caregivers•Birth and Adoptive Parents

Connected By 25 (Florida)

Hillsborough County, Florida

Systemic Change Public/Private Partnership: Established 2005 Privately Fund Innovation/Change: [Often Easier to Move Systems]

Embed the Change into the SystemFocus: Economic Success [Assets: Bring Youth out of Poverty]

Hillsborough County, Florida

Florida Department of Children & Families Community Based Care Model

Hillsborough Kids Inc.[Child Welfare Agency]

Hillsborough County Sheriff[Abuse/Neglect Investigations]

Legal: Department of Children & Families

Dependency/Delinquency [Cross-System Court Project] for Teens in Foster Care

Florida Statutes Require Comprehensive Education Planning

Hillsborough County, Florida

Hillsborough County Child Welfare Agency

Hillsborough County School District

Guidance Counselor on

Special Assignment For Youth In Foster Care

Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

[Dependency] Case Manager Foster Care Provider [Independent Living]

Ages 13-23 Life Skills Transition

# of People/Providers Attached to YouthOther Attached [Other Services]

Youth age 16-21 2005: 600* 2010: 480*

Hillsborough County, Florida

ASK THE YOUTH!!!! Self Report Survey & Meetings:

10X the Drop-Out Rate: Unaccompanied youth at age 18 faced barriers registering for High School

Guidance Counselor: One Point of Contact WITHIN the System

Court to address Education Services/Juvenile Justice

Free Tuition to State Post Secondary School/Program [Low Graduation Rate] Targeted Staff/Post Secondary Services

Flexible private dollars: Reach for the Stars, Guidance Counselor Funds

Opportunity Passport™ Matched Savings – IDA Account

Hillsborough County, Florida

[ 2007] Tutoring Program: Youth age 16 – 23 [Reading and/or Math below a 6th grade level] or Not Attending

Grew into an On-Site Education Program [ Youth Apply for Admission]

Adult Basic Education [ Prepare for GED]

Success if the youth connects to a GED program in the community

Complete GED on-site: Non-Traditional Hours Meals On-Site Transportation [Learning Events] not usually found in “Adult Programs” Credit Recovery

Hillsborough County, Florida

ABE [Below 6th grade level on TABE] 50% of students: Math 88% of students: Reading 80% of students: Language

Completing your GED is a MILESTONE: [Defining of the PAST]

Cap/Gown Graduation with School System 42% Graduation Rate Partner with [Guidance Counselor & Child Welfare ILS Staff] – Transition to Post Secondary /On-Going Support

Hillsborough County, Florida

Florida Statutes Require Comprehensive Education Planning

Practice Challenge: Align the focus of EDUCATION with the School System Current Focus: Align with Judicial Review