PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference Aging Out of Care: Challenges and Opportunities to Support Older Youth Presented By: Emily C. Keller, Esq. Juvenile

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference

Aging Out of Care:Aging Out of Care:Challenges and Challenges and Opportunities Opportunities

to Support Older Youthto Support Older Youth

Presented By:

Emily C. Keller, Esq.Juvenile Law Center

Youth Fostering Change

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring

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Goals Of Presentation

• Understand the various issues faced by older youth as they age out of care

• Review new Pennsylvania Court Rules related to older youth

• Learn strategies to support older youth as they plan to transition from care to independence

• Learn strategies to engage older youth in their planning


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Aging Out Of Care

• Each year over 20,000 youth age out of foster care at age 18 or older, without a safe, permanent family.


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What Are Some Challenges Facing Youth As They Age Out Of Care?


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Aging Out & Education

• 25% of foster care alumni who aged out did not have a high school diploma or GED

• 2% finished college compared with 23% of youth in the general population


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Aging Out & Homelessness

• Over half of youth who aged out experienced one or more episodes of homelessness


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Aging Out & Incarceration

• Nearly 20% were incarcerated at some point – many times higher than the rate for other young adults


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Aging Out & Employment/Health Care• Foster youth who age out of care

earned lower wages and are less likely to be employed or have health insurance than peers who had not been in foster care


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What we can do to improve these outcomes?


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Youth Fostering Change Project


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What We Can Do To Improve These Outcomes?

• Planning!– Independent Living Plan– Transition/Discharge Plan


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New Pennsylvania Court Rules• New rules in effect in July 2011 to

help youth transition successfully to adulthood.– Rule 1608 (Independent Living

Planning)– Rule 1613 (Transition Planning)


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Independent Living Plan

• Beginning at age 16, youth should have an independent living plan

• This plan should be updated every 6 months


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New Independent Living Court Rules

• Requires the court to make certain specific findings for all youth age 16 and older at every six month court hearing

• Opportunity to advocate for/order needed assessments and services

• Lays the foundation for successful transition to adulthood


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Independent Living Planning: OLD RULE• Must make findings regarding “…

services needed to assist a child who is sixteen years of age or older to make the transition to independent living.”


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Independent Living Planning: New PA Court Rules• For youth age 16+, the court (at every

six-month hearing) must make certain findings, including:

• Independent living services provided & areas of need

• Least restrictive, most family-like setting?• Connections with supportive adults• Educational progress• Job readiness services/employment goals• Physical/behavioral health needs• Plans for stable housing post-discharge


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Transition Planning: PA Court Rules

• Old rule allowed case to close when child is 18 years old and no longer wanted services


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Transition Planning: New PA Court Rules

• Before terminating supervision, must be a hearing at least 90 days before termination.

• Before the hearing, the child must have the opportunity to discuss his/her transition plan with the county agency.


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Transition Plan Requirements: New PA Court Rules • Housing• Source of income• Plans for educational or vocational

training• Employment • Health insurance plan • Any continued health or behavioral

health needs• Mentors/positive adult connections• Vital identification documents and

records • Any other needed support services


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Transition Hearing: New PA Court Rules

• Child must attend.• Court must review the transition

plan. – If requirements are not met, the judge

must schedule another hearing.


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Transition Hearing: New PA Court Rules

• The court may not terminate its supervision of the child without approving an appropriate transition plan, unless the child (after an appropriate transition plan has been offered), chooses to discharge himself from care, and the court decides that this discharge is warranted.


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Characteristics of Good Transition Plans:• Build upon independent living plans and

child permanency plans.• Begin development long before mandated

90 days before discharge • Concrete, outcomes-oriented • Usable resource for youth after leaving

system• Youth is involved • The transition planning team should

include other adults the youth identifies as supportive adults in his/her life.

(cont’d)


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Activity: Sienna

• What does Sienna need?• What is missing from her plan?

• If you were advocating for Sienna, what would you advocate?

• What should be in the court order?


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How to Engage Youth in Transition Planning

• Start engaging and empowering youth in decisions early

• Have ongoing/informal conversations about plans

• Engage other supportive adults or youth in the process

• Let youth take the lead in discussing plans and goals


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Transition Planning Tools

• Juvenile Law Center Transition/Discharge Plan (in Know Your Rights Guide): available at www.jlc.org

• Youth Fostering Change Discharge Planning Court Form

• FosterClub Transition Toolkit: available at http://www.fosterclub.com/files/transition_toolkit_v3.pdf


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Transition Planning Tools

• Juvenile Law Center Transition/Discharge Plan (in Know Your Rights Guide): available at www.jlc.org

• Youth Fostering Change Discharge Planning Court Form

• FosterClub Transition Toolkit: available at http://www.fosterclub.com/files/transition_toolkit_v3.pdf


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Contact Information

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Juvenile Law Center: www.jlc.orgYouth Fostering Change:www.jlc.org/yfc/

800.875.8887 (in PA)215.625.0551

[email protected]

Documents

PCCYFS 2012 Annual Spring Conference Aging Out of Care: Challenges and Opportunities to Support Older Youth Presented By: Emily C. Keller, Esq. Juvenile