Regional Foster Youth Regional Foster Youth Web SiteWeb Site

A project managed by the Glenn County Human Resource A project managed by the Glenn County Human Resource Agency Agency

in conjunction with other Northern California counties in conjunction with other Northern California counties

to provide innovative services to foster youth and to provide innovative services to foster youth and

participants in the Independent Living Program. participants in the Independent Living Program.

Special funding provided by the County of Butte.Special funding provided by the County of Butte.

www. BustNOut .comwww. BustNOut .com

History and BackgroundHistory and Background January 2003 – a “new” group of January 2003 – a “new” group of

practitioners began to meet on a practitioners began to meet on a regular basis with the following regular basis with the following purpose:purpose:

Establish (on a regional basis) a platform for foster Establish (on a regional basis) a platform for foster youth to uniformly access three (3) crucial youth to uniformly access three (3) crucial informational realms:informational realms:

1.1. Resource data (employment, training, supportive Resource data (employment, training, supportive services, legal services, housing, and career services, legal services, housing, and career planning, among others)planning, among others)

2.2. Personal data (medical accounts, educational Personal data (medical accounts, educational transcripts, and birth certificates, among others)transcripts, and birth certificates, among others)

3.3. Relationship data (ability to email their Social Relationship data (ability to email their Social Worker, fellow foster youth, and the State Worker, fellow foster youth, and the State Ombudsman’s office)Ombudsman’s office)

MethodologyMethodology Internet accessible – a web-based Internet accessible – a web-based

product that would provide access to product that would provide access to the information regardless of where the information regardless of where the foster youth was located, as long the foster youth was located, as long as there was Internet accessas there was Internet access

Strong tie-in the OneStop Career Strong tie-in the OneStop Career Centers (all such centers maintain Centers (all such centers maintain public-accessible computers where public-accessible computers where Internet access is typically available)Internet access is typically available)

Initial Group ParticipantsInitial Group Participants Glenn County Human Resource Agency Deputy Glenn County Human Resource Agency Deputy

Directors (Cheryl Hagen and Scott Gruendl)Directors (Cheryl Hagen and Scott Gruendl) WIA OneStop Career Centers (Colusa and WIA OneStop Career Centers (Colusa and

Glenn County)Glenn County) ILP Coordinators (Butte, Colusa, Lassen, and ILP Coordinators (Butte, Colusa, Lassen, and

Glenn)Glenn) Representatives from the NCCC, Foster Representatives from the NCCC, Foster

Parents, Yuba College, North Valley Catholic Parents, Yuba College, North Valley Catholic Social Services, and the California Social Services, and the California Conservation CorpsConservation Corps

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

Focus groups were conducted in four Focus groups were conducted in four Northern California communities:Northern California communities:

Susanville, April 15, 2003Susanville, April 15, 2003 Redding, April 16, 2003Redding, April 16, 2003 Williams, April 23, 2003Williams, April 23, 2003 Chico, April 30, 2003Chico, April 30, 2003

Approximately 90 foster youth, Approximately 90 foster youth, emancipated youth and county staff emancipated youth and county staff participated.participated.

Focus Groups Guided Design, Structure and Focus Groups Guided Design, Structure and Standards.Standards.

Focus groups created the primary navigational categories.

Focus groups created standard navigation system such as menu bars and search functions.

Important links such as county One-Stops, California Youth Connection, the trades and ombudsman exist on the home page.

Navigation can also occur through the navigation Navigation can also occur through the navigation bar.bar.

The navigation bar is based on categories created by the focus groups.

Each category has it’s own sub page with information, links to resources and printable documents.

Text within the page has links embedded for cross reference to other important information and documents.

The Navigation BarThe Navigation Bar

The categories identified by the focus groups include:The categories identified by the focus groups include: Personal SurvivalPersonal Survival HealthHealth HousingHousing Your Rights, Records and the CourtsYour Rights, Records and the Courts Education and TrainingEducation and Training Jobs and CareersJobs and Careers Money and BudgetingMoney and Budgeting TransportationTransportation EntertainmentEntertainment Service DirectoriesService Directories Fostering Community (Moderated Chat Boards)Fostering Community (Moderated Chat Boards)

Management ConsoleManagement Console

Each county will have a login and password that will allow them into the administrative area of the web site.

The management console will allow individual counties to update and modify their content as necessary.

Work PlanWork PlanPhase One (Completed):Phase One (Completed): Conduct focus groups.Conduct focus groups. Create design, structure and site standards.Create design, structure and site standards.

Phase Two (Completed):Phase Two (Completed): Populate content for Colusa, Glenn and Butte Populate content for Colusa, Glenn and Butte

Counties.Counties. Begin marketing site to Northern California ILP Begin marketing site to Northern California ILP

Coordinators.Coordinators. Install and configure web server.Install and configure web server.

Phase Three (Completed):Phase Three (Completed): Complete content for other participating counties.Complete content for other participating counties. Train county staff on how to access site, conduct Train county staff on how to access site, conduct

administrative functions and maintain content.administrative functions and maintain content. Market site to youth.Market site to youth.

What remains?……..What remains?…….. The following counties have an identified single-The following counties have an identified single-

point-of-contact who has been trained for updating point-of-contact who has been trained for updating and maintaining their county’s information relative and maintaining their county’s information relative to foster youth services: to foster youth services: GLENN, COLUSA, BUTTE, PLUMAS, SISKIYOU, GLENN, COLUSA, BUTTE, PLUMAS, SISKIYOU, SHASTA, MODOC, DEL NORTE, TEHAMA, TRINITY, SHASTA, MODOC, DEL NORTE, TEHAMA, TRINITY, and LASSEN…and LASSEN…

The following counties will be solicited to participate The following counties will be solicited to participate by bringing forth a single-point-of-contact for by bringing forth a single-point-of-contact for updating and maintaining their county-specific updating and maintaining their county-specific information relative to foster youth services:information relative to foster youth services:HUMBOLDT, MENDOCINO, LAKE, YUBA, and SUTTERHUMBOLDT, MENDOCINO, LAKE, YUBA, and SUTTER

And…..And…..more marketing, more marketing, more more marketing, more marketing, more marketing!marketing!