Connections and Means Survey Conducted 2015 - 2016 How well are adolescents prepared to leave DCF care?

Prepare children and adolescents in care for success: Strategy: Determine if adolescents aging out of care have the relationships and resources necessary to thrive as adults How much did we do? Develop and administer survey to assess quality and strengths of connections and means; the number of adolescents leaving care to whom the survey was administered How well did we do it? The percent of adolescents leaving care with a modified treatment plan Is anyone better off? The percent of young adults enrolled in “Services Post Majority”; the percent of young adults reporting they have the connections and means to thrive 6 months after leaving DCF care

What did we do? Surveyed adolescents in our region Collected responses from 38 adolescents Survey conducted to participants within 6 months prior to leaving care or 6 months after leaving care Target group: Adolescents who aged out of DCF care

Measurements/Indicators The survey measured two things: Level of Connections (Friend/Family support and connections): Do you have an adult who can provide an emergency place to stay? Do you have an adult who can check in on you regularly - to see how you are doing? Do you have an adult who can assist with medical appointments so you do not have to experience that alone? Means to thrive as adults (shelter, employment/income status, transportation means, emergency support – medically and financially): Where do you live? Are you employed? What is your income?

Section I. Results & Findings: Strength of Connection Survey participants said they have stronger connections to birth mothers and former social workers than to their birth fathers When asked to rate the strength of their relationship with the individuals they encounter, birth mothers and former social worker had the strongest relationships. Birth fathers had the weakest relationships. Possible Questions to consider: [From DCF Staff] Does this suggest that we need to put more effort into our Father Initiative? Or do adolescents naturally draw to their birth mothers despite having strong relationships with their birth fathers? Recommendations to improve survey: Perhaps add a question asking about their relationship with their father? Specific individuals that were identified as reliable supporters to adolescents were: Mom/Grandmother Jeff (parole officer) Steven Phillips (Who is Steven Phillips?) Howard Vicky Monique Sherri Linda (school tutor) Vinny Deb Who are these individuals? Recommendations to improve survey: Ask respondents to specify/identify relation to youth (ex: uncle, cousin, aunt, etc.) Possible questions to consider: If these individuals are the social workers, administrators and DCF staff that the adolescents interact with daily, this can imply that the adolescents aging out of DCF’s care do not have much support/networks to thrive as adults independently. They are still dependent on DCF. Their networks are limited to individuals within DCF and not many supporters outside of DCF. Possible Practice & Policy Implications: [From DCF staff] This demonstrates the strength and engagement DCF workers have on the youth (positive effect), but it also implies that they can improve at forming connections with individuals outside of DCF.

Survey participants responded to feeling moderate levels of support and connection This graph displays the combined scores of support measurement and strength of connections. 26 participants scored moderate levels of support and connection. Note to make: Total of participants counted does not equal 38 participants, but a total of 37 participants. What does this mean? Possible Result Implication: Adolescents may believe they have adequate support and connections for the short term, but the strength of support and connection may not be strong enough for the long term.

Section I. Results & Findings: Support Measurement The majority of survey participants answered to feeling a positive conviction of having an adult in their lives that they can rely on for emergency place to stay, emotional support, occasional family meals, cash in times of emergency, a place to go for the holidays, and help with transportation. Result Implications: although our survey adolescents feel that they have the support to move out of care and live independently, we need to question their level of preparedness to live independently.

Section II. Results & Findings: Means Indicators Survey results in preparedness indicators show a lack of life skills to live independently What does this mean? Possible actions to consider: [From DCF Staff] Review life skills preparation program for adulthood to ensure that the youth are receiving these services and learning these skills. (Practice and Policy) Recommended actions to take: Offer programs, classes, or one-on-one lesson to adolescents on how to find/search for medical care. Show them resource centers they can go to if they need medical/mental health care. 80% of respondents do NOT know how to access public assistance, this means we need to provide review our programs on life skills or monitor their progress more closely. Example: -Create packets or pamphlets listing simple directions on how -Provide a 101 courses on personal finances/financial management (opening a bank account, saving money, job search) -Create a hands-on, point-base awarded program, where if teen has an adult (preferably one they are close with and can rely on) go with them to the bank to and help open a bank account. If they do so this can be one point. They can research or learn how to use the bus, and then show these skills to a social worker or administrator of DCF. Each skill/task they accomplish can accumulate into point and at the end of their time with DCF, close to their leave, we can celebrate their accomplishments.

COMPARISION: Support & Connections VS Means These two charts compare the relationship and means of our sample. Overall, the majority of the participants’ support and connections total score fall within the moderate range, as well as their means score. The Means Total Score has a higher number of individuals who fall within the High range compared to the Support & Connections Total Score. Possible Result Implications: The aggregated data show that our adolescents may believe they have the necessary means to thrive as adults as they age out of our care, but if you look at the de-aggregated data it proves otherwise.

Summary: 86% of adolescents have at least one reliable individual to contact for emergencies 89% have a constant contact with at least one person in their life 29% adolescents report strongest relationship with birth mother 37% adolescents have limited networks/relations with individuals outside of DCF 24% adolescents have adequate support and connections for short term care, but not strong enough for long term. 92% do not know how to access medical or mental health care Over 80% do not know how to access public transportation or public assistance 86% have a Drivers License 68% have never been employed Ultimately, adolescents report they have the necessary connections to thrive as adults, but they do not have the means to thrive independently.

Prepare children and adolescents in care for success: Actions To Turn the Curve Use information to improve or focus services for each adolescent Use information from survey to ensure an appropriate array of services Use information to inform our work with adolescents Data Development/Research Agenda Comparison of program performance data to client-level data to see if services address needs and skill deficits