Life Without A Safety Net: Youth Aging Out of Foster Care EK- TODAY YOU WILL, MEET OUR STAFF; LEARN ABOUT THE YOUTH WE SERVE AND HOW WE APPROACH THEM; WHY BELIEVE IN HOUSING AS A KEYSTONE ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY; YOU WILL MEET OUR YOUTH (ON VIDEO AND IN PERSON) AND HEAR FROM THEM HOW TRAC HAS CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES; WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR Q&A Madeline Reedy TRAC Director

In your experience….What is one thing you know to be true about how people react to change? RESISTANCE

Change Something old stops Something new begins DEFINING CHANGE Change is an event. It is situational and external to us. Change Something old stops Something new begins

EXAMPLES OF CHANGE Birth of a child New job or loss of job Relocation to new house or community Illness or trauma Natural disaster Death of a friend, relative, or pet

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHANGE Measured in time Marked on a calendar Quick Concrete & tangible Boundaries between the old and the new

DEFINING TRANSITION A gradual psychological reorientation that happens inside us as we try to adapt to change

William Bridges developed the Transition Framework to help individuals deal more effectively with change. When we pay attention to the internal and emotional process we all experience when in the midst of change, we can improve how we handle the stressful and difficult times in our lives.

Beginnings Neutral Zone Endings THREE PHASES OF TRANSITION Being “with it” The new chapter Renewal Neutral Zone In-between time Chaos Clean slate Endings Loss Letting go Getting closure Saying good-bye

“It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear… It’s like being between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to.” Marilyn Ferguson, American Futurist

Transitions Simultaneity: The phases of transition are NOT Linear Marathon Effect: Don’t expect everyone to be in the same phases at the same time Multiplicity: Everyone is going through their own process of transition at their particular pace in their own time. Resonance: a change that you perceive as an isolated incident may trigger old memories and or experiences.

© 2008 Andrus Family Fund

The Truth Every year 1200 teens “age out” of foster care in TX FOR YOUTH WHO ARE EMANCIPATING, THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES AND REAL OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME.

25% experience Homelessness before age 22 5/2014 HUD report (Housing for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care) Regional estimates are between 11-37% homeless 25-50% instable, couch surfing, doubling up TRAC – 50% have been homeless

Within 12-18 months of leaving care - 33% will be on some form of public assistance - 40% will not have completed high school - 50% will be unemployed

Employment for youth under 25 has been on the decline since 2000 Unemployment Rates Employment for youth under 25 has been on the decline since 2000 Former foster youth are at a much higher risk of unemployment & under employment *Univ. of San Diego 2010

60% Within 18 months of leaving care of young ladies will have a child outside of marriage

70% of youth leaving foster care report a desire to attend college Less than 3% actually obtain a college degree

In Texas, the average youth emancipating from CPS… Was removed from their family at age 11 - 15 Had 8 placements Had 5 CPS workers Spent 5 years in care

Disproportional percentage of alumni had mental health problems - 1 in 2 alumni in the study were currently experiencing a mental health disorder PTSD is 6 times the national average and as high as veterans returning from foreign wars Recovery rates are greater than the general public- resiliency over time.

Tuition and Fee Waiver In Care on 18th birthday or graduation date Adopted after 14 or after 9/1/2009 Must activate before 25th birthday Copies received from PAL unit or adoption worker. www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Post_Secondary_Education/college_tuition_waiver

Education and Training Voucher Contract with BCFS Up to $5000/year Can pay rent, bills, other educational costs Must use before 21st birthday Can extend to 23rd birthday www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Post_Secondary_Education/default

Transitional Living Allowance Up to $1000 in 2 payments of $500. Eligibility verified by CPS PAL workers Must be with 24 months of leaving care When youth are leaving care and in “independent” situation. Requires completion of PAL classes www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Preparation_For_Adult_Living/default

After Care Room and Board Up to $3000 maximum Not to exceed $500 in one month Youth must be working, in school or working a career plan Must prove financial need Accessed through After Care contract Providers www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Preparation_For_Adult_Living/default

Transition Centers “One Stop” Case management Employment Assistance Life Skills Crisis Intervention www.dfps.state.tx.us/txyouth/resources/local TRAC’s Mission - Connect young people, age 16-24, who are transitioning from substitute care toward self-sufficiency, with individualized support, planning and access to community services.

21 – 24 20 19 18 17 16 AFTER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT HOUSING TRAC WORKS WITH YOUTH ON A CONTINUUM--OVER A RANGE OF AGES FROM MID-TEENS TO MID-TWENTIES. THAT IS NOT ALL ABOUT HOUSING. 808 LAST YEAR. PROJECTING 950 FOR THE 2012-13 UW GRANT CYCLE. WE PROVIDE LIFE SKILLS TRAINING TO TEENS IN FOSTER CARE TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMANCIPATION. (CPS CONTRACT) WE PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH THEIR EXIT PROCESS. AFTERCARE SERVICES (CPS CONTRACT) ONCE THEY TURN 18; THE STATE HELPS OUT WITH THAT UNTIL THEY ARE 21; BUT WE ALL KNOW YOUNG ADULTS ARE RARELY SELF-SUFFICIENT BY AGE 21. SO WE CONTINUE SERVICES TO AGE 25 AND BEYOND IF NECESSARY. WE PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT TO 770 EMERGING ADULTS LAST YEAR WE PROVIDE OUR OWN TRAC HOUSING TO 15% OF OUR CASE MANAGEMENT CLIENTS AS PART OF OUR AFTERCARE SERVICES. IT’S THE MOST INTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE PART OF OUR WORK. WE ARE HOUSING YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS AND MANY OF WHOM ARE DISABLED. IT’S A 24/7 OPERATION. IT IS HIGHLY LEVERAGED. WE ESTABLISHED A HOUSING COMPONENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OUT THERE THAT MET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR AT-RISK POPULATION. HOUSING LIFE SKILLS TRAINING WORKFORCE READINESS

Even with all of these resources and supports in place, at intake: 46% of TRAC youth do not have a GED or Diploma 70% are unemployed 30% are parenting 50% have experienced homelessness 52% have no income 100% make less than $1,000/month WHY???? TRAC – 46% no GED or high school diploma, 70% unemployed & 52% have no income

Developmental Barriers – Emerging Adulthood NYT 2010- 40% of youth in their 20’s move back home at least once. What happens when there is no home to move back to? NIH research says the brain is not fully mature until at least 25 The parts still forming – prefrontal cortex and cerebellum – involved in emotional control and higher-order cognitive ability Identity exploration and self focus Instability in residence, relationships and work Risk-taking behavior increases Most of them make it but it takes until 25-28 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 NYT- New York Times NIH-National Institute of Health

Trauma related barriers Body of trauma related research by Dr. Karen Purvis and Dr. Bruce Perry. Learning that early trauma can impact the brain. Foster youth experience repeated trauma throughout time in care. Enhanced fight or flight response Fighters struggle to stay out of trouble and jail Fleers just run away and struggle to create roots These unconscious processes are patterns that undermine success but feel ‘normal’ to a youth who had early trauma.

Barriers of support Some have a loose and struggling network of family. Some of their parents are in better shape than when they lost custody. Others are still struggling and might victimize their kids again. Most do not have family or know how to find them. Everyone who cared for them did so because it was ‘their job’ The reality: Nowhere to stay for short periods if needed, no one to borrow $20 from in a pinch, no one to call when you are sick and need help, no one to eat Christmas dinner with, no one to wish a happy birthday

Barriers of empowerment System denies normal learning experiences like work, driving, dating. Youth don’t get to test behaviors in a safe environment. Decisions about their lives were often random and unpredictable. Moved without reason, disrupted by unseen forces, changed schools often. Youth learned that they could not impact their lives. They would neither get what they wanted nor be destitute.

FATE vs DESTINY

~Janiva Magness, alumna, award-winning Alligator Recording Artist. “I have a life today I could never have imagined. You know, your fate does not have to be your destiny. Fate is what you are handed. Destiny is about what you could be. I’m living proof. The tragedies of my life no longer define me.” ~Janiva Magness, alumna, award-winning Alligator Recording Artist.

“We should dream of and plan for a day when fewer children require foster care. But until that day comes, we have a moral responsibility to prepare young people leaving foster care to become whole adults who can fulfill their potential and build bright and promising futures.” -President Jimmy Carter, 2004

3108 Live Oak St. Dallas TX 75204 214-370-9300 4532 Altamesa Dr 3108 Live Oak St. Dallas TX 75204 214-370-9300 4532 Altamesa Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76133 817-882-9162 Toll Free: 866.4ON-TRAC (866.466.8722) www.citysquare.org/TRAC