A Way Home? The Road to Permanency for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care Testimony to the Senate HHS Committee Interim Charge on Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Katherine Barillas, Ph.D. Director of Child Welfare Policy Texas Network of Youth Services kbarillas@tnoys.org

The mission of TNOYS is to strengthen, support, and protect critical services for Texas youth and their families in order to ensure their success.

TNOYS members share a vision of Texas where all youth are valued, their strengths are recognized, and they have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Investment in Prevention and Early Intervention A Full Continuum of High Quality Foster Care Services Services and Supports for Young People who are Homeless Support through the Transition to Adulthood Trauma Informed Care Collaboration with Youth

TNOYS STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS AND GOALS

Our work is guided by a comprehensive systems change approach: TNOYS APPROACH Our work is guided by a comprehensive systems change approach:

Take a Minute and Think… What Helped You Become an Adult? Who Taught You To: Cook Write a resume Apply for financial aid Rent an apartment Manage your money Form healthy relationships Good relationships with others Continuous education about life skills Opportunities to practice what you learned A place to return for help Employment training, career development & job opportunities Support and guidance

What do We Want for our Youth in Foster Care? opportunities, experiences, and activities for youth in foster care that are available to those not in foster care preparation for adulthood

Who is there to Prepare our Youth for Adulthood?

CPS caseworker PAL regional staff Foster Parent Child Placing Agency Who helps Foster Youth CPS caseworker PAL regional staff PAL contractor Child Placing Agency Foster Parent

Foster Parent Child Placing Agency PAL Contractor PAL Regional Staff required to provide or help youth receive life skill/normalcy opportunities; encouraged to attend first PAL life skills class and do homework activities with youth; fill out the caregiver part of the life skills assessment Child Placing Agency ensures caregiver teaches child basic life and social skills; offers a variety of experiential learning opportunities through the use of 2+ basic life skills activities every month; ensures child offered age- appropriate activities; gives child access to opportunities such as vocational or technical training programs, employment etc. PAL Contractor conducts life skills assessment (and ensures youth and caregiver both fill out their sections and hold an in-person interpretation meeting) life skills classes (reaching out to youth and caregiver to encourage participation and providing experiential opportunities; often provides array of other services for youth in care and those who’ve aged out; will also distribute incentives including Aftercare Room and Board to 3rd party; must provide monthly reports to DFPS PAL staff; conduct knowledge assessment PAL Regional Staff arrange for youth’s participation in services with PAL contractor and coordinate with CPS worker; approves youth eligible for services and sends form to contractor CPS Caseworker tracking youth’s plan of service which now includes transition plan; arranges permanency meetings

Preparation for Adult Living Program (life skills assessment, PAL classes, short term financial assistance) Education & Training Voucher Services Transitional Living Services Program

DFPS Transitional Living Services <14 licensing requires children participate in normalcy activities; these should be included in discussions re: child’s plan service plan to include how 13+ are going to be educated about healthy interpersonal relationships, boundaries, etc. 14 assistance to make a savings plan & open savings account if they have a source of income and account is available Foster care provider to provide with experiential life skills training Life skills assessment (starting FY ‘19); enroll in PAL if in PMC of DFPS informed credit report is run each year; receive help fixing 15 Life skills assessment (starting FY ’18) at 15.5 opened for registration in PAL Program which includes life skills assessment, classes and assistance with other things such as applying for college or getting a job

DFPS Transitional Living Services 16 PAL Classes $1,000 stipend upon completion apply for DL/state ID; on or before 16 be provided birth cert & SS card Circles Of Support can begin taking place; transition plan should begin to include discussion re: housing 16-21 participate in PEAKS CAMP, college tour and teen conference 17 aging out seminars Case management can potentially begin before 18

Case Management & Aftercare Services (18-21) 18 is first year youth could be eligible for Aftercare Room & Board Based on need & for rent, utilities, food etc. Up to $3,000 - $500 a month Must apply & be enrolled for Education & Training Voucher (ETV) and be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours before 25 1st eligibility technically at 16 receive up to $5,000/yr. to help with postsecondary education goals if: Have HS diploma, GED or be exempt from required school attendance; Enrolled in dual credit or institution of higher ed. (for at least 6hrs); Have applied for ETV before 21st birthday Provided personal documents as well as immunization record & copy of health passport To use college tuition and fee waiver youth must be enrolled no later than 25th birthday (dual credit) Can receive PAL services up to 23 (new with FFA) DL fee waived if 18-21 & in paid placement Medicaid through FFCC Program (18 to 25) or MTFCY (18-to 20)

Additional Options that Exist for Youth Who Age Out Trial Independence – 6 months after a youth leaves care is considered a “trial independence” period; can be extended up to 1yr by a judge; youth may live independently and receive CPS benefits (no court or case activity during this time) Extended care – Voluntary return up until 21st birthday; unless have documented medical condition must be obtaining education (minimum 6hrs/semester; high school or GED), engaging in preparation for employment (15hrs/wk) or working (@ least 80hrs/month). option exists until 21st birthday

Additional Options that Exist for Youth Who Age Out Transition Centers – 1 center for every region of the state (one that serves Harris and surrounding counties); available ages 15.5 to 25 who are aging or have aged out of foster care; central location for services including assistance with basic needs, college enrollment and career counseling Supervised Independent Living (SIL) – part of extend foster care that includes apartments, non-college dormitories, college dorms, shared housing or host homes

A Closer Look at Supervised Independent Living SIL Rates SIL Challenges Host Home $33.53 / $45.03 w/ child Non-college Dorm $43.02 / $54.52 w/ child College Dorm $41.49 / $49.35 w/ child Apartment/shared housing Few providers around the state Houston, Austin, Lubbock, Ft. Worth (2), Dallas (2), Liverpool, Beaumont, Converse, Wichita Falls Low reimbursement rates for providers Challenge for youth not practiced with this level of freedom Only through 21st birthday Youth still need level of case management that SIL doesn’t provide – CPS worker 1X a month

With All That is in Place to Help Youth Prepare for Adulthood – What are Some of the Results?

Youth Who Age Out of Care Youth in Care in Texas Year Age Out Youth Who Age Out of Care Average Time in Care Avg. # of placements 2012 1,363 4.8yrs 7 2013 1,328 4.6yrs 6.9 2014 1,246 4.5yrs 6.4 2015 1,180 6.5 2016 1,250 6.7 2017 1,200 4.2yrs

Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care Tend to have longer stays in care and more placements Have higher rates of and greater vulnerability to: Homelessness Trafficking Unemployment Mental health and substance use problems Poor education outcomes Post traumatic stress National Youth in Transition Database. 11/2016. “Highlights from the NYTD survey: outcomes reported by young people at ages 17, 19 and 21. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/nytd-data-brief-5. White, C., O’Brien, K., Pecora, P., Keller, R., Sampson, N., Hwang, I. 2012. Texas Foster Care Alumni Study Technical Report. Available at: http://www.casey.org/media/StateFosterCare_TX_fr.pdf.

Results of NYTD Survey for Texas 17 year olds (FY ‘14) 19 year olds (FY ‘16) In last 2 years: 25% homeless 13% had kids 21% incarcerated 39% employed 48% finished HS or GED 54% attending school 93% connected to adult 80% Medicaid coverage 5% finished HS or GED 13% employed 94% Medicaid coverage 93% attending school & connected to an adult

What Policies Address These Issues? Preparation for Adult Living (1986) to ensure youth transitioning out of foster care were prepared for adulthood; college tuition and fee waivers and transitional Medicaid for former foster youth (1980s and 1990s); $3,000 was the limit set for Aftercare Room and Board Assistance (2006) and it has not been adjusted since then (rent, utility, food)

What Policies Address These Issues? HB 1912 (2009) SB 1117 (2015) SB 1758 (2017) requirement of a life skills assessment being conducted at 16 provided for specific guidelines about helping youth prepare for stable housing required life skills assessment for youth 14 & 15 who were in PMC of the state; transitional living services program is available to youth at 14

What Reports Examined These Issues?

2007 and 2009 surveys of youth in care both concluded that youth need more services and supports to appropriately transition 2010 report on HB 1912 (81-R) - transitioning plan should be a living document that gauges readiness; DFPS also reported that current resources did not allow them to provide certain resources to all 16 year olds much less those 14-15 HB 1912 follow up - conduct another assessment at 15 ½ - DFPS did not receive funding to follow this recommendation 2011 report on surveyed youth indicated again that youth need more services and supports 2012 - Texas Foster Care Alumni Study Report indicated that youth who age out need access to stable housing and independent living preparation needs to be overhauled

What more can we do (can we do differently) to prepare our youth in foster care for adulthood?

Establish a Continuum of Learning for Youth 14-21 Youth ages 14 and 15 Classes, one-on-one work and experiential opportunities Social and emotional learning Relationships Communication Youth ages 16-21 Practical life skills through placements, classes, transition centers and case management Support for post-secondary attainment (college & technical certifications) Better accountability system of devising youth needs and progress

Have Enough Staff to Provide More Individualized Attention to Youth 14-21 foster youth have specialized needs All youth need frequent and consistent reminders

54 caseworkers for over 7,500 eligible youth (‘17) contact for resources to young adults who initially opt out of services but their circumstances or decisions change and the services require initiation supportive casework services for youth ages 16 to 21 and youth 14 and 15 years old as funding allows referral and utilization of mandatory services such as PAL Life Skills training and support, Circles of Support, Return to Care, Extended Care and STAR Health Medical Services oversight of delivery of transitional living allowances for youth, aftercare services, and educational/vocational assistance

Fund PAL Purchased Services to Meet the Needs of Youth 14-25 Including Special Populations Youth in / aging out of RTCs Youth in juvenile detention facilities Youth with developmental/intellectual challenges

2012-2017 averaged served went down by 5% Average expended has only increased by 2% There are not enough resources to serve the entire population of kids who are eligible for PAL services

Federal & State Expenditures PAL staff, purchased services & ETV 2016 2017 Federal Chafee $: State eligible for claims submitted up to a certain level

FFA New Opportunities Greater flexibility for use of IV-E Chafee dollars for career, education and other independence opportunities for youth aging out of the foster care system; Dollars can be used for assistance and services to youth up until they turn 24 (raised from 22) and to access post-secondary opportunities through the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) until they turn 26 (raised from 23).

Support Foster Parents, Caregivers and Staff in Meeting the Life Skill Needs of Youth opportunities to learn & reinforce learning opportunities that meet time constraints effective coordination between CPS/contract staff

Develop and Fund Graduated Housing Opportunities Provides youth the opportunity to gradually develop independent living skills in environments that support experiences Transitional living community apartments or single family dwellings (16-17); part of transitional living program Community housing assistance such as SIL or other setting (18-25)

TEXAS CAN BE A MODEL FOR THE COUNTY What’s Next SB 1758 group of stakeholders is meeting to design the infrastructure and determine the resources necessary to improve outcomes for youth who age out of care; Continuing research on best practices, other states and current system Report will be a guide for DFPS change and a legislative agenda for child welfare advocates; We want you to know what is necessary and what it will cost and then work with you to get there TEXAS CAN BE A MODEL FOR THE COUNTY

Katherine Barillas, Ph. D Katherine Barillas, Ph.D. Director of Child Welfare Policy kbarillas@tnoys.org 713-480-3937

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