6/10/02 Independent Living Resource Center at the Hunter College School of Social Work The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 Strengthening the System’s Capacity to Help Young People Make Healthy Transitions to Adulthood

6/10/02 What Does the FCIA Do? n Increases funding from 70 to 140 million/year n Expands services to former foster youth years old. n Gives states the option to provide Medicaid to yo former foster youth n Changes the state planning and application process. n Increases youth asset limit to $10,000. n Increases access to CIP services for Native American tribes. n Strong focus on collaboration, youth involvement, permanency, relationships with caring adults, and achievement of positive outcomes for youth served in CIP programs.

6/10/02 What Opportunities does the New Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Offer to States, Communities, and Other Stakeholders? n Strengthen the continuum of services and supports available to older foster youth. n Fill current gaps in services, especially for youth who have left the system. n Increase the pool of stakeholders committed to supporting young people in making successful transitions. n Engage young people as partners in strengthening the service system. n Increase child welfare focus on supporting positive development and successful outcomes for all youth in foster care.

6/10/02 Important Planning Issues n Eligibility n Level of services to youth who have left care n Use of CIP funds for room & board - housing options n In-kind match n Medicaid n Identifying stakeholders n Developing 5-year plan n Identifying resources

6/10/02 Planning for the Plan n Understand where we are now: *Who are we serving? *Who are we not serving? *What do our customers say? *How are young people who leave our system doing? n Identify stakeholders. n Understand the law & requirements of the new program. n Decide on a process for development of the plan. n Plan for *increased role of youth *increased collaboration with other systems and organizations

6/10/02 Developing the Plan n Bring diverse stakeholders together. n Focus on strengthening the continuum of services and supports. n Think outside of the box of traditional independent living programs and services. n Think of the first multi-year plan as a pilot. n Work with TA organizations to develop an infrastructure for the development, delivery, and evaluation of CIP services. n Put in the extra effort to include youth.

6/10/02 Implementing the Plan n Continuum, continuum, continuum! n Engage youth as partners; short term and long term. n Move away from classroom type instruction to learning by doing. n Identify housing options that allow for safe transitions. n Create & maintain partnerships.

6/10/02 Evaluation & Outcomes n Traditionally neglected area of work. n Challenges related to confidentiality, ability to contact youth, resources. n Need to focus on creative strategies for follow up. n Work with child welfare information systems and non-CIP caseworkers to ensure follow up after emancipation, not after completion of CIP services. n Don’t forget relationships; this qualitative result may be the most important thing you do! n Coordinate with other data collection efforts, e.g. TANF, Workforce Investment Act, School-to-Work.

6/10/02 We Can... n Get Connected! n Get Informed! n Get Energized!