Promising Practices for Supporting Youth Transitions to Economic Independence Presented by Gary Stangler Executive Director Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative

Our Mission The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative is a major national effort to help youth in foster care make successful transitions to adulthood. We bring together the people and resources to help youth achieve permanency and economic success.

Our History The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative was created in June, 2001 by two of the leading foundations that work with children and families—the Annie E. Casey Foundation (based in Baltimore, MD) and Casey Family Programs (based in Seattle, WA). We are named for the founder of the United Parcel Service (UPS), Jim Casey. Mr. Casey had the vision to help establish these foundations that assist in the betterment of disadvantaged young people and families throughout this country. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative is based in St. Louis, MO.

Marguerite Henry J. (Harry) George A James E Henry J. Casey Annie E. Sheehan The Casey Family Connections Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2001) 10/27/04 Annie E. Casey Foundation Grant Making (1948) Casey Family Services (1976) The Casey Center (2001) Casey Family Programs Direct Services (1966) Enterprise Opportunities (2000) Marguerite Casey Foundation Grant Making (2001)

Youth Outcomes Employment: obtaining/retaining jobs with sufficient income and benefits for self-support Education: obtaining a high school diploma or completing education/training that leads to steady employment Health: obtaining sufficient and affordable health insurance Housing: obtaining/retaining safe, stable, conveniently located and affordable housing Personal and community engagement: increased supportive social attachments, and responsible participation in community activities PERMANENCY IS THE GOAL!

System Partners Community Partnership Boards  The board’s primary role is developing opportunities for youth in all outcome areas  The board operationalizes the Opportunity Passport™  The Community Partnership Board must include youth and young adults as full decision-makers

Strategies of Change Strategies to create opportunities actively engage young people in developing and advocating for opportunities involve systems partners, both public and private in creating these opportunities direct research and communications efforts at documenting results and identifying and disseminating best practice galvanize public will and policy to better focus on needed reforms

Initiative Sites. Atlanta, GA Denver, CO Des Moines, IA Jacksonville, FL Kansas City, MO/KS Michigan Nashville, TN San Antonio, TX Hartford, CT Maine Providence, RI San Diego, CA 13 Core Brand Sites Tampa, FL.

Youth Engagement  Youth Leadership Boards are established in every community  The young people who serve on them are provided with support and training in youth leadership, personal and strategic planning, communications, and other skills  Members will advocate for greater responsiveness in the foster care system to the needs and desires of youth

The organizing tool that actualizes our Theory of Change is the Opportunity Passport™. Opportunity Passport™

The Opportunity Passport ™ is a tool designed to organize resources to create opportunities—financial, educational, vocational, health care, entrepreneurial, and recreational opportunities—for young people leaving foster care

Opportunity Passport ™ Goals  To help youth leaving foster care  become financially literate  gain experience with the banking system  amass assets for education, housing, health care, and a few other specified expenses  gain streamlined entry to educational, training and vocational opportunities

Opportunity Passport ™ Opportunity Passport ™ : Three Components  Matched savings account – Individual Development Account  Debit account – personal debit account  Door openers – our term for a host of other opportunities to be designed locally All three components are linked.

Opportunity Passport™ Participant Eligibility  14 – 23 years old  Been in the public child welfare foster care system at the age of 14  Successfully completed financial literacy training  Agree to all participation requirements  Sign Opportunity Passport TM participant agreement

Savings and Assets Almost all Opportunity Passport™ participants showed deposit activity. Most individual savings plans call for monthly deposits, but on average deposits are made 4 out of 12 months (one third of the time). Atlanta and Des Moines, however, average half of the time (6 out of 12 months). “Targets” of individual savings plan average $34 per month, but actual deposits average $17 per month. When participants do make deposits, they meet their targets two out of three times. Saving differences between males and females are negligible.

Savings and Assets Vehicles were by far the most common asset purchased, confirming our assumption that cars would be the most powerful driver of savings behavior. $139,012 was used to purchase 107 assets. For two thirds of the withdrawals, the money was for immediate needs, not assets. One in three withdrawals from savings accounts drew the matching funds for approved assets (34%). By comparison, 32% of the withdrawals drew the matching funds in the National IDA demonstration projects.

Savings and Assets Comparison of Opportunity Passport ™ Individual Development Accounts (IDA) with the American Dream Demonstration (ADD) national IDA evaluation Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative ADD July 1997–June 2000 ADD July 1997–Dec 2001 % Matched Withdrawal 34%13%32% Average Monthly Deposit $17$25$19 Frequency of Deposits 4 deposits every 12 months 7 deposits every 12 months 6 deposits every 12 months Average Value of Matched Withdrawal $650N/A$878 Source of Data “Cross-Site Interim Report: A Point-in Time Analysis for Sites in Implementation December 2002 – March 2005” Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative American Dream Demonstration, ,378 IDAs in 14 programs American Dream Demonstration, 2001 Final Report 2,364 IDAs in 14 programs

Cross-Site Report: Overview Baseline indicator findings: 723 Opportunity Passport™ participants Status at enrollment Five outcome areas Information derived from Initiative-developed data collection tools Grantees in implementation in 2004: Atlanta Des Moines Kansas City Maine Michigan (two sites) Nashville Complements June 2005 report - findings examine implementation of strategies across sites

Cross-Site Report: Opportunity Passport™ Participants Summary Average age is 18 Most are females Majority are either Caucasian or African- American Most are in foster care Most are in some kind of school One third have a HS diploma or GED Just under one half are employed Most of the employed are in school Many not in school are unemployed

Cross-Site Report: Demographic Characteristics of Opportunity Passport™ Participants Age-Gender Population Pyramid 0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16% Age % of Total Population 1.3% 5.3% 9.4% 12.5% 14.2% 9.0% 4.9% 3.2% 2.1% 0.3% 1.7% 2.4% 6.1% 6.5% 10.4% 5.6% 3.3% 1.0% 0.6% 0.4% Females Males

Cross-Site Report: Demographic Characteristics of Opportunity Passport™ Participants

Cross-Site Report Findings from Baseline Indicators Personal and Community Engagement 90% could access information and resources in the community Approximately two-thirds had at least one adult in the community they could go to for emotional support (66%) or job, school advice or guidance (72%)

Cross-Site Report Findings from Baseline Indicators Education 78% were enrolled in some kind of school 37% had a high school diploma or GED Of those that had a high school diploma or GED, 66% were enrolled in or had completed post-secondary education Of those enrolled in school 47% were enrolled in high school 34% had part-time job(s) Of those out of school 71% had a high school diploma or GED 13% had worked 40 hours per week for 6 months or more 46% were unemployed 93% of the employed were earning federal minimum wage or greater 66% were not receiving any form of public assistance

Cross-Site Report Findings from Baseline Indicators Employment 44% are employed Of those employed 74% were in school, 26% were not enrolled in any school 25% were employed full-time, 75% were employed part- time Of those employed full-time, 54% were enrolled in school Of those employed part-time, 81% were enrolled in school Of those employed full-time 75% had a high school diploma or GED 85% of those employed who were not currently enrolled in school had a high school diploma or GED 65% of those employed who were enrolled in some kind of school had a high school diploma or GED

Cross-Site Report Findings from Baseline Indicators Housing 12% of those out of school had housing that is safe, stable and affordable, and located near public transportation, work or school Physical and Mental Health 77% had health insurance Of those that had health insurance, 48% also had mental health benefits

Youth Economic Success: Employment Cross Site Analysis Indicator #1-For young people in school: Number of young people that participate in one or more work-related learning/work experiences Indicator #2-For young people in school: Number that obtain one or more part time jobs while in school. Indicator #3-For young people out of school: Number that worked 40 hours per week for a duration of 6 months or more. Indicator #4-For young people out of school: Number of young people living above the federal poverty line.

Youth Economic Success: Employment Baseline Indicator Analysis:  For young people out of school, a small percentage (13% or 20 young adults) have worked for 40 hours per week for a duration of six months or more.  Two-thirds (66%) of the participants who are out of school are not receiving any form of public assistance  93% of the employed participants who are out of school are earning federal minimum wage or greater. Education and employment relationships:  74% of youth employed were still enrolled in school;  Of those employed part-time, 81% were enrolled in school  Of those employed full-time, 54% were enrolled in school