AB 12: California Fostering Connections to Success Act Policy Overview and Implications for THP-Plus Presentation to THP-Plus Institute July 28, 2009

Origin of AB 12  Demographic changes in foster care  Federal legislation Overview of Major Provisions Possible Implications for THP-Plus Overview of Presentation

Change in Number of Youth Who Aged Out Annually: United States 40% increase since 1998 Over 26,000 youth “aged out” in 2006

Change in Number of Youth Who Aged Out Annually: California 38% increase since 1998

Top Ten States Aging Youth out of Foster Care in US: 2005

Changing Family Dynamics Pew: over half receive economic support from their parents until age 40 at an average amount of $3,410 annually. Michigan & Chicago: most adult children receive considerable financial support from their parents, particularly during the early years of young adulthood through age 26.

Chapin Hall Study: The Empirical Basis Five-year longitudinal study Followed foster youth from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin Collected detailed information about education, employment, income, health, criminal justice involvement Very high response rate Confirmed that FFY are doing worse than general population

Former Foster Youth Fare Worse Educationally

Former Foster Youth Fare Worse in Economically

Former Foster Youth Fare Worse in the Criminal Justice System

Effect of Remaining in Care Past Age 18 High School Completion: Two times more likely to be working towards completion of a high school diploma (20.9% vs. 10.1%); College Enrollment: Three times more likely to be enrolled in college(37.2% vs. 11.7%); Arrest: Sixty-five percent less likely to have been arrested (21.9% vs. 33.8%); Incarceration: Over fifty percent less likely to have been incarcerated (14.4 vs. 23.7).

Provisions of AB 12 Eligibility Court Oversight Child Welfare Support Re-Entry Provision Placement Options

H.R. 6307: Fostering Connections to Success Act (McDermott & Weller) Voluntary State option to extend to age 19, 20 or 21 Redefines a child-care institution to include, “a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently.” Requires juvenile court oversight State option to extend adoption assistance and guardianship payments up to age 19, 20, or 21 for children adopted or entering guardianship after attaining the age of 16. Federal Implementation date: 10/1/10

H.R. 6307: Fostering Connections to Success Act (McDermott & Weller) Youth must be… (1) Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential, (2) Enrolled in an institution which provides post- secondary or vocational education (3) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment (4) Employed for at least 80 hours per month.

Who is Eligible to Receive Support After Age 18?  Foster youth (~3,000)  Probation youth (~150)  Youth who exited to Kin-GAP & AAP after age 16 (~500) There will be an estimated 3,650 youth age 18 to 21 in foster care at full implementation in the third year

Why Not More? Youth on runaway status (15%) Youth that won’t meet eligibility criteria (20%) Youth who elect to exit (20% 40%) Re-entry: Approximately 4% re-enter annually in New York Current language allows youth to petition to re-enter if aged-out after implementation.

Rate of Participation for 18 to 21: IL & NY

Child Welfare & Court Oversight Required by Title IV-E Likely monthly child welfare visits, unless waiver allowed as with certain minors currently Court hearing every six months

Placement Options All of the existing options  FFH, Kin, Residential, THPP Two new options: Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) & THP-Plus

Different Levels of Autonomy for Different Levels of Readiness THPP THP-Plus SILP Experience living independently Level of education

THP-Plus in the AB 12 Context Option 1: No Change  Continue to serve non-dependents, age 18 to 24 Option 2: Serve dependents & non-dependents, age 18 to 24  Possibly be licensed using newly developed adult standards Option 3: Serve dependent & non-dependents, age 16 to 24  Possibly be licensed using newly developed adult standards & standards for minors

Why THP-Plus Providers Are Essential to the Success of AB 12 THP-Plus providers have:  Experience serving young adults  Experience with alternative housing models  Experience teaching applied independent living skills