1. Helping Older Youth Transition Out of Foster Care
NC Housing Coalition
Conference
Raleigh, North Carolina
October 12, 2016
Nancy Carter, MSW, ACSW
Independent Living Resources, Inc.
ww.ilrinc.com

2. Introduction Independent Living Resources, Inc.
Located in Durham. NC. Will be 30 years old in the Spring of 2017
Nationally recognized consulting and publishing company focused on resources, program, training and all activities related to helping young people transition towards self-sufficiency.
ILR has experience working with the private and public sectors on individual and collaborative projects as we tackle the complex issues related to serving this population.
Provide LINKS programming since LINKS is the NC life skills program for youths ages 13 – 21 in foster care.
Nancy Carter, MSW, ACSW
Has worked with at-risk teens, teens in.
transition, and foster care since 1984.
Graduate of WCU and UNC-CH.
I do practice what I preach…

3. Understanding the Child Welfare Experience (Foster Care)
Story of Kim - Volunteer
Array of comprehensive programs needed to address the complex needs of young adults aging out
Cost to the community if youths do not transition successfully (between social and economic burden > $1 million per youth)
National movement to connect all young adults by 25 to resources providing a successful transition as a means to improve transitions and save money.

4. NC Foster Care (Older Youths)
*Data from Midwest Evaluation & LINKS reports
Data
LINKS Aged Out (580 June 2016)
Education: 25% with no GED or diploma 34% with diploma, 2.5% Bachelors degree
Employment: 25% earnings in first quarter of leaving care.(June 2014)
Parenting: 52% males. 71% females living child
Legal: 63% incarceration
Housing: 37% have experienced homelessness
Resources
LINKS: Overall funding and support (limited)
Educational: ETV, NCREACH, Federal grants
Employment: WIOA, WOTC
Parenting: APP, SHIFT NC
Legal: Deferment programs
Housing: Options within the private industry (examples, With Friends and FYO Host Homes & Transitional Living Apartments)

5. Current Legislation
Foster Care Family Act – create normalcy and allow permissions by foster parents (currently being implemented)
Fostering Success/Extension of Foster Care to 21 years (Jan 2017)
Driving Privileges applies to 16 & 17 year olds
WOTC to focus y7on former foster youths (up to $2400 incentive)

6. Hopeful Practices on the Horizon
Pending legislation as discussed
Expansion of foster care in 21 will lead to increased use of semi-independent living arrangements. The private sector could open more options given agency support and increased funding options along with more meaningful IL practice for youth.
Legal deferment programs are showing promise. Leading to increased education and employment options for young adults with non-violent crimes.
Housing Resources will see the advantages of renting to this population (supportive life coaches. Case managers, and others)

7. Planning for Investors
To do: Create a community partnership!
Join a local collaborative group focused on helping this population transition?
Invest in helping a private sector program expand their housing options in preparation for the extension to 21?
Support local use of FU (HUD funding)
to support this transitional population.
Are there ways your company could use
the WOTC to hire a young person from
foster care?
Questions???? Thank you!

8. Semi-Independent Living Arrangement Options
Additional SLIDES:
ONLY if time allows or there are questions about a specific option

9. Living Arrangement Options
The goal of an independent living program is to have as many living arrangement options available as possible. Therefore choices exist for specific youth needs.
A Continuum of Living Arrangement Options
Most Restrictive Informal Learning
Institutions
Residential Treatment
Community Based Group Homes Formal Learning
Family Foster Homes
Shelters
Cluster Apartment (Transitional living programs)
Mentor Homes Supervised Living
Host Homes Practice
Boarding Homes
Roommate/Shared Housing
Scattered sites Apartments Self- Sufficiency Subsidized Support Programs (Experiential)
Least Restrictive

10. A Closer Look at Supervised Living Arrangement Options
Transitional Living Arrangements (Cluster Home):
An apartment building or large home, usually owned by an agency, that houses youths in separate apartments and is supervised by live-in or overnight staff. Examples include situations where youths have responsibility for purchasing and preparing their own foods but may use a community kitchen. Staffs provide support and teach skills as needed.
Group living – limited “tenants”
Shared community space
Designated space in kitchen
To do: Discuss whether a group home you work with has space on/near campus for this option

11. A Closer Look at Supervised Living Arrangement Options
Mentor Homes:
When youths share an apartment or home with an adult or college student who serves as a mentor or role model. The home can be rented or owned by either the adult or agency. Examples of mentor homes would include previous foster parents who have evolved into mentors by providing youths with specific transitional skills training, vocational skills, and shared living responsibilities. Youths have increased responsibilities at a mentor home as compared to a foster home. This home is used to specifically teach youths how to be more responsible and function at a higher level.
More personalized TLA (Cluster home)
More independence
Must have a contract outlining responsibilities.
To do: Consider what foster family might evolve into a Mentor home.

12. A Closer Look at Supervised Living Arrangement Options
Host Homes:
When youths rent a room in a family or single adult’s home, sharing facilities and agreeing to basic rules while being largely responsible for their own lives. Some foster homes evolve into this type of housing when a youth who is already living there “ages out” of foster care. The challenge for the adults is to redefine with youths the level of financial and individual responsibility each have within the home post foster care. Entering into a contractual agreement is an important component and is sometimes achieved with the help of a third party.
A rental contract exists.
Youths must be over 18 years old.
Agency helps to negotiate the terms of lease and offers support but not financial support or supervisory responsibilities.
To do: Start discussions to see if this is appealing.