1. DCF Initiatives to Prevent and Intervene in Youth Homelessness
Jessica Trombetta, LCSW
Executive Director of Adolescent Services
March 29, 2017

2. Four Major Operating Divisions
New Jersey Department of Children and Families
Commissioner
We currently have four major operating Divisions:
The Children's System of Care, CSOC, serves FCP - Promotes the health, well-being and personal safety of New Jersey's children and families by working together with parents, caregivers, organizations and communities to ensure an effective network of proven support services, public education and community advocacy to prevent maltreatment
The Division of Children Protection and Permanency, CP&P – state’s child welfare system – discussed more on upcoming slides
The Division of Family and Community Partnerships, FCP, promotes the health, well-being and personal safety of children and families by working together with parents, caregivers, organizations and communities to ensure an effective network of proven support services, public education and community advocacy to prevent maltreatment
The Division on Women, DOW, supports the development, coordination and evaluation of programs and services for women and other constituents, including domestic violence services, sexual violence prevention and crisis intervention services, and displaced homemaker programs
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
Children’s System of Care
Division of Family & Community Partnerships
Division on Women 2 2 2

3. Additional DCF Offices
Adolescent Services
Advocacy
Child Welfare Training Academy
Education
Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit
Licensing
Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Development
Performance Management and Accountability
Strategic Development

4. Office of Adolescent Services
The mission of the DCF Office of Adolescent Services (OAS) is to support adolescents in their transition to adulthood to achieve economic self- sufficiency, interdependence, and engage in healthy lifestyles.

5. Office of Adolescent Services
Ensuring that services provided through the Department of Children and Families are coordinated, effective, meet best practice standards, are youth driven, and adapt to the needs of families and communities
Developing linkages with other service providers in order to create a more equitable and seamless service system, and
Providing leadership and policy development in the field of adolescent services.
Connecting YOUth

6. OAS Domains of Priority
Housing
Education and Employment
Physical and Mental Health
General Transition Support
Youth Engagement
Permanence and Familial Support
Criminal Justice/Legal Services
General/Cross Systems
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7. Knowledge of youth development Concrete supports in time of need
Personal resilience
Social connections
Knowledge of youth development
Concrete supports in time of need
Social, emotional, behavioral, intellectual and moral competence in youth
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8. DCF-OAS Youth Housing Continuum
Crisis Beds
Outreach/
Street outreach, short-term youth shelter beds (up to age 18), and some beds in one 18+ shelter
Supervised/ Transitional Living Programs
Approx. 300 beds through Supervised / Transitional Living Programs (ages 16 up to 21)
Permanent Supportive Housing
Approx. 100 units Permanent Supportive Housing (18 to 21)
NEW: 100 Project Based Section 8 Housing

9. Housing Program Access
Supervised/ Transitional Living Programs
Approx. 300 Beds
Permanent Supportive Housing
Approx. 100 Beds
Adolescent Housing Hub:
New Jersey Youth Resource Spot:

10. Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH)
Develop and implement a model intervention that will achieve four outcomes:
Stable Housing
Permanent Connections
Education/Employment
Social-Emotional Well-Being
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11. YARH Background
On 9/29/13, the Children’s Bureau awarded two-year planning grants to 18 grantees across the country. Grant period
In 8/29/15, six implementation grantees were awarded a three year implementation cooperative agreement. Grant period

13. ***Three prong service intervention strategy to
prevent and address homelessness for youth
in foster care ages 14-21***
Connect to Family and Connect to Well-Being (permanency and life skills services) (targeted for youth 14-21)
Connect to Achievement and Connect to Mentoring (educational advocates and near peer and professional mentors) (targeted for youth 14-21)
Connect to Home-housing screening and assessment and supportive housing (target for youth 18-21)

14. Pilot Local CP&P Offices
Burlington
East
West
Mercer
North
South
Union
Central

15. Connect to Home
DCF and federal service funding and DCA housing vouchers used to support long term, stable housing and voluntary supportive services for youth current or previously involved with foster care.
60 vouchers allocated to the (YARH) Federal Project-Burlington, Mercer, and Union (20 vouchers each county, targeted for high need youth with experience in foster care, 18-21)
Youth must be between 18 age 20 prior to entering the program.
Trauma-informed, evidence-supported services must be components of model

16. Additional OAS Youth Housing and Homeless Prevention/Intervention Initiatives
Partnership with NJ Department of Community Affairs-Youth Supportive Housing for Aging Out Youth
Expectant and Parenting Youth Supportive Housing
Youth Supportive Housing for Aging Out Youth
2. Statewide Homeless Youth Committee (summer 2017)
Partnership/Data Sharing with NJ Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency

17. ON THE WEB!!! NJ Youth Resource Spot www.njyrs.org OAS Staff Directory
OAS Strategic Plan and Report
Youth At-Risk of Homelessness NJ website
CSSP’s Youth Thrive Framework 17