1. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
Sandra
Gasca-Gonzalez,
Director

2. What’s at stake: nearly 1 million young people
Population Statement The Jim Casey Initiative focuses on 14 to 26 year olds in the U.S. who have spent at least one day in foster care after their 14th birthday.
990,802
Young people meet this description

3. Results for Young People in Foster Care
Results statement: All young people transitioning from foster care have the relationships, resources and opportunities to ensure well-being and success
One in four young people who have been in foster care experience homelessness within 4 years of exiting care.b
71% of young women with foster care experience became pregnant before age 21 (vs. 34% of all 21-year-old women).
Just over half of young people with foster care experience graduate high school by age 19 ( vs. 87% of all young people).
By age 26, more than 50% of young women and 80% of young men with foster care experience report that they have been arrested.
About half of young people with foster care experience are employed at age 24.

4. Jim Casey Initiative’s Priorities: Improve Well-Being for All Young People Transitioning from Foster Care
Increase Permanency
End the pipeline of youth aging out of foster care
Decrease Homelessness
Every youth has a safe place to live that they can call their own
Improve Well-Being
Every Young Person is Rock Solid!
Improve Educational Success & Economic Security
Youth are connected to school and employment
Support Young Parents
Prevent early pregnancy and support parents

5. Our Approach to the Work
Youth Engagement
Race and Ethnic Equity and Inclusion
Partnerships and Resources
Research, Evaluation and Communication
Public Will and Policy
Population
Result
Indicators
Strategies

6. Young People Deserve A Safe & Stable Home

7. Navigating the Child Welfare System: Youth Perspective
Leslie - 20
Paula - 18
Alex - 16
Tammi - 22
Todd - 17
Sandy - 24
Jeff - 19
Julie - 21
Gina - 23
Mario - 25 I X H C W P E B F Q L D
Youth navigating child welfare A Z R G

8. The Cuyahoga County, Ohio 100 Day Challenge Partnership

9. Building Partnerships to End Youth Homelessness
A Place 4 Me, the Jim Casey Initiative lead agency, launched in January 2014
Diverse steering committee and inclusive, multi-sector partnership formed:
DCFS (Child Welfare) - Frontline (Mental Health)
YWCA - Sisters of Charity
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness developed with partnership – Published July 2015
Youth engagement embedded as “Best Practice Principle”
100 Day Challenge brings additional partners to Steering Committee:
Office of Homeless Services - Eden Corp (Housing Specialists)
Created a culture of finding solutions and giving “permission” to transform the system with a sense of urgency

10. 100 Day Challenge Initial Results
Goal:
In 100 days, we will house 100 literally homeless youth (18-24 years old) with a special focus on those with DCFS involvement. Furthermore, we will strengthen the systems that we have, so that as of Day 66 and forever more, no youth will age out into homelessness in Cleveland/Cuyahoga Co.
Accomplishment:
105 youth housed (105% of goal), primarily through RRH, family and friends, and PSH
Youth age out of foster care with rock-solid housing plans to prevent homelessness

11. The Old Model Youth navigating child welfare Leslie - 20 Paula - 18
Alex - 16
Tammi - 22
Todd - 17
Sandy - 24
Jeff - 19
Julie - 21
Gina - 23
Mario - 25 I X H C W P E B F Q L D
Youth navigating child welfare A Z R G

12. The New Model: Coordinated Response Process Map

13. What We’ve Learned…
Young people at the center to make decisions (download our paper:
Effective use of data
Think bigger than your own program
Find ways to align to policy solutions that sustain change
Challenge your funding community to work together
Develop the concept of co-investing
Philanthropies help scale public sector ideas
Dream BIG!