bridges - ohio casa · know that financial help and case management services through pcsas may be...
TRANSCRIPT
Bridges: Supporting Ohio’s Young Adults Emancipating
from Foster Care
Colleen Tucker and Sarah LevelsOhio Department of Job and Family Services
Office of Families and Children
Trivia Time
Governor Kasich and Foster Care Alumni on Extended Care
o Substitute House Bill 50 – How did we get here? What is included in the legislation and implementation timeline?
o Bridges – Who is eligible? How do emancipated young adults receive housing and case management supports?
o Bridges Grantees – Who are the agencies selected by ODJFS to ensure participants’ housing and case management needs are met
o Judicial Workgroup – What is the Juvenile Court’s roleo Funding – How is Bridges funded?o Wrap Up
Overview
o Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
o Title IV-E reimbursable foster care, adoption or guardianship assistance up to 19, 20 or 21
Bridges: How did we get here?
Outcomes
States with Fostering Connections ProgramsOutcome Ohio States with Extended
Foster careDifference
Enrolled in school 47% 70% +23%
Earned diploma/GED 53% 60% +7%
Adult Connections 85% 92% +7%
Homelessness 27% 13% -14%
Incarcerated 31% 13% -18%
Had a Child 11% 9% -2%
oAuthorizes “care and placement” for foster youth who left the custody of an Ohio PCSA at 18 years old until age 21
o Implementation – December 13, 2017• Appropriation of adequate funds by general assembly• Approval of an amended Title IV-E Plan by HHS
Substitute House Bill 50
oNot an extension of foster careo Extension of Title IV-E Benefitso State AdministeredoHousing and Case Management ServicesoVoluntaryoRegional Granteeso Separate from Current Post-emancipation Supports
Bridges
o Left the custody of an Ohio PCSA at the age of 18, 19, or 20 years old.
o Must meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria
Bridges: Who’s eligible?
o Youth aging out of care• 6 months prior – PCSA introduces Bridges• 3 months prior – Connect interested and potentially eligible young adults to Bridges
through a “Warm Hand-off”• Once PCSA custody terminates, the application, signed Voluntary Participation
Agreement and supporting documentation is sent to ODJFS for approval
o Young Adult who has already aged out• Young Adult can be referred to the Regional Grantee by a PCSA or community provider• Young Adult can also reach out directly to the Regional Grantee • Young Adult will work with Bridges Grantee to complete the application and obtain
required paperwork. • The application, signed Voluntary Participation Agreement and supporting
documentation is sent to ODJFS for approval
Pathways to Bridges
o Is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; • Enrollment in school to receive high school Diploma• Enrollment in GED program
o Is enrolled in an institution that provides post- secondary or vocational education; • Public or Private 4 year college or University• Community College• Vocational Programs• Technical schools
Bridges: Eligibility Criteria and Activities
o Is participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;• CCMEP• Job Corps• Job skills training
o Is employed for at least eighty hours per month;• Regular Employment• AmeriCorps• Internship/Externship
o Is incapable of doing any of the above activities due to a medical condition, which incapacity is supported by regularly updated information from a qualified practitioner.
Bridges: Eligibility Criteria and Activities
o Care and placement to ODJFS
o A contract between the Young Adult and ODJFS
o Includes each parties’ responsibilities, but does not include specifics regarding the young adult’s plan
o A new VPA must be signed if the young adult leaves or is terminated from the program and then reapplies
Bridges: Voluntary Participation Agreement (VPA)
o Jurisdictiono Two Separate Court Hearings
• Best Interest (within 180 days)• Reasonable Efforts (repeat annually)
o Young Adult versus Childo Transfer of Venueo Right to counsel (appointed upon request)o In-person hearingso Grantee Representationo Process for notifying the court that a hearing is needed
Bridges: Court Involvement
CASA/GAL Roleo Preparing the Youth for Aging Out of Foster Care
o Seek additional training on transitional-age and emancipated foster youth
o Attend SARs and other reviews
o Stay in contact with the youth’s independent living worker and other service team members
o Provide your business cards and contact information to youth multiple times prior to a youth’s emancipation.
o Remember they are learning Independent Living (IL) Skills and many times starting with a blank slate.
o Be a teacher and a mentor. Lead by example. Have good boundaries for your protection and theirs.
o Know what your CASA Office will allow you to do (take youth to lunch, transport, etc.)
o Help them with IL activities (studying, collecting recipes, looking into car insurance, purchasing a car/comparing prices, searching for colleges, providing positive feedback, applying for jobs, job references, etc.).
o Communicate with the youth about their transition plan. The transition plan is YOUTH DRIVEN. Youth should not be forced into a plan even when their support system feels they know what is best for the young person.
CASA/GAL Roleo Once a young adult has aged out:
o Refer the young adult to their local PCSA or Bridges if they contact you for support. It is up to the young person to follow through and request services.
o Continue to be a mentor/support to youth who you have built a relationship.
o Stay knowledgeable and aware of resources in your local community.
o Prepare the young adult for success by assisting the young person to create transition plans with realistic goals.
o Know that financial help and case management services through PCSAs may be limited. Not all counties have an IL/EY unit. Itis more beneficial financially and emotionally for a young adult to participate in Bridges, if eligible for the program, becauseservices can be provided for the duration of the young adult’s participation in Bridges.
o Remember, post emancipation services through PCSAs and Bridges are no longer available once the young person reaches the age of 21.
Foster Care Maintenance (FCM) payments which shall cover the cost of providing all of the following:
o Food;o Clothing;o Shelter;o Daily Supervision;o School Supplies;o Personal incidentals;o Liability insurance with respect to the participants; ando Reasonable cost for transportation.
Administration costs, which shall cover the following:o Overhead costs associated with administering the Bridges program;o Costs of providing case management; ando Costs of travel for the participants’ judicial or case review.
Bridges IV-E Funding
o Kinship/Relativeo Host Homeo College Room and Boardo Supervised Independent Livingo Apartmento Group Home/Community Housingo Emergency Housing
Bridges: Housing Types
o Monthly Visitso Positive Young Adult
Developmento Young Adult Driven Plano Critical Thinkingo Home Management and Life
Skillso Education
o Employment & Career Preparation
o Financial Managemento Self-Advocacyo Health and Self-Careo Permanent Connectionso Community Resources
Bridges: Support Services
Bridges: 5 Regions & Grantees
Bridges vs. PCSA IL/Post-Emancipation ServicesBRIDGES PCSA POST EMANCIPATION SERVICES
Eligibility Criteria- In school, working, program to remove barriers, incapable- Left custody of a Ohio PCSA at 18, 19, 20 years old- Has not attained the age of 21
- Left custody of a Ohio PCSA at 18, 19, 20 years old- Has not attained the age of 21- Out of state emancipated young adults
VPA- Young Adults must sign a Voluntary Participation Agreement
indicating their willingness to participate and adhere to certain responsibilities
N/A – does not have to sign any document to receive services
Court Involvement- Court determines that the young adult’s participation in Bridges is in
his/her best interest as well as overseeing that reasonable efforts are made by Bridges to provide care and services
N/A – no court involvement
Funding
- Title IV-E federal funding- State dollars- Cover “Foster Care Maintenance” or “FCM” and administration
costs (see Bridges IV-E slide)
- Chafee/TANF IL – specific amount allocated to each county annually
- Once Chaffee/TANF IL funds are used, counties either use levy funds or can no longer provide services
- Services often limited to preserve funding
Housing
- Variety of housing options, including paying for College Room and Board
- IV-E funding can be used to pay for housing costs for the duration that the young adult remains in the program until 21 years old
- Chafee 30% for room and board; TANF IL limited to 4 months intervals
- Housing assistance can be restricted due to limited funding- College Room and Board NOT covered because of limited funding
Case Management - State Administered - County Administered
Services
- Young Adult Driven- Prepare young adults for their transition to self-sufficiency; assist young adults in receiving education, training and services necessary to
obtain employment; help young adults to obtain post-secondary education and training; provide supports and services in areas of financial management, housing, counseling, employment, education to aid in their transition to adulthood; engage the young adult in activities to maintain permanent supportive connections; provide personal, emotional, and consistent support and encouragement
OFC Webpage
http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocf/index.stm
Colleen [email protected]
(614)752-0617 (Office)
Sarah [email protected]
(614)752-1070 (Office)
Thank You!