post care support, information and referral a safety net for young people post care presenters:...
TRANSCRIPT
Post Care Support, Information and Referral
A safety net for young people post care
Presenters: Pauline Dear & Rebecca Prowse
Presentation Outline
• Case Study• History of the Program• Challenges of Post Care• Recommendations for the future
Ava’s Story
Ava’s Story- In Out of Home Care
• First removed from her family at age 3• Placed in out of home care after several
failed family reunification attempts• Placed on a Custody to the Secretary
Order
Ava’s Story- In Out of Home Care
• Abandoned by mother• Best friend died• Numerous adult workers• Minimal connection to community and
family• Lived in 5 residential units in two years
Ava’s Story- In Out of Home Care
• Engaged in prostitution and substance abuse
• Attended 7 different schools, low literacy comprehension
• Placed in Adolescent High Support Placement Program (High Risk Schedule/Register)
Ava’s Story- Transiting out of Care
• At 17 living in a residential unit, discovered she was pregnant
• ceased substance abuse, prostitution and developed fierce protection mechanisms for her unborn child
• Felt unsafe in the residential unit, care team concur
• No alternative option so moves in with a friend’s extended family on temporary basis
Ava’s Story- Transiting out of Care
• Days before leaving care, gives birth• Accommodation breaks down• Leaving care plan not enacted• Notification made with concerns for Mason• No longer eligible for support through
Child Protection
Who supports young people Post Care?
Historically:• Provided with an ad-hoc response at the good
will of out of home care providers OR• There has been no service OR• Received support through homeless services
or Juvenile Justice system
What is the State’s responsibility?
• Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 allows for the provision of a suite of support until 21.
The Response
Leaving Care Suite of Services:• A specific response for young people post
care;• Leaving Care Brokerage• Mentoring• Post Care Support, Information and
Referral• Post Care Brokerage• Free call number
How does a young person know who to contact after leaving care?
1300 Leaving Care• Free call number • 1300 Leaving Care• Connection to Melbourne Youth Support
Service (MYSS)• MYSS can provide an immediate crisis
response before redirecting to the nearest Post Care provider
Berry Street’s Post Care Support Information and Referral program
• A specific response to young people post care in the North West Metro region
• For those 16- 21 years who were on either a Custody to the Secretary or Guardianship Order on or after their 16th birthday
• Outreach model• Long term support (12mnths)• Medium term support (4mnths)• Brokerage• Information and referral• 2.5 staff EFT
Brokerage
• Material aid• Household set up and removal costs• Baby needs• Costs of driving lessons/ licence/ car• Education and employment needs (laptops,
internet costs, courses, supplies, uniforms)• Health and wellbeing(sporting
memberships, optical needs, dental needs, chiro and physio needs)
• Travel tickets/ Identifications• Clothing
Ava’s Story- Post Care
• Ava contacted MYSS• Ava was provided with an immediate
housing crisis response• Ava was referred to Berry Street’s Post
Care Support Information and Referral program
Ava’s Story- Post Care
Provided with housing support to;• Access and maintain crisis accommodation
until could secure medium term accommodation
• Navigate the homeless services system and 4 of the Opening Doors services
• Acquire transitional accommodation• Provided with tenancy support• Long term housing plan in place, Office of
Housing Segment 1 and 3 completed
Ava’s Story- Post Care
• Provided with material aid• Transported to attend appointments and
complete shopping• Accessed brokerage for essential baby
items
Ava’s Story- Post Care
• Linked to a young mums, child care• Accessed emergency respite• Referred to a responsive child and health
family GP and then referred onto specialist health serviced
• Referred to the a outreach health nurse• Referred to a financial counsellor• Child Protection withdrew and made a
referral for parenting support through a family service
Ava’s Story- Post Care
• Ava has accessed over $5500.00 in brokerage funding for;
• Crisis accommodation• Material aid• Clothing for Client and child• Furniture • Linen• Household items• Baby furniture, equipment and linen• Mobile phone• Removalist• Taxi voucher• Learners book
Ava’s Story- Post Care
• Long term case plan-Beginning to explore the process of
exploring returning to education-Promotion of healthy eating, lifestyle and
wellbeing-Exploration of connection to a mentor and
counsellor
Review of Ava’s Story
Post Care intensive case support reduced;- Experience of homelessness- Involvement of Child Protection
Strengthened her connection to community and supports
Provided a holistic ‘safety net’ similar to the one a family usually provides
The Challenges for Post Care
• Program model has been responsive but is not reflective of the funding specifications
• Small Staff capacity- 2.5 EFT• Brokerage is support intensive due to the
limited living skills of young people leaving care
The Challenges for Post Care
Lack of affordable, safe and secure housing
Recommendations and Conclusion
• Increase staffing levels to post care• Increase support and brokerage age to 25
years• Promote independence by developing
living skills before leaving care• Obtain sustainable housing before leaving
care• Increased community connections before
leaving care
Question Time
Thank You
Contact Details:
Post Care Support Information and ReferralBerry Street 677 The Boulevard,Eaglemont 3084(03) 9450 4700