Mentoring Youth in Foster Care

1. Mentoring Youth in Foster Care Rachel Kohl, BEST Kids Amber Troupe, Mentor Michigan Heather Taussig, Fostering Healthy Futures

2. Statistics on Foster Care • Higher school dropout rate • Higher teen pregnancy rate • Higher crime rates • Milieu of developmental, emotional, and behavioral problems • 424,000 youth in foster care at the end of 2009

3. BEST Kids Mentoring Program Shape a future, mentor a child.

4. District of Columbia • Approximately 5,000 children involved in the child welfare system • 2,004 new substantiated cases of abuse or neglect in 2009 • Fifth highest entry rate into care in the U.S. • Volunteer Mentoring Partnership Data from DC Action for Children

5. BEST Kids Mission BEST Kids works to promotebetter futures for youth in DC’s child welfare system by developing and supporting mentoring relationshipswith caring, consistent adults. Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

6. BEST Kids Program Design • Initiated Volunteer Mentoring Partnership with District government • One-to-one volunteer mentoring • Experiential Learning Peer Groups • Initial and Ongoing Mentor Trainings • Intensive Staff Support • Early and ongoing long-term intervention Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

7. One-to-One Mentoring • At least 10 hours per month • Weekly contact • Intentional Mentoring • Extensive Training • Mentor reporting Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

8. Peer Group http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF1VGUUlYc4 Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

9. Peer Group • Second Saturday of the month • Required for Mentors and Mentees • Led by Peer Group Leaders, backgrounds in education • Community-based experiential learning activities • Provides additional mentoring opportunities for matches • Fully funded by BEST Kids – no cost to mentors Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

10. Staff Support • 1:20 Staff-to-Match ratio • Bi-weekly contact with mentors • Monthly in-person meetings with youth • Advisory Board support when necessary Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

11. VMP Grant • Initiated partnership in the midst of paid-mentoring-friendly environment • One year grant with renewal eligibility for four years, started FY2010 • Three grantees currently • Decreasing funds from District government Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

12. Foster Care Mentoring Act • “To support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care.” • Sen. Mary Landrieu (LA), Rep. Karen Bass (CA) • 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 … ? • Establishment of a National Hotline Service • Federal student loan forgiveness for mentors Building Experiences, Skills, and Teamwork: Mentoring America’s Foster Care Youth

13. Contact Rachel Kohl rachel.kohl@bc.edu BEST Kids Jacklyn O’Hara jackie@bestkids.org (202) 397-3272

14. Mentoring Youth in Foster Care National Mentoring Summit January 2013

15. Mentor Michigan • Statewide Mentoring Partnership • Increasing the Quality and Quantity of Mentoring Relationships • Partnered with the Michigan Department of Human Services

16. Foster Care Initiative • Identified Michigan programs serving youth in foster care • Identified the capacity of these programs • Identified barriers to serve more youth

17. Foster Care Initiative • Developing relationships between mentoring programs and local DHS offices • Policy change within DHS to increase referrals • Increased communication

18. Foster Care Initiative • Training • Mentoring programs on DHS practices and policies • DHS on mentoring programs practices • Foster care specific training to mentoring programs

19. Foster Care Initiative • Statewide mentor recruitment • Utilized faith based partnerships

20. Foster Care Initiative • Tools for Mentoring Programs • Tools for Mentors • May is Foster Care Month www.mentormichigan.org

21. Contact Amber TroupeMentor Michigan Directortroupea@michigan.govwww.mentormichigan.org

22. Mentoring Youth In Foster Care:The Fostering Healthy Futures Program Heather Taussig, Ph.D. Kempe Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine 2013 National Mentoring Summit

23. “Our children’s future and the world’s future are one.” ~ Dr. C. Henry Kempe

26. Development of theFostering Healthy Futures Program • My early experiences • Experiences as a therapist • Dissertation; rationale for age selection • Focus groups • Meeting with community leaders

27. Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) Program Design 1) Evaluations of Children’s Functioning 2) Therapeutic Skills Groups 3) Mentoring

28. Prior staff Volunteers David Olds Ann Petrila Daniel Hettleman Kempe Center Kempe Foundation Department of Pediatrics Youth Mentoring Collaborative Developmental Psychobiology Research Group Denver Department of Human Services Adams County Social Services Department Jefferson County Human Services Arapahoe County Department of Human Services Broomfield County Health and Human Services Colorado Department of Human Services Graduate schools -DU, Newman, CSU, UCD, Metro School districts and schools Mental health centers and therapists Children and families It Takes a Village

29. Fostering Healthy Futures Team • Sara Culhane, Ph.D., JD • Melody Combs, Ph.D. • Orah Fireman, LCSW • Edward Garrido, Ph.D. • Wendy Gehring, B.A. • Rebecca Gennerman-Schroeder, MA, LPC • John Holmberg, Psy.D. • Jenny Koch, MSW • Mike Knudtson, MA • Christie Petrenko, Ph.D. • Heather Taussig, Ph.D. • Robyn Wertheimer, LCSW

30. FHF Graduate Student Research Assistants and Group Leaders • Brendan Close • Erika Joye • Nicole Lariviere • Amy Franke • Mia Kim • Jessi Wheatley • Melani Dawson-Lear • Melanie Rodriguez • Riley Spuhler • Walter Heidenreich • David Roberts • Alexis Karris • Marisa Duran • Patrick Nickoletti • Shawna Henry-Lange • Dena Miller • Thea Wessel • Jennifer Sackett • Amy Percosky • Tisha Bean • Emily Macdonald • Jill Gjerde • Rachel Lund • Ann Chu • Yael Chatav • Tiffany Conway • Tracy Rudhe • Brian Wolff • Jenn Winkelmann • Pam Freeman • Danielle Smith • Amanda Brown • Heather Frey • Vyga Kaufmann • Neta Bargai • Julie Bemski • Jenell Ribble • Martine Lopez • Alana Henken • Kathryn Jargo • Liz Hooks • Tara Buckley • Jordan Pock • Andrea Reece • Sara Rosenau • Natalie Tolejko • Kristen Simpson • Shari Watters • Kristen Mackiewicz • Michelle Brunner • Lindsay Heath • Kristin Nelson • Kate Slivka • Lindsay Smart • Susan Whittle • Elizabeth Goetter • Julie Lyons • Courtney Fiedler • Edyta Biegunajtys • Claire Heppner • Clara Paynter • Kelsey McNeill • Shawna Henry-Lange • Jenell Ribble • Dena Miller • Martine Lopez • Thea Wessel • Alana Henken • Julie Bemski • Claire Heppner • Amy Percosky • Andrea Temple • Allison Glover • Sarah Morehouse • Jennifer DeVault • Debra Boeldt • Christine Kelley • Denise Onofrey • Jennell Ribble • Alanna Gangemi • Jenny Doft • Jenea Jones • Kristin Allen • Maddie Philley • Rachel Shulman • Leigh Clasby • Sarah Perzow • Caroline Oppenheimer • Emily Rotbart • Laurel Story • Mayla Yang • Tish Wer • Melena Postolowski • Claire Stephenson • Allison Glover • Melissa Toppel • Jasmine Crane • Christina Hack • Olga Leonova • Leah Chelist • Katie Lange • Allison Bratsch • Kristen Vescera • Leah Scandurra • Emily Laux • Tara Rhodes • Leah Horrigan • Cory Reid-Vanas • Erica Ragan

31. FHF Graduate Student Interns 2005-2006 • Michelle Brunner • Jocelyn Gray • Jon Phillips • Jennifer Stucka • Christina Haskins • Tina Francis • Sarah Kane • Mark Spehn • Jennifer Nelsen • 2006-2007 • Lorendia Schmidt • PhoungPhan • Beth Lipschutz • Jacquelyn Eisenberg • Angela Bierle • Lisa Harrison • Nicole Henkins • Erin Hoglund • 2007-2008 • Kerrie Earley • Ashley Moore • Justine Stewart • Lauren Goldberg • Marissa Nasca • Amber Wolfe • Jennifer Reynolds • Krystal Caduff • 2007-2008 (cont.) • Miranda Learmonth • Molly Jenkins • RebekahKoenigbauer • Sarah Oakley • Lauren Timkovich • Sam Murillo • Elizabeth Berling • Kristin Krietemeyer • 2008-2009 • Rachel Alpert • Katherine Belcher • Taylor Collins • RenataHeberton • AlyseKeilson • Blake Konner • Emily Lyons • Melissa Maurer • Regan Linton • Nina Modern • Jennifer Pitcavage • Meredith Schaffer • Holly Selepouchin • Heidi VanEpps • Katherine Ware • 2009-2010 (cont.) • Shane Spears • Jolie Rinebarger • Diane Bouhall • Kelly Fries • Erica Brown • Shavon Perkins • Jess Valsechi • Katie Kaser • Britta Johnson • Renea Nilsson • Laura Merten • Kyle Steinke • 2002-2003 • Melani Dawson-Lear • Kristine Wilson • Brenna Ellington • Lanette Ambers • Carrie Oliver • 2003-2004 • Amy Bruner • Liz Dinsdale • Vashawn Banks • Josh Goldman • Marisa Duran • Amber Cross Thomas • Melanie Rodriguez • Clover Bone • 2004-2005 • Tiffany Conway • Katie Ferguson • Katie Melstrom • Lisa Meyers • Kendra Sasa • Carla Scarpone • Lewis Smirl • Kelsey Wennesland • Regina Richards • 2010-2011 • Mele Cabral • Jon Florida • Sibyl Graham • Beth Hilligoss • TigheKaysar • Alexandria Lewis • Sarah Romero • Stacy Walsh • Jessica Devore • Jacquelyn Gabel • Jeffrey Hatcher • Ryan Holmes • Emily Laux • Megan Lovingier • Sapphire Rosier • CamiWangaard • 2009-2010 • Lissa Miller • Jenna Brown • Jane Simon • Allison Harris *Over 80,000 hours of training provided to 116 interns

32. NIH Funded Research Risk Behaviors in Maltreated Adolescents National Institute of Mental Health Dissertation Award, 1 R03 MH56781-01, $25,000. Preventive Interventions for Foster Care Youth National Institute of Mental Health, 1 K01 MH01972, $590,166. Intervention Development and Pilot for Foster Care Youth National Institute of Mental Health, 1 R21 MH067618, $472,500. Fostering Healthy Futures Efficacy Trial for Preadolescent Youth in Foster Care National Institute of Mental Health, 1 R01 MH076919, $2,655,734. Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health Related Research National Institute of Mental Health, 3 R01 MH0876919-02S1, $283,706. Recovery Act Administrative Supplement Providing Summer Research Experience for Student and Science Educators National Institute of Mental Health, 3 R01 MH0876919-03S1, $18,670.

33. State, University, and Hospital Funding • The Children’s Hospital Research Institute Bridge Funding • Tony Grampsas Youth Services, State of Colorado Program Support for Fostering Healthy Futures • Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Academic Partnership for a collaboration between the University of Colorado Denver and the Denver Department of Human Services ` • Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Novel Methods Development Grant to assess stress reactivity • Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice Clinical Support for Fostering Healthy Futures

34. Funding Through Kempe Foundation • 2002 Daniels Fund ($20,000) • 2003 The Janus Foundation ($5,000) • 2003 Bonfils Stanton Foundation ($10,000) • 2003 PacifiCare ($10,000) • 2003 U.S. Bank ($5,000) • 2004 Daniels Fund ($50,000) • 2004-present Pioneer Fund ($1,500,000 endowment for Fostering Healthy Futures) • 2005 Bonfils Stanton Foundation ($20,000) • 2005 Daniels Fund ($50,000) • 2006 Gannett Foundation ($3,000) • 2006 First Data/Western Union ($5,000) • 2006 Donor Advised Fund, Denver Foundation ($30,000) • 2006 Anschutz Family Foundation ($3,333) • 2006 Colorado Rockies Charity Fund ($10,000) • 2006 Denver Foundation ($15,000) • 2006 Daniels Fund ($60,000) • 2007 Anschutz Family Foundation ($4,167) • 2008 TJX Foundation ($3,000) • 2008 Rockies/McCormick Foundation ($20,000) • 2008 El Pomar Youth in Community Service - Arvada West High School ($500) • 2008 El Pomar Youth in Community Service - Northglenn High School ($1,500) • 2008 McGowan Foundation ($15,000) • 2008 Daniels Fund ($60,000) • 2008MaggieGeorge Foundation ($16,000) • 2008 Xcel Energy Foundation ($5,000) • 2009 CO Rockies/McCormick Foundation ($20,000) • 2009 Larrk Foundation ($30,000) • 2009 Verdoorn Foundation ($15,000) • 2009 Anonymous ($5,000) • 2009 Daniels Fund ($60,000) • 2010 C0 Rockies/McCormick Foundation ($10,000) • 2010 Verdoorn Foundation ($11,000) • 2010 El Pomar Award of Excellence Finalist

35. Key Features of FHF • Randomized controlled trial for 10 years • Enrolled in yearly cohorts • Graduate students serve as mentors • Time-limited mentoring • Few exclusion criteria • Children continue to participate if they change placements or reunify

36. FOSTERING HEALTHY FUTURES PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION MODERATING FACTORS • Demographic & Family Factors • Type of Maltreatment • Baseline Cognitive Functioning • Baseline Behavioral Functioning • Service Utilization MEDIATING FACTORS • Cognitions • Self-Esteem and Efficacy • Attitudes and Appraisals • Future Orientation • Social Functioning • Social Support • Competence & Acceptance • Peer Associations • Behavioral Functioning • Behavioral Regulation • Coping Strategies • Extracurricular Activities DISTAL AND LIFE-COURSE OUTCOMES • Fewer Adverse Life-Course Outcomes • Arrests and Incarceration • Pregnancy and STDs • School Failure and Dropout • Emergency Mental Health Treatment • Multiple and Restrictive Placements • Associated Costs • Better Distal Outcomes • Mental Health • Problem Behaviors • Competencies • Quality of Life

37. Screening Evaluations We assessed functioning in the following domains: • Cognitive • Academic achievement • Mental health • Social • Behavioral

38. Therapeutic Skills Groups • 30 weeks; manualized program • 8 children per group, equal females and males • Mental health clinicians and graduate trainees facilitate • 1 hour group and then dinner with mentors • Improve skills, process feelings related to the foster care experience, and reduce stigma

39. Session Content • First Quarter: Feelings, perspective taking, problem solving, communication • Second Quarter: Self-talk, anger, worry, healthy coping, change and loss, Panel Night, healthy relationships, peer pressure • Third Quarter: Drugs/alcohol, anatomy and puberty, dating pressures, abuse prevention, healthy relationships, future orientation • Graduation

40. Mentoring • Graduate students spend 3-4 hours per week of individual time with each child they mentor • They work on child’s lifebook, engage in extracurricular activities, help find other adult role models, shadow adults in professions of interest, work on homework, take them to libraries, recreational activities, etc. • Focus on engaging them in their communities and teaching them advocacy skills • Mentors interface with other adults in child’s life • Role of mentor - create a web of support for children, improve social skills, and provide staunch advocacy

41. Mentor Supervision • Intensive orientation • 1 hour of individual supervision weekly • 1.5 hours of group supervision weekly • 1 hour seminar on relevant topics weekly • Supervisor available by cell phone after hours • Multiple training opportunities within and outside Kempe

43. SpecialProgram Activities

45. Panel Night