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From Jail to Yale

Explore the qualities needed to overcome challenges and succeed, the state of foster care, and ways to support at-risk children. Learn about fostering resilience and assisting vulnerable youth.

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From Jail to Yale

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  1. From Jail to Yale Dr. Robert McNamara Associate Professor of Sociology Director of the Center for Social Research Furman University

  2. Group Exercise #1 • What Kinds of Qualities Do Kids Who Beat The Odds Need to Possess?

  3. Depression/SuicideDefinition: Is frequently depressed and/or has attempted suicide. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  4. ViolenceDefinition: Has engaged in three or more acts of fighting, hitting, injuring a person, carrying a weapon, or threatening physical harm in the past 12 months. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  5. School ProblemsDefinition: Has skipped school two or more days in the last four weeks and/or has below a C average. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  6. Illicit Drug UseDefinition: Used illicit drugs (cocaine, LSD, PCP or angel dust, heroin, and amphetamines) three or more times in the past 12 months. Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  7. Delays GratificationDefinition: Saves money for something special rather than spending it all right away Percentage of Youth Number of Assets .

  8. Helps OthersDefinition: Helps friends or neighbors one or more hours per week Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  9. Resists DangerDefinition: Avoids doing things that are dangerous Percentage of Youth Number of Assets

  10. Succeeds in SchoolDefinition: Gets mostly A’s on report cards Percentage of Youth Number of Assets .

  11. Group Exercise #1: Assets • Asset #1 Family Support: 64% • Asset #9 Service to Others: 50% • Asset #10 Safety: 55% • Asset #15 Positive Peer Influence: 60% • Asset # 18 Youth Programs: 59% • Asset # 19 Religious Community: 64% • Asset # 20 Time at Home: 50%

  12. Group Exercise #1: Assets • Asset # 21 Achievement Motivation: 63% • Asset # 22 School Engagement: 64% • Asset # 24 Bonding to School: 51% • Asset # 28 Integrity: 50% • Asset # 29 Honesty: 63% • Asset # 30 Responsibility: 60% • Asset # 39 Sense of Purpose: 55%

  13. Group Exercise #1: Assets • Asset # 40 Positive View of Personal Future: 70% • The 4Hs HelpingHopingHeadingHealing

  14. Group Exercise # 2 • What Kinds of Qualities Do Case Managers Need to Possess to Help Kids Succeed?

  15. Foster Care: The Current State of Affairs • Congressional Mandate: Permanency Plan • How long do children remain in care? • How many placements? • Why has there been an increase? • Who are the children in care? • What are the implications after children leave care?

  16. The Current State of Foster Care • Revolving Door of Foster Care—continuous time in foster care. • Consequences of being in foster care:3-6 times more likely to have emotional, behavioral and developmental problems. • Like what? Attachment disorders, conduct disorders, depression, difficulties in school, impaired social relationships. • Some experts estimate that about 1/3 of children have severe emotional problems.

  17. The Current State of Foster Care • 586,000 children currently living in some form of out of home care • Fastest growing segment of children in foster care are infants and children under four years old, esp. with medical, physical, and mental challenges • 1/3 of all children in foster care are bw ages 13 and 18. This age group represents about 12% of the population.

  18. The Current State of Foster Care • Reasons: Increase in Child Abuse: over 3 million children reported abused or neglected. A 50% increase from 10yrs ago and 300% increase since 1976. • Half were neglected, ¼ physically abused and 10% from sexual abuse. • Remember, these are only reported cases.

  19. The Current State of Foster Care • Educational Needs are substantial • Cycling out of Foster Care: 25, 000 kids cut adrift each year…are they ready? • Does the problem go away? Recent study estimated in NYC that 60% of the homeless population are former foster children. • Need foster parents. 142,000 for 586,000 kids in foster care

  20. The Current State of Foster Care • 35% of foster families have no children placed with them and 40% leave fostering in the first year of being licensed. • What about social workers? High turnover rate…upwards of 70% • Costs of foster care, at least $7 billion, or about $13,000 per child per year. How much do we spend on prison inmates?

  21. The Current State of Foster Care • Privatization of foster caresmaller caseload, greater flexibility, greater care…but also corruption, abuse, exposure of children to risks, excessive corporal punishment, “creaming” • This is so sad, but what can I do? • Resilient childrenMichael Rutter’s research on at risk childrenEmmy Werner’s 38 yr. study of children in Kauai

  22. The Current State of Foster Care • Research on resiliency, or the ability to bounce back successfully, tells us what is needed. • Resilient child works well, plays well, loves well, and expects well. • Four attributes of resilient children:Social competence, problem-solving skills, autonomy, sense of purpose and future.

  23. Foster Care: The Current State of Affairs • What are the costs of foster care? Financial and Social • What about adoption as an option?How many foster children eligible for adoption? • Are people willing to adopt foster children? • Why are states dragging their feet on this issue?

  24. Understanding Issues in Foster Care • The 4Hs HelpingHopingHeadingHealing

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