Foster Youth Transition Centers

1. Foster Youth Transition Centers Madeline Reedy, Senior Director – TRAC Shannon Bowling, Lead Case Manager

2. Today We Will: • Review the vast needs of foster youth • Identify how Transition Centers can help youth • Provide insight into Region 3’s Foster Youth Transition Center • Locate the transition center in your region

3. The Hard Truth • Former Foster Youth are at high risk of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, unplanned pregnancy, under education, and financial instability

4. The Average Alumni • The majority of youth were removed from their families between the ages of 11 and 15. • Spent over 5 years in care • Had 8 or more placements • Had 5 CPS workers

5. So how can we break the cycle of poverty and help to connect these youth to community resources, support systems, and stability?

6. Transition Centers provide a central clearinghouse of one-stop services to serve the diverse needs of current and former foster youth, homeless youth, or other at-risk youth. Transition Centers

7. Texas Transition Centers are all individually operated and supported by various partners such as the: • Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services (DFPS); • Chafee (PAL) Providers; • Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and Local Workforce Boards; and • Local colleges and universities

8. Why Transition Centers? • One-Stop Centers are designed to provide a full range of assistance under one roof. • Services may include employment assistance, training, educational support, access and referrals to community partners and resources and various transitional living services such as PAL classes, job search and job readiness classes, food and housing assistance, and substance abuse / mental health counseling.

9. TRAC’s Mission Connect young people, age 16-24, who are transitioning from substitute care toward self-sufficiency, with individualized support, planning and access to community services.

10. Annually serve about 800 youth in various programs across a 19 county area in North Texas

11. TRAC Services include: • Training • Case Management • Housing • Education/Workforce Services • Crisis Intervention • Transition Center

12. Life Skills Training: • Preparation for Adult Living Life Skills Training • Ages 16-18 • Via referral from the CPS PAL Unit

13. Case Management: • Aftercare Case Management • Transition Planning • Coaching Model • Ages 17 ½ - 21 • Via referral from the CPS PAL Unit

14. Housing: • Street Outreach • Emergency Assistance • Transitional Housing • Permanent Supportive Housing • Rapid Rehousing • Ages 18-24 • Screened for eligibility

15. Workforce Services: • Employment Assessments • Job Search • Job Retention • Education Assistance • Ages 16 - 25

16. Education: • Education Assistance • Retention • Recovery • Higher Education • Ages 16-24 • Partnership with Dallas ISD • Throughout Dallas County

17. Crisis Intervention: • Crisis Coordinator • Partnerships w/ other entities • Referrals • Assessment

18. Transition Center: • Food Pantry • Clothing Closet • Resource Wall • Computer Lab • Training Room • Basic Needs Pantry

19. Statewide Transition Centers:

20. Statewide Transition Centers: https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Transitional_Living/transition_centers.asp

21. Questions?

22. 3108 Live Oak St. Dallas, TX 75204 4532 Altamesa Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76133 214-370-9300www.citysquare.org/TRAC