Youth Surveys 2011

Youth Surveys2011 National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) My Services Review Pathways to Independence September 9, 2011 Orlando, Florida

A Voice for Youth: Surveys National Studies completed in the late 1990’s indicated that youth “aging out” of foster care without supports • Are frequently homeless • Have a higher risk of being a teen parent • Have lower high school graduation rates • Have a higher rate of being involved in crime • Rely on public assistance (underemployed or not employed)

A Voice for Youth: Surveys These studies were the catalyst for federal legislation, Chafee Foster Care Independence Act (1999), which gave states permanent funding to support children “aging out” of foster care who had not been adopted, reunified, or had legal guardians. Florida passed its own legislation, the Road to Independence Act (2002), to design services for older children in foster care and for those who “aged out” of foster care.

A Voice for Youth: Surveys In 2007, Florida embarked on efforts to capture the status of all youth “aging out” of foster care, and to learn how 13-17 year-olds still in care were being prepared for independence. Florida leaders created the Independent Living and Transition Critical Services Checklist that served as a prototype for national efforts

A Voice for Youth: Surveys The surveys did not necessarily track the same children/young adults from year-to-year. Youth surveys were a “point-in-time” snapshot designed to gather information on each age group each year. Florida now uses two survey instruments—the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) for young adults ages 17 through 22 years of age and My Services Review used for children ages 13 through 17 years.

A Voice for Youth: Surveys In April 2008 the federal government announced the requirement for states to capture very similar information through a youth survey, but with some differences. • Rather than a “point-in-time” survey, the goal was to follow a specific group of young people over time, at ages 17, 19 and then 21. • Setting a baseline while children are still in care (age 17) and then looking at them after they have left care (ages 19 & 21). • This survey is the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD). • The questions contained in the survey cannot be changed and are the same for all states

A Voice for Youth: Surveys To establish a consistent group of young adults over time, beginning on October 1, 2010, children who were or turned 17 years of age during the Federal Fiscal Year were to be surveyed with NYTD. Florida’s Independent Living Services Advisory Council recommended that annual surveys, using NYTD, be given to youth ages 18-22 years.

Independent Living Services Road to Independence (RTI) 78.6% of those aging out of foster care will initially receive RTI funds . Attrition rate for that same population is as follows: • At age 19, only 51.2% of those who aged out of care are still receiving benefits, • At age 20, only 38.1%, • At age 21, only 37.2%, and • At age 22, 26.2%. This attrition rate will likely result in fewer surveys completed as the young adults grow older.

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year For children ages 13-17 • The first 4 years presented are results from Florida’s critical services checklist survey tool. • For 2011, My Services Review was the survey tool and is designed to focus on the experience of children in foster care.

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year Children who had their 17th birthday during October 1 through March 31st were surveyed with Federal NYTD and My Services Review in the Spring of 2011. The first round of My Services Review was conducted in March through May 2011 for 14-17 year-olds. The second round of My Services is now under war and will occur in September and October of 2011; data for the second survey period will be available by CBC and Circuit and 13-year-olds will be included.

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year • Life Domains Included: • Housing • Education • Employment • Health • Corrections/Juvenile Justice/ • Risky Behaviors • Life Skills • Case Plan, Aftercare and Transitional Services Independent Living TransitionalServices Critical Checklist NYTD: Federal Baseline and 18-22 year-olds (Florida NYTD) My Services Review NOTE: There are no survey data available for Florida’s Road to Independence Act (2002) until 2007. Therefore, the 2007 survey information is not a true baseline, in that the program had operated for a number of years.

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year The subsequent slides contain: • Selected questions that have been asked consistently over the past 5 years, regardless of the survey tool; • For the first 4 years, Florida’s IL Critical Services Checklist was the survey tool and surveyed young people ages 13 through 22 years. • For the most recent year (2011) data was gathered from • Federal and Florida NYTD • My Services Review

Federal NYTD Baseline: Florida YouthOctober 1, 2010 thru March 31, 2011

NYTD Educational Information(17-year-olds N=228)

NYTD Health Care Information(17-year-olds N=228)

Survey Results by Calendar Year17-year-olds

Young Adults Who Have Left Care National Youth in Transition Database Spring 2011 Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year

Florida NYTD 2011 18-22 Year-Old Respondents

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year

HOUSING NYTD questions- ages 18 and older

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year Completed Grade 12 or GED 2011: For all ages 18 through age 22 years: 54% have a GED or HS Diploma; 6% have a vocational certificate or license; 3% have an Associate’s Degree

Independent Living ServicesSurvey Results by Calendar Year Post-Secondary Education: Highest educational degree or certificate you have received: Vocational certificate or license; Associate’s, Bachelor’s or higher College Degree

Youth Surveys 2011