Improving Education Outcomes for Children in Foster Care

1. Improving Education Outcomes for Children in Foster Care State Level Overview Juliette Knight, MSW Dr. Ken Emmil Children’s Administration Special Assistant Foster Care Department of Social and Health Services Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

2. Overview Of This Session • Your Presenters • A Quick History- (For Expressive Learners) • More In-Depth Review (For the more Analytical) • Concurrent Efforts • Current Status • Supporting Programs and Other Stakeholders (Teammates) • On the Horizon • Resource List • Questions and Conversation…

3. Some History • 20 or More Years Ago • It was recognized that the education outcomes of children in foster care were significantly lower than their peers. • It was the parent’s responsibility to fix… • 10 or So Years Ago • It was recognized that the education outcomes of children in foster care were significantly lower than their peers. • It was the parent’s fault and the responsibility of DSHS to fix… • 8-10 Years Ago • It was recognized that the education outcomes of children in foster care were significantly lower than their peers. • It was still the parent’s fault… And legislators began to write policy to hold DSHS accountable and study the problem.

4. ….More History • 5-10 Years Ago • It was recognized that the education outcomes of children in foster care were significantly lower than their peers. • Still Parent’s fault…DSHS still responsible… • Legislators look at policy to remove barriers to educational outcomes for children in care, build a relationship between DSHS and K-12 education, study/report the problem, and…. hold DSHS accountable. • The Last Few Years • It was recognized that the education outcomes of children in foster care were significantly lower than their peers. • More of the same

5. Why Worry? Data shows that for High School age foster care youth in Washington State: • 13 percent of foster youth are behind their expected grade level. • 50 percent of youth in care for 1-2 years graduate “on time.” • 65 percent of youth in care for 3-4 years graduate “on time.” Burley, M. (2013). Educational Outcomes of foster youth – updated benchmarks (Document number xx-xx-xxxx). Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

6. Foster Youth Compared to Youth in the General Population • 72% graduated from high school or obtained a GED compared to 75% of the general population* • 33% have no health insurance compared to 18% of the general population*** • 54% have mental health problems compared to 22% of the general population*** • 22% are homeless for at least one night after leaving care compared to 1% of the general population*** • 33% living below the poverty line which is 3 times the national poverty rate for the same age group***

7. Adult Outcomes Children's Administration Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

8. Concurrent Efforts • Hallmark legislation • Set policy direction • Funded programs - augmented services and provided structure and support • Comprehensive training • School staff & administrators • Child welfare staff • Caregivers • Data exchange & research • Strong education advocacy & post-secondary programs • Specifically focused on foster children

9. Graduation: Supportive State Legislation Child Welfare • 2003 – SHB 1058 – Improving Academic Achievement and School Stability. • Establishes an Education Oversight Committee, Education Advocacy Program, Interagency agreements between School Districts and CA, Education Leads in regions • RCW 28A.150.510 – Transmittal of education records to department of social and health services within two days of the request.

10. Supportive Post Secondary Legislation Washington Student Achievement Council: • HB 1079 – Places a priority to serve foster care youth in the State Need Grant and State Work Study Financial Aid Programs • Update on college bound • HB 1131 - Passport for Foster Youth Promise Scholarship Program

11. Current Status • What is the same? • Data…Scores…Fault…Responsibility? • What has changed? • Something Important…There is a New Player on the Team!

12. What is new? • PL 110-Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 https://www.childwelfare.gov/fosteringconnections/ • ESHB 2254 and Subsequent RCW’s (section handout) • Washington State Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx • Current Plan for cross agency cooperation: Centered around “Stability” and “Well Being” • Records Transfer and Transportation • Access to information: Geomap-https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/GIS/LATS/index.html (handout) • School Notification Form (handout) • Memo from OSPI (handout) • Work with the Administrator of Courts (AOC)- CASA/Becca/etc. http://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/aocwho/ • Data share

13. Data Sharing Agreements • K-12 - Agreement between CA and OSPI; CA and WSIPP • Cross match children between CA and OSPI • De-identified student number assigned • All information is in the aggregate • Higher Education – Agreement between CA and Washington Student Achievement Council • common application for youth to apply for ETV and Passport. (portal) • FAFSA • Signed Consent by individual to share information

14. Support Programs • Independent Living (ages 15-21) • Passion to Action (Statewide Youth Advisory Board) • Educational Advocacy Program • Make it Happen! College Prep Program • Supplemental Educational and Transition Planning (SETuP) • Extended Foster Care • Passport to College Foster Promise Scholarship • Governors’ Scholarship

15. Other Teammates and Stakeholders • Supreme Court: Commission on Children in Foster Care (CCFC) • Mockingbird Society • TreeHouse • Kinship Care • Casey Family • Missing From Care • Unifying For Youth • Foster Parents Association of Washington State (FPAWS)

16. On the HorizonLegislation • HB 1566 • Establishes an Educational Liaison for every child or youth in grades 6-12 who meet specific eligibility criteria. • Extends eligibility for the Passport to College Foster Promise Scholarship Program.

17. Some Resources • DSHS Children’s Administration www.dshs.wa.gov/ca • Casey Family Programs www.casey.org • College Success Foundationwww.collegesuccessfoundation.org • Court Appointed Special Advocates www.washingtonstatecasa.org • Treehouse www.treehouseforkids.org • Washington State Student Achievement Council www.wsac.wa.gov • National Resource Center for Youth Services www.nrcys.ou.edu • Foster Care Alumni of America www.fostercarealumni.org • Foster Club www.fosterclub.com • Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction-Foster Care http://www.k12.wa.us/FosterCare/default.aspx

18. What Stability Can Mean for a Student • Every time a child changes schools they lose 4 to 6 months of academic achievement • Over 60 percent of children placed in out of home care return to their parents and their communities within a year of placement

19. Recipe for the Educational Success of Children and Youth in Foster Care Washington State has had a sustainedcommitment with strong partnerships between the Governor, Legislature, education, child welfare, research and the private sector to work together to focus on the educational needs of children and youth in foster care regarding: • Continuity and Stability • Access to Quality Education • Cross-Agency Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration Key ingredient is you….

20. Question?Thoughts? There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots. The other is wings. - Hodding Carter, Jr.