Knowing Who I Am and Where I Am Going

1. Knowing Who I Am and Where I Am Going Exploring and understanding the perspectives from system-involved youth and to link pathways to establishing successful, self-sufficient adults. Independent Living Program September 20th and 21st, 2017

2. Video

3. History of the Independent Living Program: 1980’s: Foster youth had no social supports, plans after emancipation, or assistance when turning 18. Policy reform in 1980’s: Providers and researchers realized early on poor outcomes associated with foster youth Federal Independent Living Initiative of 1986: The government began to initiate policies to provide addition support to foster youth. Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) (1997) : Reduced the time children remained in foster care before being available for adoption.

4. What is ILP? • The United States government authorized the Independent Living Program in 1999 by the Foster Care Independence Act. • Child welfare agencies in each state are mandated to provide independent living skills services to foster youth. • Independent Living Skills Program was established to assist youth with supportive services to develop the skills necessary to successfully transition from being dependents of the foster care system into self-sufficient adults. • Although the programs are mandated for child welfare agencies, participation in the programs is voluntary for youth.

5. The BIG Picture! • The San Bernardino Independent Living Program is committed to providing services to current and former foster youth and empowering them through training, mentoring, events and workshops by collaborating with community partners, Social Workers, Probation, Educational Liaisons and Resource Families to promote self sufficiency and successful young adults.

6. ILP Eligibility Youth who are eligible for ILP Services: • Youth who is or was a court dependent AND… • … is or was in foster care at any time between the ages of 16-18 • … is a former dependent who entered into a kinship guardianship at any age and is or has received Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments (Kin-GAP) between the ages of 16 and 18 • Youth in Non-Related Legal Guardianship through Dependency Court as long as the guardianship was established after the youth’s 8th birthday. • Adopted youth whose case closed on or after their 16th birthday. Youth who are not eligible for ILP Services: • Youth placed in voluntary placements • Youth in Guardianship through Probate Court Youth who are an exception: • Youth who are physically or mentally unable to benefit from ILP as determined by the youth’s primary care physician or mental health care professional (Youth is reassessed every six months for eligibility for ILP services)

7. Components of ILP • A collaborative approach focused on helping youth successfully transition into independent adults. • ILP Services • ILP Events • Extended Care Services • Extended Foster Care (EFC) • After Care • Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP+) • National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Tracking

8. ILP Services • PFA Outreach and Support • Education/Academic Services • Career/Job Guidance • Transportation to Events • Incentives

9. What Are PFAs? • Peer and Family Assistants (PFA) are former foster youth that work within San Bernardino County to provide services and support to current foster youth (ages 16-21) towards establishing self-sufficient, successful adults. • Some services include: -Phone and one-on-one outreach -Informal mentoring -Involvement in creation and facilitation of ILP events -Participation in Transitional Child and Family Team Meetings (TFTM) -Assistance to staff, youth and caregivers (including completing referrals to Extended Care Services, providing information about resources and programs,  completion of NYTD surveys)

10. ILP Events • ILP Meet n’ Greet • Fall and Spring Life Skill Classes • Employment Conference • Independent City • Health Fair • Prom Extravaganza • Leadership Challenge • Graduating Seniors • Senior Celebration • Computer Workshop • Incentive Text sbcilp to 81010 toreceive reminders on all upcoming ILP events. Data charges may apply.

11. Extended Care Services Extended Care Services is a component of ILP services for young adults in Extended Foster Care and young adults who left the Child Welfare System at age 18. • Extended Foster Care (EFC) • Aftercare

12. Extended Foster Care (EFC) • Extended Foster Care is for the young adults who remain in foster care at the age of 18 years until 21 years of age. • Young adults who are 18,19, or 20; and meet eligibility requirements by turning 18 years old while in care. Young adults must also meet the criteria of working at least 80 hours per month and/or attending school to stay eligible • These young adults qualify for workshops and support through contracted providers. • Housing services, education assistance, and employment assistance, are provided by Children and Family Services. • Extended Care service referrals must be completed and submitted to the regional ILP Office Assistant prior to the foster youth’s 18th birthday.

13. Aftercare • Aftercare services are provided to the young adults who are ages 18-24 years of age and are NOT in foster care. • The young adults case must have been closed at the age of 18. • These young adults qualify for housing assistance programs, services, and workshops through contracted providers. • Young adults who are receiving Aftercare Services are referred to our Extended Care Providers: • Aspiranet serves the San Bernardino Valley region • Walden Family Services serves the North Desert region • Extended Care Providers offer life skills classes, work shops, transportation assistance, resources and referrals for employment and housing assistance. It also provides emergency financial assistance for non-dependent adults.

14. Transitional Housing Program Plus Foster Care (THP+FC) • Transitional Housing Placement-Plus-Foster Care (THP+FC) is a provider-based, supervised housing and supportive services program for young adults. Through THP+FC, young adults are able to gain a level of independence in a supervised setting. • THP+FC housing options are available to young adults age 18-21. The program provides safe housing for young adults while providing them with assistance in developing the skills needed for transitioning into independence. • Once the young adult turns 21 they are able to apply for the THP+ program to receive housing options from the age of 21-24.

15. Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP+) • The Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP+) housing option is available to young adults age 18-24 whose case has closed. THP+ provides safe housing options for young adults for up to 24 cumulative months. A young adult may be eligible for up to 36 months or age 25 (an additional year) if they are completing secondary education or an equivalent program. • THP+ provides them with assistance in developing the skills needed for transitioning to independent living.

16. National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) • The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) is a Federal reporting system created to track ILP services the State provides to youth in foster care and to collect outcomes information from youth transitioning out of foster care that may be used to assess the State's performance in operating their ILP programs. • States are required to collect data on: • Youth who receive ILP services • Demographic and outcome information on certain youth in foster care who the State will follow over time. • Social worker and ILP staff document all ILP Participation into the Case Management System (CMS)/Children Welfare System (CWS) • Information is extracted from the CMS/CWS.

17. Why is NYTD Important? • As a State-Mandated Program, failure to report and document services of at least 90% of youth can result in a reduction of ILP funding to the County of San Bernardino. • Penalties include but are not limited to a 2.5% federal penalty against Chafee Funding for each noncompliance (5% Annually); resulting in less ILP services being provided to transition age youth.

18. NYTD Service Categories • Parenting Skills • Room and Board Financial Assistance • Time Management • Transitional Housing • Transportation • Needs Assessment • Career/ Job Guidance • Consumer Skills • Credit Results Reviewed with youth • Discuss Credit Counsel/Participate • Education • Education Financial Assistance • Education post Secondary • Employment/Vocational Training • Financial Assistance/other • Health Care • Home Management • Housing Optional/Locations/THPP • Interpersonal Social Skills+

19. What do Coordinators and the SWII do? Coordinators arrange all service delivery to ILP eligible youth. • Collaborate with staff and programs to ensure quality of on-going services. • Collaborate with youth, social workers, care providers and other service providers to ensure the provisions of services and activities so that the youth‘s goals are achieved. • Coordinators assist with event planning and can be used as a resource for obtaining education or employment resources • Coordinators monitor the program performance and the outcome data. Social Worker II • Complete Eligibility Check and Referrals: ILP, Aftercare, THP+, and EFC. • Manage ILP eligible closed cases: Adoption, KINGAP, and Guardianship. • Serve as a CFS Liaison for Transitional Aged Youth Center’s (TAY). • Complete ILP planning tasks pertaining to upcoming events or classes.

20. Contact Information • ILP Supervisor • Myriam Aguilar (909) 891-3677 • ILP Coordinators • Maria Mota (909) 388-6716 • Kalisha Vault (909) 891-3378 • ILP Social Worker II • Desiree Alfaro (909) 387-7217 • Peer and Family Assistants • Central: Gester Hernandez (909) 388-0409 ghernandez@hss.sbcounty.gov • Eastern: Jatori Harris (909) 386-1325 jharris@hss.sbcounty.gov • North Desert: Jason Thompson (909) 388-6737 • Rancho Cucamonga: Raemon Edwards (909) 945-4654 Raemon.Edwards.sbcounty.gov • Fontana: Crystal Alvarez (909) 428-4281 Crystal.Alvarez@hss.sbcounty.gov • PRD: Alicia Washington (909) 388-6716 Alicia.Washington@hss.sbcounty.gov and John Devine John.Devine@hss.sbcounty.gov • ILP Clerks • Western Region: Krystle Brooks, (909) 428-4355 • Central Region: Nora Valdivia (909) 388-1913 • North Desert Region: Lori Amack (760) 843-4215 • PRD: Cher Bliss (909) 891-3638 • Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SBCOUNTYILP

21. Questions?

22. Activity: Building Resilience

23. Activity: Building Resilience Education Health and Wellness Employment Social Supports Housing

24. Activity: Building Resilience Instructions: • Each table will have 10 marshmallows and 20 noodles. • All groups will have 10 minutes to construct a strong and durable tower in which can hold itself up. • If your tower falls you must start from the beginning using new material. Objective:The highest tower will win! There is a twist… Talking with others in either your own group or those around you is NOTallowed!

25. Activity Discussion • Experience (Was this activity easy or difficult to do?) • How do you think this activity may reflect that of a youth’s journey towards self-sufficiency? • In what ways can we better prepare our youth as they become independent? • How do we drive future generations of current and former foster youth?