DOL Funds Shared Youth Vision Pilot Projects

In July, the U.S. Department of Labor announced awarding 16 states with funds to move forward on their Shared Youth Vision Pilot Projects. This funding opportunity was in response to a 2003 White House Task Force Report of Disadvantaged Youth that noted that despite billions of dollars worth of funding, many of the nations neediest youth are still being left behind. The funds, totaling $1.6 million, were awarded to assist states with integrating strategies for connecting at-risk youth with other educational, health, and social services that support employment outcomes. Along with the funds awarded to states, a collaborative effort has been established at the Federal level “to serve as a catalyst at the national, state, and local levels to strengthen coordination, communication, and collaboration among youth-serving agencies to support the neediest youth and their healthy transition to successful adult roles and responsibilities.” The states participating in the project are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Casey Family Programs Take Over Funding Employment Programs for Foster Youth

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Labor began funding programs that address the multiple barriers the foster youth population faces on the way to successful job placement. These programs are located in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, and Houston; cities that have the largest number of youth in foster care in the nation, and are home to approximately 25 percent of this population. Foster youth in and around these cities are more likely to be a racial or ethnic minority, be a teen parent, have a disability, or drop out of high school. Throughout the funding of this project, Casey Family Programs was a key partner in evaluating the project and offering technical assistance to grantees.

Beginning this year, Casey Family Programs will take over funding this program. This project, called the EmPLOY: Employment Programs and Life Opportunities for Youth, brings together state, county, and local resources to offer comprehensive services to youth, such as academic instruction and support, preparation for and exposure to the workplace, and support in developing skills for independent living and self sufficiency. Each program is based on solid youth development principles; collectively, they provide more intensive services than youth in foster care typically receive.

With regard to the EmPLOY project, Dave Sanders, vice president of Casey Family Programs, says “Too often, when foster youth leave care, they do not have early employment experience, such as an internship or structured job shadowing; these are essential developmental experiences that connect young people to the world of work. Our EmPLOY Project will help support these youth on a path to success.”

Source: Casey Family Programs

Washington Strengthens Supports for Foster Youth

Chris Gregoire, the Governor of Washington, recently signed legislation to create three programs that will strengthen the supports offered to youth in foster care. “These bills open doors, offer hope, and expand opportunities for some of our most vulnerable young adults as they move forward with their lives and become contributing members of our Washington economy,” said Governor Gregoire. The “Passport to College” program attempts to make college more attractive to foster youth and provides scholarships and supports to keep them in school through graduation. Along with the “Passport to College” program, the Governor extended the Medicaid option to youth in foster care until the age of 21 and created the “Independent Youth Housing Program” by offering stipends to low-income youth that have been in foster care.

Source: Washington Governor’s Office

North Carolina Passes Medicaid Expansion and Post-Secondary Education Program

North Carolina recently passed two supports for older youth in foster care.  Beginning October 2007, all young adults, ages 18-21, who aged out of foster care will be eligible for Medicaid regardless of income.

Also passed in North Carolina was a post-secondary education program that will provide tuition, room and board, fees, and books for all young adults who age out of North Carolina foster care and all youth adopted from Department of Social Services foster care after the age of 12. Scholarships will apply to the 16 branches of the University of North Carolina and all North Carolina community colleges. This program will be implemented by September 2008.

Source: Joan S. McAllister, State Coordinator NC LINKS

New York Publishes Handbook for Youth in Foster Care

Earlier this year, New York released Handbook for Youth in Foster Care for foster youth placed through local social service departments. This handbook, written for youth entering foster care for the first time, describes the rights and responsibilities of foster youth while they are in care and also what happens when older youth leave care. Developed through a partnership with Youth in Progress (YIP), New York State’s Foster Care Youth Leadership Advisory Team, this Handbook contains chapters such as Being in Foster Care – How, What, Where; Legal Issues; Everyday Life; and Big Questions.

To view this publication, click here

Seattle University Expands Commitment to Foster Youth

Through a $1 million grant from the Schultz Family Foundation, Seattle University will enhance programs to foster youth. The grant will expand the University's current partnership with Treehouse, a local non-profit serving King County’s foster youth. "Through our partnership with Seattle University, Treehouse's programs will be able to provide more intensive, professional instruction to students who have missed many critical milestones in school," said Treehouse Executive Director Janis Avery. Students from local partner schools of Treehouse and the Children’s Literacy Project will also benefit from the grant.  Starting this fall, 24 students will be hired to provide one-on-one tutoring sessions for foster youth. These tutors, recruited from Children's Literacy Project and the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities for Teaching program at Seattle University's Matteo Ricci College, will receive hands-on experience as well as leadership training.

Treehouse and Seattle University have collaborated on a number of past efforts to assist foster youth in the areas of health, tutoring, and internships. Earlier this year, the partnership established Seattle University's Fostering Scholars program, which provides tuition, room, board and mentoring support to eligible foster youth. To find out more about this program, click here.

For more information on Treehouse, visit their website.

Source: Seattle University