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CWLA
CHILD WELFARE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA
CWIA
CHILD WELFARE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA
guarding
children's
Robin Nixon
guarding
Robin Nixon
rights
Director, Youth Services
children's
Director, Youth Services
serving
202/942-0309
rights
202/942-0309
children's
FAX 202/638-4004
serving
FAX 202/638-4004
needs
E-mail [email protected]
children's
E-mail [email protected]
needs
440 First Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20001-2085
440 First Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20001-2085
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
National Office
440 First Street NW, Third Floor
Washington, DC 20001-2085
202/638-2952
FAX 202/638-4004
North Atlantic Office
639 Granite Street, Suite 415
Braintree, MA 02184-5366
617/849-0044 FAX 617/849-0961
Mid-West Office
125 South Wacker Drive, 14th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606-4402
312/424-6843
FAX 312/424-6800
Western Office
3200 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034-3710
310/287-1411
FAX 310/287-1413
CWIA
Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH
FORMERLY
SERVED BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM:
Identifying The Support Network's Strengths And Needs
Child Welfare League of
America
July 17, 1998
I. Introduction
Though there are many programs and organizations working to assist youth
in foster care, there are clearly identifiable gaps in the services available to
those youth, young adults, and older adults who have left the foster care
system and no longer have access to formal child welfare services. This
project was designed to collect information about the experiences of
young/older adults after they leave the system, to identify community-based
organizations (CBO's) that provide support and services to this population,
and to tap the wisdom of both of these groups in order to identify what's
needed to strengthen the service system and to build the capacity of CBO's
working with former foster youth.
The Child Welfare League of America initiated activities in April 1998
designed to collect information about organizations that provide services to
young and older adults after they have left foster care. These activities
included distributing a flyer requesting information about "Agencies,
Organizations, and Groups that provide services/supports to former foster
children" [AGOFFC], and following up with a longer, more detailed survey to
flyer respondents. Approximately 3,000 flyers were distributed to CWLA
member agencies, conference attendees, and other possible sources of
information, and two hundred responses were received. One hundred-
eighty-five long surveys were mailed out, and information from 54 returned
surveys has been incorporated into this report. In addition to building a
foundation of information about local community support for foster youth,
the flyers and surveys will be utilized to create a service directory for former
foster youth, social workers, and other community based organizations in
need of resources for assisting former foster youth.
CWLA also conducted a meeting on this issue at the Annie E. Casey
Foundation offices in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of twenty-two people,
including several former foster youth, a number of representatives from
CBO's working with former foster youth around the country, and
representatives from Casey Family Services were brought together with
CWLA and AEC Foundation staff for a full day of discussion and
networking. This meeting provided participants with a unique opportunity
to share information with each other and with child welfare policy makers,
funders and advocates about what national and local efforts should be
1
undertaken to ensure positive outcomes for youth after they leave foster
care, as well as to explore their own organizational capacity building needs.
This report summarizes overall findings from both survey responses and
proceedings from the meeting, with recommendations for building capacity
at the local level and strengthening the overall service system in order to
facilitate successful long-term outcomes for foster youth. A follow up
questionnaire was sent to meeting participants, and responses will be
integrated into the final report for this project. A more detailed analysis of
the survey will also be included in the final report.
2
II. The Experiences of Young/Older Adults After Foster Care
Young/older adults have many experiences that both facilitate and impede
their ability to succeed emotionally, educationally, and economically after
they leave care. Group discussion at the Baltimore meeting brought out a
number of overall themes regarding the post-foster care experience.
The transition from foster care to adult independence brings many
unexpected challenges
These challenges come in many different forms; educational, emotional, and
economic. Former foster youth report that the transition to independence
and self-sufficiency was often very rapid, sometimes unplanned for or
unexpected, and resulted in their feeling "dumped" from the system and cut
off from resources and support. Faced with the formidable tasks of having
to support oneself and continue with educational activities, this sense of
being cut off from support represents one of the greatest challenges to the
emotional and economic well being of these young adults. Emancipation
brings many other unexpected challenges, including time management,
difficulty and unwillingness to ask for help or to access community
resources, difficulty in accessing medical and dental care, and discovering
that many critical skills were not taught in independent living programs or
foster care. Young adults also have a great deal of difficulty obtaining and
maintaining safe, affordable housing.
Emancipation also brings new opportunities to give back and contribute to
programs and communities
Former foster youth express a strong desire for opportunities to volunteer
with or to be employed by the agencies that provided services to them while
they were in the system. As adults, they feel as though they can
contribute their time, experience, and caring to children and youth who are
still in care, and are empowered themselves by the opportunity to make
such contributions. Three of the meeting participants are current employees
of agencies at which they received services while in foster care, and are
able to contribute not only their skills, but their ability to relate to youth
through shared experiences.
Ongoing relationships with caring adults and peers are critical to successful
transitions
3
Young/older adults who have been in foster care identify relationships with
mentors, foster parents, foster care program/group home staff and other
caring adults as invaluable supports after leaving care. One former foster
youth described her relationships as "building bridges while in care in order
to have access to support and resources after leaving care". Adults with
whom they developed close relationships often became informal mentors
who provide emotional support and other types of assistance for many
years. Foster parents frequently maintain supportive relationships with
these young people throughout adulthood, taking a lifetime role as family
members. Formal mentoring programs are considered a viable source of
support, if time and effort are devoted to developing genuine, mutually
rewarding relationships. Former foster youth identified staff of CBO's,
social workers, and group home staff who went "above and beyond the call
of duty", and who invested time and effort into developing genuine caring
relationships as important sources of guidance and emotional support.
Former foster youth consider opportunities to maintain relationships with
and to network with other former foster youth important to their adult
development. The example of the California Youth Connection (CYC), was
discussed as an illustration of this. CYC, which operates through chapters
in a number of counties in California, provides young people who are still in
care as well as those who have left care with opportunities to meet
regularly, to network and obtain support from one another, and to
participate in advocacy efforts on behalf of all of California's foster children.
Establishing long-term supportive relationships, or a support network of
relationships, is sometimes very challenging. Experiences of abuse and
neglect, multiple foster care placements, and the sense of isolation resulting
from the emancipation process often create barriers to attachments and the
development of healthy relationships. Meeting participants reported that
establishing and maintaining good relationships requires a lot of time and
effort on the part of both youth and adults, and that sustained relationships
often depend on the young adult's individual initiative, persistence, and
courage.
Both young adults and older adults who have been out of care for many
years are concerned about the level of preparedness provided by the foster
care system through independent living programs and services
4
Among the many unexpected challenges to successful adulthood, lack of
skills and knowledge related to independent living, employment, and
housing stand out for former foster youth. Lack of "real life" opportunities
to practice independent living skills impedes the transition to self-sufficiency
and often precipitates emotional and economic crises in the lives of
unprepared young adults. A much stronger emphasis on the development
of specific skills, such as job readiness, time management, and budgeting
are needed in independent living programs. Former foster youth also
identified knowledge deficits in such important areas as career options and
requirements, sources of financial aid, knowledge and navigation of
community resources, and strategies for self-advocacy. Staff of
independent living programs, social workers, and foster parents all need
additional training and support to teach and assist youth in developing the
skills and knowledge to make it on their own.
Though there are some systemic activities that facilitate the transition to
independence, child welfare and human services systems often create
barriers to successful emancipation,
Systemic issues, such as limits on savings, low funding for independent
living services, scarcity of financial support for college, and child welfare
bureaucracies that prevent foster youth from participating in normalizing
community experiences (e.g., most foster youth cannot hold a driver's
license), also contribute to increased difficulty during the transitional years.
Bureaucracy often operates in such a way that manipulation of the system
or bending the rules are the only ways to access services or get necessary
tasks accomplished. Foster youth see this as poor role modeling by a
system that has parental responsibility for its wards. Former foster youth
identified a number of programs and services, such as community
collaborations that provide post-emancipation support (e.g. the Bridges
program in California), programs that emphasize advocacy (such as the
Youth Advocacy Center in New York), and programs that prepare young
people for college and provide support in the college environment (such as
California's Educational Opportunities Program) as being particularly helpful
and supportive.
III. Strategies and Services to Address the Unmet Needs of Younger and
Older Adults Formerly in Foster Care
5
Participants in the Baltimore meeting discussed a number of strategies for
addressing the unmet needs of emancipated foster youth. Responses to the
CWLA survey also included identification of and information about the most
important services and supports needed by this underserved population.
Housing
The most important needs identified by both meeting participants and
survey respondents are those related to housing. This includes access to
emergency shelter and temporary housing, as well as longer term
transitional housing programs and affordable housing options. Ideas for
housing support include specialized respite care to be provided by foster
parents for short periods of time, as well as expanded access to emergency
shelter. Survey respondents report that former foster youth often
experience difficulty in accessing adult homeless shelters and services, and
that there should be specialized services for young adults. Participants in
the Baltimore meeting identified the summer housing needs of college
students as particularly acute.
The Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Youth, funded by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, provides up to eighteen months
of housing and supportive services to homeless youth ages 16-21. There
are currently approximately 75 TLP's funded under this program nationally,
and many of these programs report serving large numbers of former foster
youth. This is the type of program needed to fill the housing gap for
emancipated foster youth, and should be more widely available. Other
existing programs that provide housing for former foster youth include Job
Corps, the U.S. Military Services, transitional housing programs funded by
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and transitional
programs provided by local CBO's specifically for foster youth who have left
care. Beyond the transitional period, there is a need for long-term affordable
housing options such as expanded access to public and other subsidized
housing programs such as the Section 8 rental program.
6
Educational and Employment Support
Support for achieving educational and employment goals was also rated a
high priority by both groups. Services for supporting youth in this area fell
on a continuum from during foster care through transition to independence
and on into adulthood. Suggested strategies fell into two categories.
1) Information and Assistance
Resource/drop in centers
"911" telephone
assistance/information hotline
Community Resource Bank
Intensive remedial educational
services
Resource Directories for
Independent Living "refresher"
courses
Services and Programs
Education about the job market
Special Scholarship Programs
Internet resources and access
Tutoring
Long term educational guidance/support
Consistent access to educational
Enhanced, creative GED programs
records
2) System and Networking Support
Community and employer education regarding the employment and
educational needs of former foster youth and youth in general
Increased opportunities for the development of mentoring relationships in
education and employment settings
Community partnerships between public and private agencies, post-
secondary educational institutions, and the business community to
support education and employment and avoid duplication of services.
Local employer networks supported by CBO's to create increased
employment opportunities
It was noted by both meeting participants and survey respondents that
many young adults leaving the child welfare system are not prepared for the
diverse demands of the modern workplace. Service providers emphasize the
need for employment readiness training, workplace experience at as young
an age as possible, continuing opportunities for skill development, and
ongoing education regarding workplace expectations and environments.
7
Providers also identified employment preparation as a difficult service to
provide because employment readiness is not easily learned in a counseling
or classroom setting; it requires real-life opportunities and ongoing support
into adulthood.
Support Services
A number of support services were identified through group discussion and
through the surveys as priority needs. Support services identified by the
survey include assistance in accessing resources, mentoring, advocacy,
positive peer support, and case management. Interestingly, many survey
respondents identified support services as being the easiest to provide to
former foster youth, while others identified them as being among the most
difficult. Factors that facilitate the provision of support services include
existing strong relationships between youth and staff that promote a
commitment to continuing program participation, as well as the ability of
programs to provide these types of services at minimal cost to clients who
have left the system. Another factor contributing to continued support
services is youths' familiarity with and/or awareness of available services,
which makes the services more accessible. Program staff also report that
young people may be more receptive to participation in program services
once they have left the system because their participation becomes
voluntary. Survey respondents report that many young adults become
transient during the transitional years, which makes providing support
services, or even just getting in touch to offer support, more difficult.
Support service strategies discussed in the Baltimore meeting emphasized
access to community resources and peer support. There was strong
support for centralized assistance in accessing community resources, such
as hotlines, internet directories, published directories, and drop-in centers,
as well as identification of formal and informal mentors as important sources
of information about and connection to community resources. Participants
saw establishing contact and networking with other former foster youth as a
significant source of lifelong support, as well as an opportunity to "give
something back" to the system and to other people. Ready access to
support groups addressing issues specific to the foster care experience was
suggested as an effective strategy for long-term support. Both service
providers and former foster youth identified opportunities to advocate to
community members, policy makers, and government representatives on
8
behalf of themselves and others as contributing to an increased sense of
self-efficacy and to concrete positive changes in the service system.
Other important needs
Other areas of concrete need identified by the survey respondents and
meeting participants included access to health and dental services,
emergency food supplies, and transportation resources. Access to these
resources may be limited, and barriers are created by cost, lack of
knowledge regarding alternative resources, and geographic factors, e.g.,
there is no public transportation in many rural areas.
IV. How do Community Based Organizations Support and Serve
Young/Older Adults After Foster Care?
The organizations and programs represented in the Baltimore meeting and
by the survey responses represent a wide variety of community-based
services and supports. Many agencies that provide residential care,
independent living, or other services for older foster youth have recognized
the need for continuing services and developed resources to support formal
aftercare and other program activities for former foster youth. Alternatively,
many child welfare programs provide informal continuing support to youth
who have emancipated from care, as well as assistance in accessing other
community resources.
Organizations represented at the Baltimore meeting and by the surveys
provide a range of services including housing, counseling, comprehensive
support services, advocacy, peer support, volunteer opportunities, and
employment assistance. The responses from 54 surveys are summarized in
the chart below. It is important to note that half of the organizations
responding at this time provide only informal services to former foster
youth.
Services Provided by
Percentage of
Community-Based Organizations to Younger and
Respondents
Older Adults Who Have Been in Foster Care
Providing
Each Service
Advocacy
69.8%
9
Formal Aftercare Program
51.2%
Case Management
74.4%
Counseling
74.4%
Crisis Intervention
58.1%
Non-financial Educational Assistance
65.1%
Financial Educational Assistance
41.9%
Emergency Financial Assistance
34.9%
Emergency Shelter
27.9%
Employment Assistance
62.8%
Employment Preparation
67.4%
Family Planning
27.9%
Financial Assistance for On-going Living Expenses
32.6%
Housing or Housing Assistance
58.1%
Legal Services/Education
16.3%
Mentoring Services
39.5%
Non-financial Assistance
51.2%
Parenting Education/Support
55.8%
Peer Support/Counseling
53.5%
Support in Accessing Community Resources
81.4%
Vocational Training/Education
32.6%
Many of the CBO's are providing services that meet the highest priority
needs of this population, but it is obvious that there is a terrible shortage of
both funding and program resources to meet the needs of former foster
youth. Most of the respondents are community-based non-profit youth
organizations, many of whom are traditional child welfare agencies providing
services to youth in foster care or federally funded transitional living
programs. A small number of for-profit agencies provide employment
related training and placement. Several programs represent unique attempts
to bring together multiple resources in a community to address the needs of
former foster youth, such as United Friends of the Children: the Bridges
Program, which has developed a large transitional housing capacity in
addition to comprehensive support services. Other innovative programs
bring former foster youth together for mutual support, resource networking,
and advocacy, such as the National Association of Former Foster Children of
America (NAFFCCA), the California Youth Connection, and the Orangewood
Children's Foundation, which has established a volunteer peer counseling
program. These three organizations are particularly innovative, in that they
10
rely heavily on youth involvement and youth leadership for management,
program development, and program implementation. The volunteer program
at Orangewood and NAFCCA were both founded by adults who grew up in
the foster care system.
V. Characteristics of Youth and Adults Served by CBO's
CWLA and the Annie E. Casey Foundation were also interested in identifying
characteristics of the population served by these organizations. The
majority of organizations responding to the survey provide services to youth
between the ages of 17 and 21 years of age. Of the agencies who
responded, 26.2% provide services to youth younger than 16 years of age
and 42.9% provide services to youth older than 22 years. This information
suggests that limited supports are available to youth as they begin to
transition out of the formal foster care system, but taper off as they
approach the age of 21 years. It appears that youth who are younger than
the age of 16 years are not eligible for many of the services offered by the
community based organizations who responded to the survey.
Fifty-two percent of the CBO's surveyed serve youth who emancipated from
foster care at 16 years, and 76.2% served youth who emancipated or aged
out at 18. Sixty-seven percent served youth who were homeless at the
time they accessed services. Sixty-four percent served youth who had
requested/accessed support as an adult. One organization indicated that
they serve non-system youth, i.e., youth who were not in foster care, who
qualify for services. Many organizations indicated that they provide formal
or informal services to youth who have been formerly involved with their
agency. Other agencies specifically target runaway and homeless youth,
youth in crisis, youth with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, or
pregnant/parenting youth.
CBO's take referrals from a number of sources. The majority of agencies
(82.9%) serve youth who had previously received services from the agency
and request or are referred for services after leaving care. Sixty-four
percent take self-referrals and referrals from other community-based service
providers. Fifty-four percent accept referrals from public community
agencies. Fifty-one percent serve youth referred by a friend, family member
or other concerned adult, and fifty-nine percent receive referrals from other
former foster youth. Relationships that have been established and
maintained by youth who have left care greatly facilitate their ability to
11
access services and support. According to feedback from the respondents,
these relationships often link youth to informal support networks and
facilitate access to formal support services. Finally, thirty-nine percent get
referrals from homeless shelters and twenty-nine percent from
hotline/community information services.
During the last year, the agencies (n = 54) who responded to the survey
served 3164 individuals. It is likely that this number underrepresents the
number of individuals served because some agencies did not answer the
question. Additionally, some of the agencies providing informal services did
not have this information readily available. Additional information regarding
the number and characteristics of youth and adults served by CBO's will be
outlined in the final report.
VI. What do these organizations need in order to maintain, improve, and
expand the services they provide?
Survey respondents and meeting participants identified a number of specific
resources needed to strengthen organizations serving former foster youth.
Not surprisingly, increased funding, as well as diversified funding, were at
the top of the list. Most CBO's already manage multiple funding streams,
but experience difficulty developing financial resources to support formal
aftercare and other services to emancipated youth. The second most
requested resource is opportunities to network with agencies providing
similar services. Other capacity building resources identified by many of the
CBO's include training for staff and volunteers, public education, training for
administrators, and technical assistance. Increased information about
program models, community partnerships, and program development how-
to's were also identified as strategies for building capacity. Discussion
during the meeting in Baltimore briefly addressed the idea of forming a
national network or organization of CBO's serving former foster youth, but
the discussion was cut off due to time limitations. Meeting participants
have been asked to fill out a follow-up questionnaire that asks for opinions
about such a network as well as other strategies for strengthening CBO's
working with former foster youth. Participants were also asked to provide
suggestions on how former foster youth can be contacted and offered
opportunities to give and receive support.
12
Many of the other strategies identified by the two groups were related to
broader issues of policy, systems improvement, and program development.
These strategies fall into two categories.
Broad Strategies for Strengthening Agencies and Programs
Develop increased funding for services and
Provide assistance to CBO's to build awareness of community
resources
Involve the private sector to provide supports for this population
Disseminate information about successful models
Formalize a network of former foster care youth and young people
currently in care
Develop volunteer and other alternatives for creative service delivery
(i.e.: work study, tutoring, AmeriCorps, youth leadership programs)
Get public and private support for models and strengths-based
approaches
Develop financial and other supports to create and maintain incentives
for employers
Spread the word about methods of youth involvement and positive
youth development strategies as part of child welfare policy and
practice
Build capacity for effective coordination and collaboration among
service providers to ensure a safety net for youth after they leave
care
"Keep Doors Open" - make sure there are supports and services
available to all youth and adults who have left care and need
assistance
Keep case files open for a period of time after emancipation (e.g.,
New York requires that case files be kept open for six months after
emancipation)
Develop outreach programs to contact young and older adults
formerly in care for purposes of follow up, assistance, and
opportunities to contribute
Increase the level of youth involvement at all levels of program
planning, implementation, and evaluation. Examples include
developing positions on agency boards and local community boards
and commissions, including youth in strategic planning processes in
13
the organization, and directing purposeful effort toward creating
meaningful youth involvement in agency processes
Service delivery during transition should emphasize the development
of multiple connections to people and resources for learning, for help,
and for support
Develop child care resources for this population
Broad Strategies for Improving Systems and Policies
There should be centralized youth/adult leadership on a national level
to facilitate effective advocacy and development of funding
Need to have a vision for policy changes at the local, state, and
federal levels
Young adults need to be spokespersons and advocates for change
Identify allies and opponents in our work and develop strategies for
addressing each
Develop a national organization to serve and support youth currently
in care and younger/older adults formerly in care
Provide training on how to represent constituency
Increase federal and state appropriations for services and the
development of performance standards
Address issue of privatization of services and its impact on the
service delivery system
CBO's and public child welfare departments take responsibility for
community education about the needs of individuals currently and
formerly in foster care
Allocating resources for "getting the word out" about services that
are available - advertising and outreach to potential clients
Networking and collaborating with other service providers in the
community to learn about the ways in which they serve former foster
care youth
Develop policies and programs for emergency/respite care for former
foster care young/older adults using former foster parents as
resources
Include foster parents in training and information sharing regarding
resources in the community and accessing them
Ensure that youth issues are brought to policy and program
discussions related to welfare reform, child welfare reform, juvenile
justice, and adult support systems.
14
VII. Conclusion
Consistent and powerful themes developed from the information obtained
from written surveys and discussions with young and older adults who were
formerly in foster care and CBO's providing services to them. First,
transition issues-- while similar for all youth "leaving the nest"--are unique
and challenging. Planning, preparation, and concrete and supportive
resources and services are critical needs that are not adequately addressed
by the child welfare system and the larger community. Second, after care
connections and relationships with agencies staff members, foster families,
mentors, and youth in and out of care are primary components of the safety
net that promotes a successful transition. Third, programs that target their
services to former foster youth are limited. That is, they are not available in
all parts of the country, and even when present, the community-based
organizations do not have adequate and comprehensive resources to meet
the needs. Fourth, the CBO's shared many capacity building needs
including the need for increased and flexible funding, networking, training,
technical assistance, and consultation. Finally, recommendations for
developing and strengthening policies, programs, and systems highlighted
the fact that much work needs to be done on the local, state, and national
level to improve the outcomes for former foster youth.
15
CWLA
Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
SURVEY FINDINGS
Survey of Agencies, Organizations, and Groups Providing
Services and Support to Youth
Who Have Emancipated from or Dropped Out of the
Foster Care System
Child Welfare League of
America
August, 1998
Survey of Agencies, Organizations, and Groups
Providing Services and Support to Youth
who have Emancipated from or Dropped Out
of the Foster Care System
SURVEY FINDINGS
I. INTRODUCTION
This report presents the findings from the Child Welfare League of America's recent survey of
agencies, organizations, and groups providing services and support to youth who have
emancipated from or dropped out of the foster care system. The survey was designed to answer
three primary research questions. They are:
Who are the agencies, organizations, and groups that provide services and supports to
adults or emancipated youth who have been in the foster care system for any part of their
childhood or to those youth in the system who are transitioning out of care? Furthermore,
what are the primary characteristics of these agencies, groups, and organizations?
What services are being provided by these agencies, organizations, or other groups to
young people who have aged out or dropped out of the foster care system? Additionally,
what gaps in services or supports exist for these young people, which if filled, would
promote their positive development and help ensure a safe, healthy, productive transition
to adulthood?
What is the current capacity of, and what are the capacity-building needs of the agencies,
organizations, and groups that support these youth after they have left care?
The survey findings are organized according to these research questions. This report presents a
summary of findings, based on the results of a detailed analysis of the responses of 84 community-
based agencies. It highlights significant findings that are important in promoting positive long-
term outcomes for former foster youth.
The Child Welfare League of America
1
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS
PROVIDING AFTERCARE SERVICES
A. Location
AGENCIES REPRESENTING ALL REGIONS OF THE U.S. RESPONDED TO THE
SURVEY (FIGURE 1).
Of the 84 agencies that responded to the survey, the largest percentage (36%) are located in
the Mid-Atlantic Region, and the fewest are in the North Atlantic (7%). (See Attachment A
for a regional map.)
Nearly one-quarter (24%) are located in the Western region of the U.S.
California, Pennsylvania, and New York had the largest number of agencies responding to the
survey. Seventeen agencies in California, 13 in Pennsylvania, and 10 in New York completed
the survey.
Community-Based Organizations by Region
Western
24%
Mid-Atlantic
36%
Southern
19%
Mid-West
North Atlantic
14%
7%
Figure 1
The Child Welfare League of America
2
B. Types of Aftercare Services
A LARGE MAJORITY (80%) OF AGENCIES PROVIDE FORMAL AFTERCARE
SERVICES TO YOUTH WHO HAVE EMANCIPATED FROM OR AGED OUT OF THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM (FIGURE 2).
67 (80%) of the agencies that responded to the survey provide formal aftercare services.
Formal aftercare services are defined as having one or more of the following characteristics:
* A written program description, procedures, and policies;
*
Designated staff/volunteer time or staff positions;
*
Designated funding to support services to this population;
*
An organizational or program structure specifically intended to serve and/or
support this population.
17 (20%) of the agencies only provide informal aftercare services. Informal services typically
do not have funding earmarked for former foster youth and may be provided based on
relationships maintained between staff and youth.
Types of Aftercare Services Offered
Informal Aftercare
20%
Formal Aftercare
80%
Figure 2
The Child Welfare League of America
3
C. Ages of Youth/Adults Served
MOST OF THE 67 AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE FORMAL AFTERCARE SERVICES
ASSIST YOUTH AGES 17-20. FEWER SERVE YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 16 OR
AGE 22 AND OLDER (FIGURE 3).
Nearly all (94%) of the agencies that responded to the survey serve youth who are 18 years of
age.
In contrast, only 36% serve youth who are 22 and older, indicating that comparatively little
long-term assistance is available to former foster youth.
Only one-quarter (25%) provide formal aftercare services to youth under the age of 16. This
finding suggests that there may be a gap in services for youth in early adolescence who are in
need of transitional assistance and supports.
5,094 youth received formal aftercare services in 1997. This finding is based on the responses
of the 67 agencies that provide formal aftercare services.
Although each agency served approximately 28 youth (median) in 1997, they vary widely with
a range of 2 to 805 youth served.
Ages of Youth Served by Formal Aftercare
100
94
91
88
87
80
75
Percent of Agencies (%)
67
60
40
36
20
25
0
9, Jepun
Age
Ago
Age 18
Age
16
19
Age 3
Age
7>
27
Age 22 and Over
Figure 3
The Child Welfare League of America
4
D. Referral Sources for Youth/Adults
MOST YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO RECEIVE FORMAL AFTERCARE SERVICES
ARE CURRENT OR FORMER CLIENTS OF THE AGENCY (FIGURE 4).
Most agencies (86%) provide services to youth who are still in care or who request and are
referred for services before leaving care. This finding indicates that there may be a lack of
services and support for youth who are no longer connected with the foster care system.
Less than one-third of agencies serve youth who are referred by homeless shelters and other
homeless services providers (31%). Given the disproportionate number of shelter residents
who are former foster youth, expanded efforts may be needed to cultivate relationships
between child welfare organizations and housing providers.
Approximately half of the agencies serve youth who are referred by other former foster care
youth (53%) and friends or family members (48%), revealing the importance of informal
social support networks in helping youth access needed services.
Agencies also indicated in the "other" category that they receive referrals from schools and
foster parents. This link is important in that both schools and foster parents are crucial to
providing youth with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary for a successful transition
to adulthood.
How Youth/Adults are Referred
100
80
86
Percent of Agencies (%)
60
61
56
53
52
48
40
31
20
25
0
Ciient Formar
CBO, Other
Other FF Youth
Homeless Information Public Friend/F Agency amily Shelter Service Member
Figure 4
The Child Welfare League of America
5
E. Outreach to Youth/Adults
MOST AGENCIES GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES BY PROVIDING WRITTEN INFORMATION TO POTENTIAL REFERRAL
SOURCES (FIGURE 5).
The majority of agencies reach the youth in their programs through written information
provided to potential referral sources (79%), although a large percentage (63%) also make
presentations to these same sources.
Most agencies (74%) also rely heavily on getting the word out through word of mouth. This
finding reveals the importance of informal support networks, such as foster youth, friends, and
family members in the provision of aftercare services to youth. Supporting this, 60% of the
agencies make presentations to youth in foster care to distribute information about their
programs.
Agencies indicated that they also rely on self-referrals, referrals from agency workers, youth
awareness of services while in care, and training seminars to disseminate information about
their programs.
One agency indicated that they are careful not to advertise too much due to their limited
number of placement and program slots. To prevent long waiting lists, they are selective
about the approaches they use to get the word out about their programs.
How Agencies Get the Word Out About their Services
90
80
79
70
74
Percent of Agencies (%)
60
63
60
50
40
43
40
30
31
20
19
10
of WORD
Pres Ref. Sources
Your 01 said
Pres 10 loPub Groups
Pres Formal 10 Outreach Comm Groups
Media Advertsements
Figure 5
The Child Welfare League of America
6
F. Funding Sources
TITLE IV-E FEDERAL INDEPENDENT LIVING FUNDS AND PRIVATE
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE THE LARGEST SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR FORMAL
AFTERCARE SERVICES (FIGURE 6).
Nearly half of all agencies (48%) fund their post-emancipation/ aftercare services from Title
IV-E Independent Living funds. Agencies also access federal funds through the HUD
Transitional Living Program funds (19%) and Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funds
(15%).
Private contributions (48%) and private grants from foundations or corporations (34%) were
also reported as important sources of funding.
Agencies also rely on volunteer services, United Way funds, and city funds to finance
aftercare services.
Funding Sources for Formal Aftercare Services
50
48
48
40
Percent of Agencies (%)
34
30
26
23
20
19
15
14
10
Title N-E N
Private Private Contribution Grants
State Funds
Local Funds
HUD Funds
Trans Liv Funds
Other Fed Funds
Figure 6
The Child Welfare League of America
7
G. Service Delivery Staff
MOST AGENCIES USE FULL-TIME DEDICATED STAFF TO DELIVER POST-
EMANCIPATION/AFTERCARE SERVICES (FIGURE 7).
Over half of the agencies (57%) use full-time dedicated staff persons to deliver their formal
aftercare services, while almost one-third (30%) use part-time dedicated staff.
42% of the agencies indicated that they use a portion of the time of staff who are work in
other areas to deliver formal aftercare services.
Over one-third (37%) rely on volunteers to provide aftercare services to youth/adults.
Educational advisors were also listed by some agencies as "other" resources for service
delivery.
How Aftercare Services are Delivered
60
57
50
Percent of Agencies (%)
40
42
37
30
29
26
25
20
10
12
0
Paul/Unpaid Volunteers PT Portion F Contract Other Dedicated Dedicated FF Staff Youth Mentors Time Staff Staff
Figure 7
The Child Welfare League of America
8
III. SERVICES PROVIDED BY AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS WITH
AFTERCARE PROGRAMS
A. Types of Formal Aftercare Services and Support
67 (80%) OF THE AGENCIES REPORTED OFFERING FORMAL AFTERCARE
SERVICES (FIGURE 8).
Support in accessing community resources (79%), case management (73%), and employment
preparation (73%) were the 3 most common services provided by agencies.
In contrast, less than a quarter of the agencies provide emergency shelter (22%), a service
greatly needed by former foster youth who are disproportionately represented among the
homeless population.
In addition to the services listed below, agencies reported providing child care, life skills
development, leadership opportunities, outreach, and transportation.
Services Provided by
Percentage of
Community-Based Organizations
Respondents
Advocacy
69%
Formal Aftercare Program
55%
Case Management
73%
Counseling
67%
Crisis Intervention
58%
Non-financial Educational Assistance
64%
Financial Educational Assistance
45%
Emergency Financial Assistance
33%
Emergency Shelter
22%
Employment Assistance
61%
Employment Preparation
73%
Family Planning
31%
Financial Assistance for On-going Living Expenses
36%
Housing or Housing Assistance
60%
Legal Services/Education
24%
Mentoring Services
39%
Non-financial Assistance
46%
Parenting Education/Support
58%
Peer Support/Counseling
52%
Support in Accessing Community Resources
79%
Vocational Training/Education
36%
Figure 8
The Child Welfare League of America
9
B. Most Needed Services and Supports
HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ARE THE MOST NEEDED SERVICES
FOR YOUTH/ADULTS WHO HAVE EMANCIPATED FROM OR DROPPED OUT OF
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM (FIGURE 9).
Given the high rates of homelessness and unemployment among former foster youth, it is not
surprising that the majority of agencies reported that housing (67%) and employment services
(57%) are the most needed aftercare services.
Half of the agencies (50%) indicated that support services are some of the most needed
services for youth who have left care. Support services include mentoring, assistance in
accessing resources, advocacy, and positive peer support.
Family support, health care, emergency shelter/assistance, and transportation were also
identified by agencies as needed aftercare services.
Most Needed Aftercare Services
70
67
60
57
Percent of Agencies (%)
50
50
40
30
27
25
20
19
18
10
Housing
Employment Support Services Services
Counseling Education Financial Formal Programming Assistance Support
Figure 9
The Child Welfare League of America
10
C. Most Difficult Services to Provide
HOUSING WAS BY FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT AFTERCARE SERVICE FOR
AGENCIES TO PROVIDE (FIGURE 10).
Over half of the agencies (57%) indicated that housing is the most difficult aftercare service to
provide. Housing was also reported to be one of the most needed services, suggesting that
housing may be a gap in service provision for youth/adults who have emancipated from or
dropped out of the foster care system. Given that lack of housing can be a barrier to
successful employment, it is critical to develop strategies to effectively address the housing
needs of youth who have been in foster care.
Employment services, counseling, financial assistance, support services, and education
employment were also identified as services that are difficult to provide for former foster
youth. This finding is significant given the importance of these types of services in mitigating
poverty and promoting self-sufficiency.
In addition to the services illustrated below, agencies also indicated that formal programming,
family support, emergency shelter/assistance, and transportation are difficult to provide. All
of these, but formal programming, were also identified as some of the most needed services.
Most Difficult Aftercare Services to Provide
60
57
50
Percent of Agencies (%)
40
30
20
23
21
18
16
10
11
0
BuisnoH
Employment Counseling Services
Financial Assistance
Support Services
Education Support
Figure 10
The Child Welfare League of America
11
D. Easiest Services to Provide
SUPPORT SERVICES WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE EASIEST SERVICES TO
PROVIDE TO FORMER FOSTER YOUTH (FIGURE 11).
Nearly half (45%) of the agencies reported that support services are the most manageable or
easiest for them to provide to youth. These services were also identified as some of the most
needed for former foster youth.
Counseling, employment services, education support, financial assistance, and housing were
also listed by agencies as some of the easiest services to provide. That they were also
identified as some of the most needed and difficult services to provide indicates that they are
those that are receiving the greatest attention from agencies serving former foster youth. (It is
also important to note that five times as many agencies reported that housing was difficult to
provide than easy to provide.)
In addition to the services illustrated in Figure 11, formal programming and emergency
shelter/assistance were listed as other services that are easy to provide.
Easiest Aftercare Services to Provide
60
50
45
Percent of Agencies (%)
40
30
25
20
20
18
10
13
11
0
Support Services
Counseling
Employment Services
Housing
Hoddns
Figure 11
The Child Welfare League of America
12
IV. CURRENT CAPACITY AND CAPACITY-BUILDING NEEDS OF AGENCIES,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND GROUPS PROVIDING AFTERCARE SERVICES
A. Follow-Up Information
THE MAJORITY OF AGENCIES OBTAIN FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION ON YOUTH
AFTER SERVICES HAVE ENDED (FIGURE 12).
Most agencies (66%) indicated that they obtain follow-up information even after service
delivery ends. However, over one-third (35%) do not obtain any follow-up information,
suggesting that follow-up is a capacity-building need for many agencies.
Of the agencies that conduct follow-up, nearly all (96%) collect information on the status and
location of youth.
In addition to the items listed below, agencies reported collecting follow-up information on
the financial status, marital status, involvement with the legal system, child care, and goals of
youth/adults. Some agencies also obtain feedback from the youth in order to evaluate their
programs.
Follow-Up Information Obtained
100
96
90
87
80
83
Percent of Agencies (%)
77
70
71
64
60
54
50
40
Education
Housing
Overall Well- Being
snjets speen
Figure 12
The Child Welfare League of America
13
B. Follow-Up Intervals
MOST AGENCIES CONDUCT FOLLOW-UP WITHIN 2 TO 6 MONTHS OF THE END
OF SERVICES (FIGURE 13).
71% of agencies conduct follow-up within a period of 2-6 months following services.
In contrast, 25% of the agencies conduct follow-up from 7 months up to a year after services
have ended, and 25% a year or more after service delivery. This finding reveals that
comparatively few organizations are maintaining formal and documented long-term contact
with former foster youth.
Follow-Up Time Intervals
80
70
71
60
Percent of Agencies (%)
50
40
30
25
25
25
20
10
0.1 Month
Month 07
7-12 Months
13 Months or Longer
Figure 13
The Child Welfare League of America
14
C. Capacity-Building Needs
FUNDING IS THE GREATEST CAPACITY-BUILDING NEED AGENCIES HAVE IN
ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY REACH AND SERVE YOUTH/ADULTS WHO
HAVE LEFT FOSTER CARE (FIGURE 14).
The large majority (74%) of agencies reported that funding is their primary need for
expanding their capacity for aftercare services. Similarly, information on possible sources of
funding was also identified as a need by nearly half of the agencies (48%).
Networking with other organizations (57%), information (53%), and staff training (52%) are
also important needs that should be considered in building agency capacity for aftercare
programs. Networking is particularly important for creating a safety net for former foster
youth.
Expansion of existing programs, partnerships, foster parent training, and improved policies
were also identified by agencies as capacity-building needs.
Capacity-Building Needs of Organizations
80
70
74
60
Percent of Agencies
57
50
53
52
48
40
40
40
30
29
28
20
24
10
Networking Training Funding Educ Educ Public Funding Information Technical Program Administ. Assistance
for for Education Source Authorties for Models Staff w/ CBOS Info
Figure 14
The Child Welfare League of America
15
V. CONCLUSION
The survey of agencies, organizations, and groups providing services and support to youth who
have emancipated from or dropped out of the foster care system resulted in several major findings
that are important to consider in developing effective strategies for serving former foster youth.
Some of the most significant are:
Gaps in service may exist for youth under the age of 16 and age 22 and older -
Comparatively few agencies serve youth in these two age categories. In addition, the survey
results indicated that the large majority of agencies serve youth who are still in care or
request services before they leave care. Given this, youth age 22 and older who are no longer
in care may be overlooked in service provision. Similarly, youth under the age of 16 who
have dropped out of foster care may not be eligible to receive services from many
organizations.
Former foster youth may be underserved in terms of their housing needs - Housing was
identified as the most needed aftercare service in the survey. It was also reported to be the
most difficult service to provide. In addition, emergency shelter was offered by fewer
agencies than any other service described in the survey. Given the disproportionate numbers
of former foster youth among the homeless population, these findings suggest that it is
imperative to address the housing needs of youth who have emancipated from or dropped out
of the foster care system. Adequate, stable housing is critical to their employability and self-
sufficiency.
Expanded employment services are needed for foster care youth - After housing,
employment services were reported to be the most needed and the most difficult to provide.
Although 73% of agencies indicated that they provide employment preparation, only 61%
provide employment assistance, and 36% vocational training and education. These results
suggest that additional efforts are needed to promote employability and employment among
former foster youth. Employment is a key component of improving economic opportunity for
youth who have been in foster care.
Informal social support networks are an effective means of reaching youth - The
majority of agencies rely on informal social support networks such as former foster youth,
friends, and family members for their referrals and for getting the word out about their
services. Helping foster care youth develop and maintain informal networks is important in
promoting their access to information and services, particularly given the limited institutional
supports available to them.
Funding is the number one capacity-building need - Although most agencies reported
using a variety of funding streams and sources to finance their aftercare services, funding was
identified as the greatest need for developing and expanding aftercare services.
The Child Welfare League of America
16
Networking is an important capacity-building need for many agencies - Networking with
other similar community-based organizations was identified as the second greatest capacity-
building need, after funding. Networking is critical for building a safety net for youth who
have emancipated from or dropped out of the foster care system. Collaboration among
agencies is also important for building community and systemic capacity to adequately serve
former foster youth.
Follow-up is an area for increased capacity-building - The majority of agencies indicated
that they do not provide long-term follow-up to former foster youth. Sustained follow-up for
a year or more may be important in providing youth with the continuity and support they need
during their transition to adulthood.
These findings emphasize that further services and supports are needed to help former foster
youth make a successful transition to adulthood.
The Child Welfare League of America
17