The Good News The number of California Children in foster care has been reduced by 46% since 1998.

The Good News

The number of CaliforniaChildren in foster care has been reduced by 46% since 1998

The Bad News

The number of youth who turn 18 or age out alone has remained constantat about 4,000 every year.

Within 2 years 50% will be homeless,victimized,

incarcerated,or dead

• Youth losing credit, because they move too often

• Protecting youth from sexual exploitation• Transition age youth

• Having a place to live • Having support to succeed in school• Getting physical and mental heath care• Being able to form lasting relationships

If you care about

Then you care about this guide

Federal Child Welfare Finance

Reform

Guide to Funding Specialized Youth Permanency

Services

Relies on changes at the federal level

Points out currently available county-controlled

funding resources

Requires decisions made at the federal level

Allows decisions to be made at the county level

1. We know how to achieve permanent families for older children and teens in foster care

2. Keeping these children and teens in foster care is very expensive

3. $ saved by achieving permanence far outweigh the cost of effective permanency services

The guide says three things:

1. We know how to achieve permanent families for older children and teens in foster care

Enter Youth Permanency Movement

Challenged prevailing beliefs

A family is no where

A family is now here

Changed Organizational Culture

Created Effective Specialized Youth Permanency Services

Older Youth

Adoption Contracts

2007-2010

Destination Family Youth Permanency Project 2003-2008Federal Grant

Family Finding & Engagement

Relationship

Building and

Mending

Addressing Grief,

Loss & Trauma

Individualized Recruitment Plans

Youth Centered Practice

Building Trust with the Youth

Pre & Post Permanency

Support

Preparation of the Permanent Family

Building Sense of Empowerment

Traumatic Experience Integraton

Creating Safety,

Self-regulation, and

Self-reflection

Building Network of

Caring Adults

Older Youth

Adoption Contracts:

944 youth received

services

80%

achieved

permanency

Destination Family Federal Grant 157 youth received services

86% achieved permanency

2. Keeping these children and teens in foster care is very expensive

DUH!

3. $ saved by achieving permanence far outweigh the cost of effective permanency services

•Adoption from:Group Home Level 14 $103,540Foster Family Agency Home $13,710

•Guardianship from:Group Home Level 12 $92,477Foster Family Agency Home $11,442

Annual County Level Savings Achieved When a Youth Moves

into a Permanent FamilySavings accrue for EVERY year the youth would have remained in care

Average 1-time per/youth cost of specialized permanency services = $12,000- $15,000

Our Youth Need