John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program

1. John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program An Amendment to the Independent Living Act of 1999

2. This initiative is a collaborative between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families and the Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

3. Independent Living Act of 1999 • The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (HR 3443) signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton contains provisions that: • States establish an improved Independent Living program • Allows states to provide extended Medicaid coverage • Increases the amount of assets a Foster Child may have and still be eligible for funding • Requires states ensure foster parents are prepared to care for youth placed in their homes • Authorizes increased funds for adoption incentive payments to states to assist with permanent placements.

4. Independent Living Act of 1999Reformed Due to Four Major Findings • Despite reasonable efforts by states to reunify children with their families or alternative family settings, some children will never be reunified or adopted. These children should be enrolled in Independent Living Programs to prepare them for employment, post-secondary education and adult responsibilities. • About 20,000 adolescents leave foster care each year because they reach 18 years of age.

5. Independent Living Act of 1999Reformed Due to Four Major Findings • Adolescents leaving foster care have significant difficulties transitioning into independent living. These adolescents typically have high rates of homelessness, non-marital childbearing, poverty and delinquent behavior and are targets of crime and physical assault. • State and local governments should offer programs to teach independent living skills to youth in foster care from age 14 until age 21.

6. Chafee Independence Program • Congress’ main goal in funding the Chafee Independence Program was the provision of more flexible funding to enable states to design and implement a variety of programs to assist children in the process of making the transition from foster care to independent living. Specifically, the Chafee Independence Program lays out five types of programs that states may implement with appropriate funds.

7. Programs to identify children likely to remain in foster care until age 18 and to provide them with services aimed at helping them obtain a high school diploma, vocational training, career exploration, job placement and retention skills, daily living skills, financial management skills, and preventative health training (including substance abuse prevention, nutrition skills and pregnancy prevention). Five Types of Chafee Independence Programs

8. Programs to assist children likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age with the education, training, and services necessary to obtain employment. Five Types of Chafee Independence Programs

9. Programs to assist children likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age prepare for and enter post-secondary educational and training institutions: Colleges Universities Technical Schools Vocational Schools Five Types of Chafee Independence Programs

10. Programs to provide personal and emotional support, through mentors and the promotion of interactions with dedicated adults, to children aging out of foster care. Five Types of Chafee Independence Programs

11. Programs to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to children between 18 and 21 years of age who had formerly received foster care to enhance their own efforts to become self-sufficient and to accept personal responsibility for the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Five Types of Chafee Independence Programs

12. The assessment must be administered with each youth in foster care placement no later than 30 days following his/her 14th birthday. Or if the youth is 14 years of age or older when entering custody, then assessment must be administered no later than 30 days after entry. The assessment must be re-administered every six months until permanency is achieved, mastery is achieved, or the youth is discharged from custody. daniel improving the odds for kids Daniel Memorial InstituteAssessment

13. PHILLIP ROY, INC.Curriculum • Instruction must begin no later than 90 days following the youth’s 14th birthday. Or if the youth is 14 years of age or older when entering custody, then instruction must begin no later than 90 days after entry. • Learning topics are coded in order of priority of instruction. Topics coded #1 are to be taught first, followed by #2 and then #3. • Successful completion of a unit means the youth has scored at least 80% on the pre/post test.

14. http://www.danielkids.org/ http://www.philliproy.com/ Web Resources

15. Chafee Community Support Services • The purpose of this program is to ensure older youth aging out of foster care / residential placements have the supports to enhance adult self-sufficiency in the community.

16. Chafee Community Support Services Program Services Services include, but are not limited to, the following: • Short-term financial support • Linkages with necessary community resources & supports • Transportation • Educational Support • Supportive Counseling

17. Chafee Community Support Services Program Eligibility Youth age 18-20 exiting foster care / residential care placements or who have left these placement on their 18th birthday but have not reached the age of 21.

18. Chafee Community Support Services Referral Process First: Contact the Chafee Community Support Office The State Department of Health & Human Resources, Bureau for Children & Families 350 Capitol Street, Room 691, Charleston, WV 25301 Toll-Free 1-866-720-3605 Fax 304-558-4563

19. Chafee Community Support Services Referral Process After you have contacted the main Chafee Community Support Office A Regional Chafee Community Support Specialist will be assigned to work with you locally. Information Needed: • Youth’s Name • DHHR Social Worker Name & Phone Number • Reference Name & Phone Number • Expected Date of Discharge

20. Web Resource • http://www.cedwvu.org/programs/chafee/

21. Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Chafee ETV Purpose of this program is to assist qualified youth with expenses related to attending college or vocational school. Education and Training Vouchers is abbreviated “ETV”

22. Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Chafee ETV Who’s Eligible? • Youth adopted from foster care after age 16 • Former foster care youth age 18 through 20 • Youth placed in legal guardianship

23. Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Chafee ETV What does ETV pay for? • Tuition for college or vocational school • Room and board • Books • Fees • Supplies • Transportation • Expenses as defined by the Higher Education Act ETV Funds not to exceed $5,000.00 per year. Youth must meet academic progress standards established by Chafee Community Support Specialists to continue funding.

24. Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Chafee ETV How can youth be referred for these benefits? • For youth adopted after age 16 • Contact the State Subsidy Specialist • (304) 558-7980 • For youth in Legal Guardianship • Contact the Guardianship Worker • For former foster care youth • Contact Chafee Community Support Services • Toll-Free 1-866-720-3605 • (304) 558-6067

25. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • During the Fiscal Year 2000, the West Virginia Legislature, under the leadership of Delegates Armstead, Harrison, Anderson, Romine, Calvert, Houston and Shelton, enacted (HB-4784) which allows eligible youth in foster care to receive tuition waivers for the purpose of attending a West Virginia public college or university.

26. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • Who is eligible?Within limitations of the governing boards for higher education, the waiver program is available to ANY youth who: • graduated from high school or passed the GED examination while in the legal custody of the State Department of Health and Human Resources; • was in family foster care or residential care for at least one year immediately preceding graduation; • applies for the waiver within two years of graduating from high school or passing the GED; • has been accepted to a West Virginia public institution of higher education; • applies for other student financial aid, other than student loans, in compliance with federal financial aid rules, including the Pell Grant.

27. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • What does the waiver pay for? • The waiver covers tuition and fees after other sources of financial aid dedicated solely to tuition and fees are exhausted.

28. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • What is not covered by the waiver? • The waiver does NOT cover room and board or the cost of books.

29. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • Would a youth have to apply for a waiver each of the four years? • Yes. The youth must continue to meet the academic progress standards established by the West Virginia college or university they are attending in order to maintain waiver eligibility.

30. Foster Care Tuition Waiver • Where does youth apply for a West Virginia Foster Care Tuition Waiver? • At the financial aid office of the college or university where accepted. • A letter on DHHR letterhead signed by the DHRR Regional Director will be required as proof of foster/residential care placement on year prior to graduation. This initiative is part of a collaborative between the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families and the Center for Excellence in Disabilities.

31. Chafee Community Support Services • Contact: Toll-Free 1-866-720-3605 The State Department of Health and Human Resource Office, Bureau for Children and Families, Chafee Foster Care Program, 350 Capitol Street, Room 691, Charleston, WV 25301 Fax 304-558-4563

33. Chafee Fact SheetsChafee ApplicationChafee CSS Contacts Section 2 Insert this slide in sheet protector