Child Welfare and Housing Access Summit

1. Child Welfare and Housing Access Summit Utilizing Child Welfare Resources June 12, 2012

2. Housing Challenges in Aging out of Foster care • School vs. working or school AND working • Transportation • Education - what it takes to live on your own • Budgeting • More than an apartment – set-up and living expenses • Leases • What can I afford • Do I need a roommate • Security deposit • Who will rent to me • Do I need a co-signer • What about my foster parent • Is there someone I can count on for help • Is it safe

3. Services for older youth • Project LIFE - enhancing the successful transition of older foster youth to adulthood by increasing the capacity of professionals working with youth and promoting permanent connections and effective preparation for transition to adulthood • Chafee Independent Living Program Funds - flexible funding available for older adolescents in an independent living skills, aftercare, or transitional living program • Education and Training Voucher Program Funds - offers financial assistance to eligible current and former foster youth to attend an accredited college, university, vocational or technical college. • Local Department’s of Social Services – provide hands on advocacy and service connections • Foster parents – permanent connections for life

4. Project LIFE • Youth leadership opportunities • Independent living skills workshops and events • Independent Living Skill Assessment • Virginia Youth Advisory Council – opportunities for learning and networking • Regional learning events • Training and technical assistance for local department staff and staff of private child placing agencies – (Chafee and ETV)

5. Chafee independent living funds • $1.7 million state-wide • 30% maximum for use with housing • Room and board (how state defines it) • Can use funds for security deposit, rent, emergency housing (e.g., hotel room), utilities • Non-housing-related Expenses • Transportation • Car purchase, insurance, repairs, etc. • Bus tokens, etc. • Drivers ed • Work-related costs • uniforms

6. Chafee education and training vouchers • Monetary support to meet the education and training needs of foster care youth. • $600,000 statewide • Must be in post-secondary education or training program • No more than $5,000/youth/year • Limited use for Housing • Room and board for dorm room or help with summer living arrangements • Increase available funds for R & B by using PEL grant or other funds for tuition and fees

7. Csa independent living stipend • No annual limit on funds (statewide) • $644 / youth / month limit • FAPT/CPMT approval needed • Flexible funding (based on CPMT policies and youth’s needs) • Room and board • Utilities • Transportation costs • Other • Funds should supplement what is received through Chafee and ETV

8. Great expectations • Not a social services program • Intended to help with post-secondary academic training for youth • Provides mentors to help youth access services. Focus is: • Educational stability • Problem solving • Hands on service to youth – weekly at first • Transportation to school - funding for bus tokens, car repair

9. Local department’s of social services • Have allocation of Chafee funds to spend • Case management responsibility for older youth - Responsible for youth-driven transitional independent living plan • Assessment, IL skill development opportunities, one-to-one counseling, regular contact • Build strong collaborations in community • Landlords including foster parents • CSA • Employment opportunities • Great Expectations and other school contacts

10. Foster parents • The role of foster parents after age 18 • Piece-meal funds to access stable housing • Chafee and ETV funds • CSA Stipend • Youth responsibility (e.g., working and school; use of pay from work to help off-set expenses) • Foster parent responsibility (e.g., transportation for youth, room and board, etc.).