San Francisco Unified School District Student Support Services Department

1. San Francisco Unified School DistrictStudent Support Services Department Our Community, Our Children: Supporting Permanency

2. How many foster youth are there? In the United States…………… In California…………………… In San Francisco……………… In SFUSD……………………… Over 500,000 Over 80,000 Approximately 1200 Approximately 500 How Long? 44% of current SF foster children have been in care for at least 5 years

3. Where do foster youth live? Kinship Care/Relative Placement Foster Family Homes Group Homes Residential Treatment Facilities

4. Where do foster youth go to school? ISA Thurgood Marshall Mission Francisco HoraceMann Bret Harte Burton Everett James Lick Lincoln Newcomer Washington Aptos Ida B Wells Lowell Gianinni SOTA Downtown Willie Brown Hoover Balboa

5. What are the impacts for educating Foster Youth? 35% of foster youth have experienced 4 or more school changes Each school move results in a 6-month loss of educational progress 46% do not complete high school As few as 10% enroll in college Only 4% obtain any type of degree or certificate 70% of foster youth express an interest in pursuing postsecondary education

7. What is Permanency? Permanency is both a process and a result that includes involvement of the youth as a participant or leader in finding a permanent connection with at least one committed adult who provides: • A safe, stable and secure parenting relationship • Love • Unconditional Commitment • Lifelong support in the context of reunification, a legal adoption, or guardianship, where possible, and in which the youth has the opportunity to maintain contacts with important persons including brothers and sisters.

8. The Importance of Permanency Children often languish in foster care for years, drifting from placement to placement, or remaining in the uncertain limbo of the foster care system, until they reach the age of maturity, at which time they “age-out” of the system with little support or emotional connections. These youth want the long-term stability they feel a family will bring even as adults. Youth seek out relatives, and remain connected to foster parents or others they met while in the foster care system. It is these relationships, these emotional connections that will have the greatest impact on the young person’s ability to navigate the difficult transitions into adulthood. Excerpt from Permanency Planning: Creating Lifelong Connections 2000

9. Key Principles of Permanency • All children/youth have a right to life-long permanent relationships • All children / youth have a right to a permanent family • All children / youth are adoptable • Youth must be central in their permanency planning • Expect “No” to be the first answer from youth when asked if they want permanency. • Connections to the past and the present are providers for the future • Fostering the notion of inter-dependent living rather than independent living for youth aging out of care promotes the best outcomes for youth. • A cooperative partnership between agencies, youth and their families/caregivers/supportive adults is essential to achieving the best outcomes for youth. • You have to believe! • Persistence does payoff! Excerpt from CPYP – Lessons Learned 2005

10. What Does Permanency Look Like? A Supportive Community Educational Surrogacy Respite Care Back-up Childcare Mentor A Stable, Caring Short-Term Home Foster Family Agency Foster Home (varying levels) County Foster Home Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM) Transitional Housing (PATH program) A Permanent Family Adoption Guardianship

12. Because of the 2009-2010 Foster/Adopt Recruitment Campaign…Child-specific cases: 52Confirmed supportive placement options: 29 People expressing continued interest: 37People that attended an information/orientation session: 30 Community events: 150Recruitment efforts to increase awareness of the need for permanent support: City-wide

13. How YOU Can Support Permanency In Your Community • Serve as a point of contact for referring families and youth to the FYS Liaison at a nearby school • Suggest venues for permanency presentations • Organize a permanency task force in your neighborhood • Participate in a Permanency Pact with a known youth • Encourage others in your community to become involved in the life of a foster youth • Advocate for permanency of all foster youth • Spread the word…

14. www.healthiersf.org/fys

15. Upcoming Orientation Wednesday, 5:30-7:00pm 5:30pm Light Dinner provided, 6:00pm Orientation Begins Individual and Small Group Orientations offered upon request!

16. Next Steps • Take 5 minutes to complete the Permanency Commitment Cards • Share ideas with partner • Complete & turn in Interest Form

17. Be the One or Find the One I pledge to support foster youth in my school by: • ____________________________________ • ____________________________________ • ____________________________________

18. QUESTIONS?

19. For more information Our Community, Our Children Campaign • Tara Leiker, Permanency Coordinator • (415) 242-2615, Ext. 3247 • geer-leikert@sfusd.edu • Lonnie Webb, LSP • (415) 242-2615, Ext. 3408 • bwlonnie@hotmail.com www.healthiersf.org/FYS • SF Recruitment Information Line • (415) 558-2200

20. A Collaborative Partnership… Thank you for coming!We are here to help!

21. Our Community, Our Children