Sponsored by

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School Site Professional Development Workshop
Educational Needs of Dependent Youth
                                  
Prepared by
Sponsored by
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Dependency The Puzzle Comes Together
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Learning Objectives

• Increased awareness of the foster care system
• Increased understanding of your role relative to
  youth in foster care

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Dependency

• A generic term for children living in
  out-of-home care
• Youth living in foster homes, group homes,
  relative care, institutions, or with their birth
  families under supervision
• Overseen by the government may be contracted out
• Youth usually have history of child abuse,
  neglect or abandonment
• Undocumented youth may also be in the dependency
  system

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Basic Facts about Foster Care

• Number of children
• 520,000 in the United States
• 30,000 in Florida
• 5000 in Miami-Dade County
• Average length of stay
• 3 years for all youth in foster care
• 6 years for youth who turn 18 while in care
• - Casey Family Programs

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Abuse Report -gt Child Taken into Custody
Shelter Hearing
Sounding
Adjudicatory Hearing
Case Planning Conference
Disposition
Judicial Review
Child Returned To Parent
Alternative Long- Term Placement
Termination of Parental Rights
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Endless Dreams
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Primary Concern
The educational needs of the nearly half million
youth in foster care have largely gone
unrecognized
                                  
- United
States Department of
Health and Human Services
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Educational Challenges

• Enrollment in school
• Identification of youth
• Assessment of educational needs
• Delivery of services
• Monitoring of academic progress
• Collaboration among entities

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Expressed Youth Needs

• Uncertainty of living arrangements
• Concerns about biological families
• Peer Relationships
• Adult Support
• Academic assistance
• Attendance issues

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Negative Outcomes

• 50-60 do not graduate from high school.
• 25 of prison population were in foster youth.
• 25 of youth who age out of foster care are
  homeless within 12-18 months.
• 34 end up on welfare.
• 20 of females give birth shortly after leaving
  care.

- Connect for Kids
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How would I have gotten help with school if my
counselor hadnt had seen my potential and helped
me with each step of getting into college?
-Melissa, 19,
University of Florida, Foster youth
Real Lives
If someone wouldnt have cared so much about me
going to school, I never would have had the
motivation to start.
-Jeffrey, 20, Miami Dade College, Foster
Youth
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Bringing the Pieces Together

• Circle of support
• Positive peer relationships
• Caring adult supports who respect youths privacy
• Permanency
• Stable home
• Stable school setting
• Youth involvement
• Clubs
• Sports
• Positive youth development
• Responsibilities
• Leadership building activities
• Self-advocacy

- National Foster Youth Advisory Council

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Building Rapport
FRAGILE
Compassion
Availability
Trust
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Where is the Time?
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Who Can Help?

• Juvenile Court Contacts (i.e. You)
• Teachers
• Guardians or Foster Parents
• Group home staff
• Relatives
• Case managers
• Coaches
• Mentors
• Other school staff

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Local Resources

• JJSO District Court Liaisons
• Juvenile Court Contacts
• Guardians Ad Litem (lt 18 years old)
• Take Stock in Children
• Transitioning Youth Project (gt 18 years old)
• Mentoring Programs
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters (lt 16 years old)
• Educate Tomorrow (gt 15 years old)

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Why Are You Vital?

• The Story of Melissa Fan Fan

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Educational Opportunities for Dependent Youth

• State Road To Independence Program
• Tuition Waivers
• Monthly Stipend
• Transitional Independent Living Funds

• Federal and National educational funding
• Grants
• Pell
• Scholarships
• Orphan Foundation
• Florida Independent College Fund

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Famous Foster Children

• Alonzo Mourning / NBA
• Cher / Singer Actress
• Daunte Culpepper / NFL
• Eddie Murphy / Actor Comedienne
• Ice-T / Singer Actor
• Marilyn Monroe / Actress
• Tommy Davidson / Actor Comedienne
• Victoria Rowell / Dancer Model