Four Years of Research into Practice

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Four Years of Research into Practice

• Targeted methods for improving education results
  for children and young people in Western Sydney
  Foster Care, UnitingCare Burnside.

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Overview

• 1996 independent evaluation of Foster Care
  Western Sydney (C Quinn Consultancy)
• 2004 research paper to assess educational
  outcomes of original cohort
• 2005 Working group established to workshop
  outcomes of report
• 2006 Annual Education Census established
• 2008 Working group work completed, ongoing
  strategies embedded within program.

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Aims of New Directions report (2004)

• Examine the educational performance of this
  sample group of children and young people
  involved in Burnsides Foster Care Program.
• Identify factors and strategies employed to
  improve educational performance.
• Assess how Burnsides practice aligns with the
  research literature.
• Provide a guide for improvement of the
  educational support given in Burnside's Foster
  Care Program.

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Methodolgy

• Thirty-six comprehensive file reviews
• Interviews with Burnside Caseworkers who had
  worked with the thirty-six children and young
  people
• Case study interviews with five young people who
  made significant educational achievements despite
  barriers to success

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Outcomes

• Burnside came out well in the research in terms
  of
• placement and school stability
• participation in extra-curricular activities
• very low after care parenthood rates
• high levels of commitment to educational goals
  and a culture of celebrating successes in this
  area
• adequate study facilities and supports for most,
  and
• had educational issues addressed in their case
  plans.

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However.

• . Only 38.46 of those old enough in the cohort
  had completed Year 12. This compared with the NSW
  statistics that 80 of those living with their
  birth families complete Year 12 compared to 35.6
  of those in care.
• We asked Why is this so?

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Our process

• Internal working group set up mid 2005 met
  twice p.a.
• Comprised of Director, 2 managers, 2
  coordinators.
• Strategies for the 8 recommendations developed
  and tracked in Minutes, re-assessed each meeting.
• Annual education census and report strategy
  developed 2006
• Mid 2008 strategies assessed as embedded and
  processes ongoing within team.

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Resultant strategies and outcomes

• Retention to Year 12 is up to 93-100, way above
  the State average.
• All children and young people with learning
  challenges are promptly linked in with
  educational assessments and supports.
• In 2007, 80 of young people who had left school
  the year before were engaged in further learning
  TAFE, university or trade courses.

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Resultant strategies and outcomes

• Offers of vocational counselling were made to 50
  of young people 14 years and older
• All preschool children attending quality early
  childhood services.
• All young people encouraged to engage with
  tutoring, even those experiencing success.
• In 2007 84 of the children and young people of
  school age in care were able to identify
  educational goals

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What did we learn?

• Start with a piece of external research and build
  on this with a focus on recommendations
• Do this within a team that includes a high level
  Director to keep it on track and as a high
  priority.
• Address learning supports flexibly to meet each
  childs individual needs.
• Provide career counselling and a forward focus

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What did we learn?

• Keep birth parents in the loop and educate them
  to support positive academic outcomes
• Track every piece of information available from
  schools
• Involve the whole team on a regular basis for
  reflection on has been achieved and what needs to
  be addressed over the next 12 months

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What did we learn?

• Have flexibly delivered education wrap around
  funding for each child and young person in care.
• Utilise additional support to help young people
  transition into tertiary studies.
• Train carers in strategies to support young
  people and maintain that focus.

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And make success happen!