San Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School DistrictStudent Support Services DepartmentStudent Support Services Department

Our Community, Our Children: Supporting Permanency

How many foster How many foster youth are there?youth are there?

In the United States……………In the United States……………In California……………………In California……………………In San Francisco………………In San Francisco………………In SFUSD………………………In SFUSD………………………

Over 500,000Over 500,000Over 80,000Over 80,000Approximately 1200Approximately 1200Approximately 500Approximately 500

How Long?

44% of current SF foster children have been in care for at

least 5 years

Where do foster youth Where do foster youth live?live?

Kinship Care/Relative PlacementKinship Care/Relative Placement Foster Family HomesFoster Family Homes Group HomesGroup Homes Residential Treatment FacilitiesResidential Treatment Facilities

Where do foster youth Where do foster youth go to school?go to school?

AptosAptos

GianinniGianinni

WashingtonWashington

Willie BrownWillie Brown

SOTASOTA

NewcomerNewcomer

MissionMission

LowellLowell

LincolnLincoln

Ida B WellsIda B Wells

DowntownDowntown

BurtonBurton

BalboaBalboa

EverettEverett

HooverHoover

HoraceHorace MannMann

James LickJames Lick

ISAISA

Bret HarteBret HarteFranciscoFrancisco

Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall

What are the impacts for What are the impacts for educating Foster Youth?educating Foster Youth?

35% of foster youth have experienced 4 or more 35% of foster youth have experienced 4 or more school changesschool changes

Each school move results in a 6-month loss of Each school move results in a 6-month loss of educational progress educational progress

46% 46% do not do not complete high schoolcomplete high school As few as 10% enroll in collegeAs few as 10% enroll in college Only 4% obtain any type of degree or certificateOnly 4% obtain any type of degree or certificate 70% of foster youth express an interest in 70% of foster youth express an interest in

pursuing postsecondary educationpursuing postsecondary education

Permanency Permanency is both a process and a resultis both a process and a result that includes that includes involvement of the youth as a participant or leader in involvement of the youth as a participant or leader in finding a permanent connection with at least one finding a permanent connection with at least one committed adult who provides:committed adult who provides:

A safe, stable and secure parenting relationshipA safe, stable and secure parenting relationship LoveLove Unconditional CommitmentUnconditional Commitment Lifelong support in the context of Lifelong support in the context of reunificationreunification, a , a

legal adoptionlegal adoption, or , or guardianshipguardianship, where possible, , where possible, and in which the youth has the opportunity to and in which the youth has the opportunity to maintain contacts with important personsmaintain contacts with important persons including brothers and sisters.including brothers and sisters.

What is Permanency?What is Permanency?

The Importance of The Importance of PermanencyPermanency

Children often languish in foster care for years, drifting from Children often languish in foster care for years, drifting from placement to placement, or remaining in the uncertain limbo of placement to placement, or remaining in the uncertain limbo of the foster care system, until they reach the age of maturity, at the foster care system, until they reach the age of maturity, at which time they “age-out” of the system with little support or which time they “age-out” of the system with little support or emotional connections. These youth want the long-term stability emotional connections. These youth want the long-term stability

they feel a family will bring even as adults.they feel a family will bring even as adults.

Youth seek out relatives, and remain connected to foster parents or Youth seek out relatives, and remain connected to foster parents or others they met while in the foster care system. It is these others they met while in the foster care system. It is these relationships, these emotional connections that will have the relationships, these emotional connections that will have the greatest impact on the young person’s ability to navigate the greatest impact on the young person’s ability to navigate the difficult transitions into adulthood.difficult transitions into adulthood.

Excerpt from Permanency Planning: Creating Lifelong Connections 2000Excerpt from Permanency Planning: Creating Lifelong Connections 2000

All children/youth have a right to life-long permanent relationshipsAll children/youth have a right to life-long permanent relationships All children / youth have a right to a permanent familyAll children / youth have a right to a permanent family All children / youth All children / youth areare adoptable adoptable Youth must be central in their permanency planningYouth must be central in their permanency planning Expect “No” to be the first answer from youth when asked if they Expect “No” to be the first answer from youth when asked if they

want permanency.want permanency. Connections to the past and the present are providers for the futureConnections to the past and the present are providers for the future Fostering the notion of inter-dependent living rather than Fostering the notion of inter-dependent living rather than

independent living for youth aging out of care promotes the best independent living for youth aging out of care promotes the best outcomes for youth.outcomes for youth.

A cooperative partnership between agencies, youth and their A cooperative partnership between agencies, youth and their families/caregivers/supportive adults is essential to achieving the families/caregivers/supportive adults is essential to achieving the best outcomes for youth.best outcomes for youth.

You have to believe!You have to believe! Persistence does payoff!Persistence does payoff!

Excerpt from CPYP – Lessons Learned 2005Excerpt from CPYP – Lessons Learned 2005

Key Principles of PermanencyKey Principles of Permanency

What Does Permanency Look Like?What Does Permanency Look Like? A Supportive CommunityA Supportive Community

o Educational SurrogacyEducational Surrogacyo Respite CareRespite Careo Back-up ChildcareBack-up Childcareo MentorMentor

A Stable, Caring Short-Term HomeA Stable, Caring Short-Term Homeo Foster Family Agency Foster Home (varying levels)Foster Family Agency Foster Home (varying levels)o County Foster Home County Foster Home

• Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM)Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM)o Transitional Housing (PATH program)Transitional Housing (PATH program)

A Permanent Family A Permanent Family o AdoptionAdoptiono GuardianshipGuardianship

Because of the 2009-2010 Foster/Adopt Recruitment Campaign…

Child-specific cases: 52Confirmed supportive placement options: 29

People expressing continued interest: 37

People that attended an information/orientation session: 30 Community events: 150

Recruitment efforts to increase awareness of the need for permanent support:

City-wide

How YOU Can Support How YOU Can Support Permanency In Your CommunityPermanency 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…

www.healthiersf.org/fys

DateDate LocationLocation

October 13th School Health Programs Dept, SFUSD1515 Quintara Street, Room 8

Upcoming OrientationUpcoming Orientation

5:30pm Light Dinner provided, 6:00pm Orientation Begins5:30pm Light Dinner provided, 6:00pm Orientation Begins

Wednesday, 5:30-7:00pmWednesday, 5:30-7:00pm

Individual and Small Group Orientations offered upon request!

Next StepsNext Steps Take 5 minutes to complete the Take 5 minutes to complete the

Permanency Commitment CardsPermanency Commitment Cards Share ideas with partnerShare ideas with partner Complete & turn in Interest FormComplete & turn in Interest Form

Be the One or Find the OneBe the One or Find the OneI pledge to support foster youth in my school by: I pledge to support foster youth in my school by:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONQUESTION

SS??

For more informationFor more information

SF Recruitment Information LineSF Recruitment Information Line(415) 558-2200(415) 558-2200

www.healthiersf.org/FYSwww.healthiersf.org/FYS

Our Community, Our Children CampaignOur Community, Our Children Campaign

Tara Leiker, Permanency Coordinator(415) 242-2615, Ext. 3247geer-leikert@sfusd.edu

Lonnie Webb, LSP(415) 242-2615, Ext. 3408bwlonnie@hotmail.com

A Collaborative PartnershipA Collaborative Partnership……

Thank you for coming!Thank you for coming! We are here to help!We are here to help!

Our Community, Our Children