will participate in Federal program for the first time,
increasing to 52 the total number of jurisdictions
participation in the Independent Living Programs.
In line with current appropriation law, States must
spend FY 1998 and FY 1999 monies in accordance with the
former Section 477 provisions. No FY 1998 or FY 1999 funds
may be expended for costs incurred under the new provisions
implemented by Public Law 106-169. For example, no room and
board or services for children younger than 16 may be
provided with funds awarded prior to the enactment of the
new law. Also, amounts paid to the State under the law must
be used to supplement, not supplant, any other funds
available for the same general purposes.
Intended or Unintended Results
Intended benefits have already been discussed. They
include more educated foster children who would be more
employable, less foster children who become pregnant, less
foster children involved in the criminal justice system and
less homelessness.
Unintended results may include a group of young adults
that are still dependent on the state after turning 21.
This may cause more aged-out foster children to enroll into
welfare rolls and cause them to feel entitled to benefits.
Suggestions for Improvements
More money is needed to implement these services
appropriately. This would be the first change to be made.
An allotment of $30,000 per child for four years would be
set aside to pay university tuition. There would be a
requirement that all foster children either receive a high
school diploma or receive a GED by their 18th birthday and
enroll in a university or vocational school.
Personal and social functioning, health, education and
employment are all critical areas of well-being for young
people as they move toward adulthood. The experience that
result in children and youth being placed in foster care, as
well as the actual experience of foster care, can create
barriers to achieving well-being in any or all of these
areas. Coordinated efforts on the part of policymakers,
public official, caregivers, service providers, educators,
community members, and youth themselves would be critical to
the positive development of young people making the
transition to productive interdependence. Young people who
have left the foster care system say the disruptions in
education due to changing placements, inadequate preparation
for the workplace, lack of access to physical and mental
health care, and the immediate struggle for day-to-day
survival after leaving care make planning for a good future
very, very difficult. To ensure the well-being of
transitioning foster youth, I would: provide a continuum of
support and preparation for adulthood that begins when a
child or youth enters foster care and continues through the
post-emancipation period; stabilize foster care placements
to ensure educational continuity and achievement; increase
youth involvement in the planning and delivery of services
to transitioning youth at local, state, and national levels;
create national and local networks of foster youths and
former foster youths that will enhance overall levels of
support and participation; provide opportunities for
organizations serving older youth to network with each
other, communicate strategies, and coordinate service
delivery; facilitate greater coordination among and between
national and local education, housing, health, employment,
and assistance programs to better serve this population and
ensure accountability through data collection on 6-24 month
outcomes for youth leaving foster care and evaluation of
independent living services.
Bibliography
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAAP), Committee on Early
Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care. (1994,
February). Health care of children in foster care.
Pediatrics 93 (2), 1 – 4.
Burrell, K. & Perez-Ferreiro, V. (1995). A National Review
of Management of the Federally Funded Independent
Living Program. Boston, MA: Harvard UP. (Malcolm
Wiener Center for Social Policy, John F. Kennedy School
of Government).
Child Welfare League of America. (1989). CWLA standards for
independent living services. Washington, DC: Author.
Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human
Resources, Hearing Advisory (1999).[Online].
Available:http://house.gov/ways_means/humres/106cong/hr
-6.htm
Cook, R. (1991). A national evaluation of Title IV-E foster
care independent living programs for youth: Phase 2.
Rockville, MD: Westat, Inc. (Contract No. OHDS
105-87-1608, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services).
Cook, R., & Ansell, D.I. (1986). Independent living service
for youth in substitute care. Prepared for the
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Rockville, MD:
Westat, Inc., Contract OHOS 105-84-1814.
Cook, R., Fleishman, E., & Grimes, V.(1991) A national
evaluation of Title IV-E foster care independent living
programs for youth, Phase 2. (Final Report for Contract
105-87-1608). Rockville, MD: Westat, Inc.
Halfon, N., Berkowitz, G., & Klee, L. (1992a) Children in
foster care in California: An examination of Medicaid
reimbursed health services utilization. Pediatrics 89,
1230-1237.
Hochstadt, N., Jaudes, P., Zimo, D., & Schachter, J. (1987).
The medical and psychosocial needs of children entering
foster care. Child Abuse and Neglect 11, 3-62.
Homes for the Homeless, Homelessness: The Foster Care
Connection [Online]. Available:
http://www.opendoor.com/hfh/fostercare.html
Mech, E. (1994). Foster youth in transition: Research
perspectives on preparation for independent living.
Child Welfare, LXXIII (5), 603-623.
National Coalition for the Homeless (1998). Breaking the
Foster Care-Homelessness connection [On-line].
Available: http://nch.ari.nte/sn/1998/setp/foster.html
Nixon, R. (1999) Improving economic opportunity for youth
formerly served by the foster care system: Identifying
the support network’s strengths and needs: Final
Report. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of
America.
Petit, M.R., Curtis, P.A., Woodruff, K., Arnold, L.,
Feagans, L., & Ang. J. (1999). Child abuse and neglect:
A look at the states. Washington, DC: Child Welfare
League of America.
Schor, E.L. (1992). The foster care system and the health
status of foster children. Pediatrics 69 (5), 521-528.
Schor, E.L. (1988). Foster care. The Pediatric Clinics of
North America 35 (6), 1241-1252.
Simms, M.D. (1998). The foster care clinic: A community
program to identify treatment needs of children in
foster care. Journal of Development and Behavioral
Pediatrics 10, 121-128.
Stone, H. (1987). Ready, set, go: An agency guide to
independent living. Washington, DC: Child Welfare
League of America.
THOMAS.(2000). Bill Summary and Status for the 106th
Congress. [Online]. Available: http://thomas.loc.gov
Checklist
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