San Francisco Unified School District Student Support Services

San Francisco Unified School District Student Support Services Department Our Community, Our Children: Supporting Permanency

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

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

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

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

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: C A safe, stable and secure parenting relationship C Love C Unconditional Commitment C 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.

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

Key Principles of Permanency Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø 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

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

Because of the 2009 -2010 Foster/Adopt Recruitment Campaign… Child-specific cases: 52 Confirmed 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 Permanency In Your Community Ø Ø Ø Ø 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

Upcoming Orientation Wednesday, 5: 30 -7: 00 pm 5: 30 pm Light Dinner provided, 6: 00 pm Orientation Begins Date Location October 13 th School Health Programs Dept, SFUSD 1515 Quintara Street, Room 8 Individual and Small Group Orientations offered upon request!

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

Be the One or Find the One I pledge to support foster youth in my school by: l ____________________________________ l __________________

QUESTIONS ?

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

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

Our Community, Our Children