2. HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board (EYAB) Corner
HEY will begin recruiting for the new EYAB in late February 2008 with the new EYAB anticipated to start in March 2008. HEY Project Manager, Dana Mandolesi will contact local providers who have expressed interest in referring former foster youth advocates to apply for EYAB 2008. If you would like more information about recruitment please contact Dana Mandolesi at 415-808-4284 or dmandolesi@uwba.org.
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3. Policy Updates
Local Budget
Facing a $229 million projected deficit, San Francisco begins a difficult budget process this month as Commissions hold hearings on department budgets. We will post any upcoming meetings, but please check with your local departments for budget hearings and information.
Local Policy
Access SF Announces SF VOTES February 2008 Series Presentation - Non-partisan programming covers the City’s Local Ballots Measures slated to come before SF voters on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008. On Access SF 2 – Comcast Channel 76, Astound Channel 30 and ATT Channel 99 - Streaming on the Internet on Access World at http://accesssf.c.topica.com/maajr0MabD5BHbLhcRjbafpNzr/
From January 10th through February 4th 2008
State Budget
from Foster Youth Alliance Weekly e-Bulletin
GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSES MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN FOSTER CARE FUNDING FOR 08-09 BUT SPARES SAFETY NET FOR EMANCIPATING FOSTER YOUTH
- The Budget includes General Fund reductions for the Department of Social Services of $33.7 million in 2007-08 and $658.7 million in 2008-09.
Foster Care
- General Fund Savings of $83.7 million in 2008-09 from reducing the allocation to counties for Child Welfare Services (an 11.4% reduction). Counties will be able to choose how to apportion the reduced allocation to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable children and their families and to minimize the risk of failing to meet federal outcome requirements.
- General Fund Savings of $6.8 million in 2007-08 and $81.5 million in 2008-09 from reducing rates for the basic care, specialized care, and clothing allowance for the Foster Care, Kin-GAP, and Adoption Assistance programs. This proposal also includes a reduction to maintenance payments for Foster Care, Group Homes, Foster Family Agencies, and Seriously Emotionally Disturbed placements.
- General Fund Savings of $2.3 million and a reduction of 33.0 positions in 2008-09 from reducing the frequency of random visits to licensed care facilities. Under this proposal, 14 percent of facilities would receive random inspections annually, equating to a visit for each facility approximately once every seven years. To mitigate health and safety impacts, no reduction will be made to follow-up inspection schedules for facilities that have previously been found to be out of compliance with licensing standards.
Mental Health
- Reduce Rates for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT): A reduction of $6.7 million General Fund in the current year, and $46.3 million General Fund in the budget year. This includes elimination of a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), a reduction of 5% SGF of the non-inpatient state maximum allowance (SMA) for non-inpatient services, and new requirements for prior authorization of day treatment services that exceed 6 months.
- Reduce County Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care Funding: A 10% reduction to county mental health plans for managing the Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Managed Care Program in both the current and budget years. This totals $8.2 million General Fund in the current year and $23.8 million General Fund in the budget year.
Child Welfare Services/Foster Care/Adoptions
Foster care caseload is projected to be 72,274 in 2008-09, a reduction of 0.5 percent from the current year.
- Across-the-Board Cut – The Administration proposes a reduction in the child welfare services allocation of 11.4 percent, or $129.6 million ($83.7 million GF) for 2008-09 as part of its deficit reduction package. This cut will impact all counties including the two Title IV-E Waiver counties. The reductions are derived from CWS basic and all premise items, with the exception of Adoptions, CWS/CMS, and OCAP.
- Foster Care Rate Reductions – The budget proposes a 10 percent rate reduction for foster family homes and group homes, to take effect June 1, 2008, as part of the deficit reductions. This reduction impacts the basic rate, specialized care, clothing allowance, seriously emotionally disturbed children, KinGAP and AAP payments. The budget proposes a 5 percent rate reduction for foster family agencies.
SAFETY NET FOR EMANCIPATED FOSTER YOUTH IS SPARED FROM THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Transitional Housing for Foster Youth – The budget maintains current-year funding and provides an additional $5.2 million GF for 2008-09 to fund counties currently implementing THP Plus in the current year. This assumes no increases to the number of implementing counties or increases in number of beds. The Transitional Housing Program for youth still in care remains level-funded in the current and budget year. The budget year includes the same amounts as the revised current year and will be updated in the May Revise.
Federal Budget
The President's FY 2009 Budget Proposal: Analysis and Policy Implications
You are invited to join a Federal Budget Briefing, "The President's FY 2009 Budget Proposal: Analysis and Policy Implications," on Tuesday, February 5 at 2 pm. To participate, please RSVP by February 1:
- Please email your NAME, ORGANIZATION (if applicable), CITY, STATE, PHONE NUMBER and EMAIL ADDRESS to advocacy@naeh.org.
- You will receive a receipt with information about how to join the Budget Briefing.
Why Join the Briefing?
Each year, on the first Monday in February, the President releases a budget proposal which reflects the Administration's funding priorities for the next fiscal year. This jump- starts the year's federal appropriations process and our federal advocacy initiatives. The President's Budget is meant to guide Congress as they decide on funding levels for all federal programs.
Presenters will provide analyses of the President's budget, discuss its impact on housing and homeless programs, and share how participants can partner with us in our federal advocacy work in the coming year.
Federal Policy
For more on where 2008 presidential candidates stand on issues that are important to children and families, check out the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity initiative.
THP-Plus News
County Plans Due Next Friday: THP-Plus County Plans are due to CDSS by next Friday, February 1st. If there are no changes in the county or provider plans, submission of the plan on February 1st is not required. If, however, your county has changed its provision of THP-Plus or would like to expand in 08-09, it is required that your county submit a plan. As a reminder, the THP-Plus County Plan is the second part of a two-part process. The first was a Letter of Intent, sent by each County Child Welfare Agency to CDSS on October 15, 2007. The LOI included several items of information, namely how many beds of THP-Plus the county would like to implement in the 08-09 fiscal year. For more information, please refer to All County Information Notice I-56-07, which can be accessed online.
4. Articles
Jan 17 • California State University sets freshman deadline at Feb. 1
San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 13 • Kids reunite with families after living in foster care homes
San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 11 • Governor’s Budget Proposal—Social Service
San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 18 • Investing in foster youth: It pays off in long run
The Reporter
Jan 17 • New campaign seeks to place gay foster youth
Bay Area Reporter
Jan 11 • Critics say plans will hurt children, seniors
Inside Bay Area
Jan 10 • Foster youth deliver recommendations from first statewide career development summit at legislative hearing
Press Release
Jan 9 • Getting beyond the foster care system: what works for teens
CFK Weekly
RELATED NEWS
Jan 14 • Bayview revitalization comes with huge price to black residents
San Francisco Chronicle
Jan 9 • Risky sexual behavior of newly homeless youth varies
Science Daily
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5. Reports
Fourteen States Face Major Budget Shortfalls, 12 Others Expect Budget Problems, 2008
More than half of states anticipate budget problems for fiscal year 2009, according to this updated analysis of state fiscal conditions from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Is yours among them? CBPP and many other organizations will monitor the impact of budget woes on programs and services for families and children. Find out more and download the report.
State of the States 2008
Governors across the country are leading the push to address critical problems in their states -- including health care and education. "And, they're doing it by forging bipartisan alliances in their state legislatures" in ways the federal government can't seem to do, according to the latest annual report from Stateline.org. The report covers specific improvements, challenges, policy developments and hot topics. To find out more and to download the report click here [link to http://archive.stateline.org/flash-data/StateOfTheStates2008.pdf]
Foster Care Dynamics 2000-2005: A Report from the multistate foster care data archive, 2007
Using data from a sample of 348,695 children admitted to foster care for the first time between 2000 and 2005, this report provides a general overview of what happens when children are placed in foster care. The data include changes in the number of children in care, chances of entering care, placement type, movement, and exit rates. The report uses data from the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive, a repository of administrative data provided by state child welfare agencies to Chapin Hall to support research and development in the child welfare field, with specific emphasis on children who are placed in foster care. Because of the large number of children for whom data are collected and how the data are organized, the report provides a useful baseline for studying entry and exit patterns. The study was funded by Casey Family Programs. Download the full report.
6. Opportunities
MHA-SF is hiring
Visit the Employment opportunities page on MHA-SF website for several exciting job opportunities at MHA-SF. Thank you for helping to spread the word to qualified candidates!
A “Ticket to Work” for Transitioning Youth—and those who work with them
If you work with teens with disabilities, you'll want to know about the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work (TTW) program. Its Youth Transition portion offers funds for organizations that help students receiving Social Security disability benefits find employment. TTW is actively seeking to fund youth-serving organizations. Is it right for you? In this Q & A, Melody Goodspeed, Youth Transition Specialist for TTW, answers some common questions about the funding. For more information, click here.
YTEC Youth Leadership Program is recruiting
The YTEC Youth Leadership Program is looking for young adults who are transitioning out of the juvenile justice and or foster care system to research, design and conduct city-wide workshops on social justice issues relevant to todays' young people. The range is 14-24 years and it is a stipended part-time after school position for minimum wage. The program runs Mondays through Thursdays 4:30 -7:00p.m. and we are located in bungalow W-1 next to YGC on Woodside Avenue. Another element of the program is an Expressive Arts component in which the youth are trained in spoken word and performance art which culminates in an annual youth conference where they showcase their workshops and dramatic pieces.
If you know of any young adult (s) who are 1. Clean & Sober 2. Interested in self-improvement 3. On some education or vocational track 4. Interested in Social Justice work, please pass on this information. Questions? Contact: Ada Rios-Rivera at 415-242-7211
Social Work Perspectives Quarterly, Call for Submissions
Social Work Perspectives (SWP) Editorial Board is now accepting student and community members’ submissions of articles, poetry, artwork and photography for publication in Social Work Perspectives. This annual journal is published by graduate social work students at San Francisco State University. Dedicated to addressing progressive social justice and the needs and aspirations of diverse populations, this journal is disseminated nationally and internationally.
The theme for the 19th Edition (2008) is “Visions of Change…The Future of Social Work.” The underlying concept of the future of social work is set in the progressive ways the field is expanding. The journal will focus on how social work addresses working with disenfranchised populations, and the inequities they face. It will look at creating new practices that empower clients of diverse backgrounds. Topics may include preventive measures in the child welfare system, new directions in social work in institutions such as prisons and rehabilitation facilities, innovations in mental health, and developments reflecting new social work practices.
Deadline is Feb 8, 2008. For more information, click here.
e-Quality Scholarships Available—apply today!
The eQuality Scholarship Collaborative awards scholarships to graduating high-school seniors in northern and central California for their service to the LGBT community. In 2008, 10 or more $5000 scholarships will be awarded to assist with post-secondary educational expenses - tuition, books, and supplies.
Applications are available from high school guidance counselors throughout Northern and Central California as well as at http://www.allyaction.org/scholarship.
Applicants must:
- be graduating from a high school in northern or central California;
- have applied to an accredited post-secondary institution - college, university, or trade school.
Completed applications, including transcripts and a letter of recommendation, must be postmarked no later than February 16, 2008.
The Collaborative is the joint effort of a group of individuals and organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Organizational members include PG&E PrideNetwork, KP Pride, Genentech Out & Equal, Ally Action, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and GSA Network.
For more information or to download an application, visit the Collaborative's web site at http://www.allyaction.org/scholarship.
Larkin Street Youth Services scholarship opportunity
The College Access Foundation of California (formerly the TEFFC Educational Scholarship) has a great opportunity for youth seriously interested in receiving up to $5000 for their unmet needs directly payable to them over the academic year. In addition to being motivated and committed, youth must agree to the following conditions of the scholarship:
- Meet regularly with HIRE-UP education manager
- Participate in regular college support and life skills groups at LSYS
- Regularly attend classes
- Maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA
- Save a minimum of 30% of their income, to be returned upon exit from the program
This program is for youth who are motivated, show-up and are committed to their educational goals … There are fifteen available slots for Spring 2008, please contact Rick Stanuikynas at 415-673-0911, ext. 211 for more information.
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7. Upcoming Events
Transitional Youth Task Force Celebration and Launch, Jan 28 from 4-6 p.m. at City Hall
Click here to download the flyer outlining details about the Transitional Youth Task Force celebration and launch event on January 28th from 4:00 - 6:00 at City Hall.
CYC’s Annual Day at the Capitol Rally, Jan 28 at 12 p.m.
JANUARY 28, 2008
12:00pm
STATE CAPITOL, WEST STEPS
10th and L Streets, Sacramento
California Youth Connection’s (CYC) Day at the Capitol annual conference is just around the corner! Every year, CYC holds a great advocacy and empowerment event, the Day at the Capitol conference! At Day at the Capitol, CYC members, who are current and former foster youth ages 14-24, are trained on the legislative process and have the opportunity to meet with members of the California state legislature and the Governor’s staff to discuss their ideas for improving the foster care system and CYC’s legislative issues for the year.
But their efforts reach beyond the walls of the Capitol building. To raise both legislators’ and community members’ awareness of foster care, CYC holds a rally on the steps of the Capitol. Members speak out about their experiences in care and CYC’s legislative issues for the year, and chapters make posters to publicize their passion and their ideas for improving foster care. Please join us and show your support for current and former foster youth working to improve the foster care system and CYC!
For more information about the rally, please contact Kristal McKoy at 415.442.5060, ext. 12
Save-the-Date: Taking Action 2008-Youth Creating Change Conference
California Coalition for Youth
Taking Action 2008 - Youth Creating Change Conference
March 30 – April 1, Sacramento CA
More information available soon at www.calyouth.org
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 About
Honoring Emancipated Youth
Honoring Emancipated Youth (HEY) is a San Francisco-based intermediary providing leadership to the Bay Area foster care community by convening and informing stakeholders of trends and best practices in order to raise public awareness and promote successful foster care policies. HEY is committed to the inclusion of current and former foster care youth, service providers, and community members in identifying and promoting strategies and best practices that ensure there are effective systems to serve foster care youth in achieving a successful transition into adulthood.
For more information or if you would like to subscribe others,
please contact Sara Razavi at srazavi@uwba.org.
Honoring Emancipated Youth
A Community Project of United Way of the Bay Area
221 Main Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94105
415.808.4435
www.heysf.org
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