In this issue:
1. HEY, What’s Going On?!
2. HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board Corner
3. Policy Update
4. Articles
Report
5. Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future: A National Investment Strategy for Reconnecting America’s Youth, 2007
Book
6. Research for Action: Cross-National Perspectives on Connecting Knowledge, Policy, and Practice for Children, 2007
Opportunity
7. What’s going on with the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care
Events
8. Someone’s Somebody preformed for the 1st time in Contra Costa County Nov 18 & 21
9. “Wellness and Recovery in the Behavioral Health Workplace” Nov 30 from 9-5 p.m.
Resources
10. RESOURCE of the MONTH—THP-Plus Website Launched
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1. HEY, What’s Going On?!
HEY Training
“SFUSD Foster Youth Services and School-based Resources”
December 5th from 9:30-12 p.m. – NOTE: this is a date change.
This workshop will address the education needs of foster youth, while looking at available school-based services and resources. Participants will engage in a discussion with panel speakers and receive materials on local resources.
Panelists will include: ExCEL After School Program Coordinator, Learning Support Professional, Wellness Coordinator (waiting for confirmation), Positive School Climate Coordinator, Student Intervention Team representative (waiting for confirmation), SF-HSA Educational Liaison.
HEY Trainings are bi-monthly from 9:30-12 at San Francisco ILSP.
HEY Education Workgroup Meeting
This workgroup is a convening of local foster care education providers and supporters. Our goal is to provide training and support to direct service providers who work with foster youth.
Next meeting on Wednesday, November 28, from 9:30-11 at San Francisco ILSP.
Questions, please contact Sara Razavi at 415-808-4435
HEY Employment Workgroup Meeting
After two years, this workgroup has reconvened with new members and a new focus. Our goal is to map the local resources available to current and former foster youth to ensure foster youth have access to employment opportunities.
Next meeting is on Tuesday, Jan 22 from 2-3:30.
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2. HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board (EYAB) Corner
As part of HEY’s Youth Leadership Evaluation Project, HEY is convening some local youth leadership partners to evaluate how to improve youth leadership opportunities for local foster youth. The convening will include former EYAB members and will be an opportunity to reflect on past EYAB accomplishments and future goals. Our new EYAB members will come on board sometime in the Spring.
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3. Policy Update
From Office of the Governor (Press Release)
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Protect California Foster Youth
Building on his commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in foster care, Governor Schwarzenegger today signed a package of legislation that will further enhance the services for vulnerable children in our state.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and permanent home, surrounded by the nurturing influence of family and friends. It is California’s goal to ensure that this happens for all our young people and especially those in foster care,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “That is why I am proud to sign this package of legislation that will continue to protect and improve the lives of children and youth in foster care.”
The Governor signed the following six bills:
- AB 1331 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) which ensures foster youth with disabilities access to critical services that will support them in their transition to adulthood. It requires counties to screen foster youth between the age of 16 ½ and 17 ½ to determine their potential eligibility for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits and to make applications for those who may be eligible.
- AB 1453 by Assemblymember Nell Soto (D-Ontario) which convenes calls for the development and testing of a plan to transform the current system of group care for foster children and for children with serious emotional disorders into a system of residentially-based services (RBS) that is focused on improving outcomes.
- SB 785 by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that facilitates access to mental health services for foster children who are placed outside of the original county of jurisdiction, including those being adopted or entering into a guardianship with a relative.
- SB 39 by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) that allows the public release of specified portions of juvenile case files of any child who has suffered a fatality as the result of substantiated abuse or neglect.
- AB 340 by Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) which creates the Resource Family Pilot Program to establish a unified approval process for foster family homes, foster care providers and adoptive families. This program will streamline applications and reduce the duplicative process that foster and adoptive families must complete before foster youth can be placed in a safe, permanent home.
- AB 1512 by Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that creates an expedited process to ensure the continued provision of health benefits when foster youth are transferred from a county organized health system to an out-of-county placement.
Governor Schwarzeneggeralso signed AB 402 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) earlier this week which amends the inter-familial exemptions for property transfers and allows foster parents to transfer their property to current or former foster youth without the value of the property being reassessed for property tax purposes.
The Governor’s 2007-08 budget includes $4.1 billion ($1.6 billion General Fund) to support child welfare, including abuse prevention, foster care and adoption and foster care services, a 4.5 percent increase over revised 2006 Budget Act levels. Major investments in the child welfare system include:
- An increase of $3.7 million ($2 million General Fund), effective February 1, 2008, to double the reimbursement rate for non-profit private adoption agencies that specialize in finding permanent homes for children with high needs.
- An increase of $17.2 million ($9.6 million General Fund), effective January 1, 2008, to provide a 5-percent increase to foster family home base rates, specialized care increments, and group home rates; Adoption Assistance Program cases prospectively; and all Kin-GAP and Emergency Assistance cases.
- An increase of $30.8 million ($15.2 million General Fund) to create a standard rate paid to foster care and adoptive families who care for children with developmental disabilities. These children are served by both the Department of Social Services and the Department of Developmental Services. The effect of this change will be an expedited and streamlined process for families accessing services through this program. Under this change, the vast majority of families will receive a rate increase and no family will see a decrease. Children will continue to receive all necessary services related to their developmental disability through the regional center system.
- An increase of $20.2 million General Fund to increase participation in the Transitional Housing Plus Program, which provides services to youth between 18 and 24 years of age emancipating from the foster care system.
Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed May 2007 as “Foster Care Month” to applaud foster families for instilling emotional nourishment and hope into children who need a stable, loving home life. And last year, the Governor signed a package of bills designed to improve California’s foster care system and the safety of children entrusted to the state’s care.
Additionally in 2006, the Governor secured a first-of-its-kind federal waiver that provides unprecedented flexibility by allowing counties to use federal funds to support innovative strategies that keep children out of foster care and in safe, stable homes.
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Articles
“Schwarzenegger orders plan for 10% budget cuts” by Evan Halper, Los Angelese Times, Nov 6, 2007
Read the full article here.
“Boxer Victor Ortiz is his own man” by Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times, Nov 8, 2007
Read the full article here.
“Editorial—Moving forward on foster care” San Francisco Chronicle, Oct 15, 2007
Read the full article here.
“New Laws Will Help California’s Foster Children” KCBS 740AM, Oct, 13, 2007
Read the full article here.
“Governor signs bills to extend benefits for disabled foster kids” by Tom Chorneau, San Francisco Chronicle, Oct 12, 2007
Read the full article here.
“L.A. County child protection agency reduces foster care cases” Associated Press, Oct 10, 2007Read the full article here.
“Foster care students discover boost in Promise Scholars Program” Cal State Stanislaus News, Oct 2007
Read the full article here.
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Report
5. Our Youth, Our Economy, Our Future: A National Investment Strategy for Reconnecting America’s Youth, 2007
Campaign for Youth developed the document in collaboration with its Steering Committee, which includes Linda Harris, Co-Chair, Center for Law and Social Policy; Sally Prouty, Co-Chair, The Corps Network; Betsy Brand, American Youth Policy Forum; John Briscoe, National Council of Churches; John Calhoun, National Crime Prevention Council; Thaddeus Ferber, Forum for Youth Investment; Phillip Lovell, First Focus; Marion Pines, Sar Levitan Center, Institute for Policy Studies, Johns Hopkins University; Eugene Sofer, The Susquehanna Group; Dorothy Stoneman, YouthBuild USA; Mala B. Thakur, National Youth Employment Coalition; James Wagoner, Advocates for Youth. Download the full report.
Book
6. Research for Action: Cross-National Perspectives on Connecting Knowledge, Policy, and Practice for Children, 2007
A new book co-edited by Chapin Hall Research Fellow Robert J. Chaskin explores child welfare policy from a cross-national perspective to provide insight into how to effectively put research findings to use.
The book includes narratives of six child welfare case studies from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, South Africa, and the United States. Published by Oxford University Press, the volume includes a chapter by Research Fellow Robert Goerge about the use of administrative data for child welfare system reform.
Download the full report.
Opportunity
7. What’s going on with the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care
Curious about the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care? Find out more about their history and recent activity at: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jc/tflists/bluerib.htm
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Upcoming Events
8. Someone’s Somebody preformed for the 1st time in Contra Costa County Nov 18 & 21
REGINA LOUISE, BRINGS HER ONE WOMAN PLAY HOME FOR 3 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES
“Someone’s Somebody” performed for the first time in Contra Costa County in a limited engagement November 18 & 21 at Lesher Center for the Arts.
Walnut Creek, CA. October 18, 2007
It all began decades ago when Regina Louise was growing up -- in more than 30 foster care homes and a level 14 residential treatment center. Today she is a she is an empowering motivational speaker, child advocate, successful business woman, and author of the bestselling memoir; Somebody's Someone. Regina is bringing her original play that records her youth, “Someone’s Somebody”, home to celebrate Thanksgiving, and National Adoption Month.
Someone's Somebody One Woman Play written & performed by Regina Louise
Lesher Center for the Arts Knights Stage 3 Theatre 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
3 Performances Only Sunday November 18th—2:15pm and 7:15pm & Wednesday November 21st 8:15pm
Ticket Prices: $28 (special discount available for 12 or more tickets)
To Purchase Tickets: Lesher box office: (925) 943-SHOW or online www.dlrca.org
To find out more please visit www.reginalouise.com.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Regina Louise please call Jeanne Kerr at 925-639-7782 or e-mail at jeanne@jktaa.com.
9. “Wellness and Recovery in the Behavioral Health Workplace” Nov 30 from 9-5 p.m.
On Friday, November 30, 2007, Community Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) will sponsor a workshop entitled, "Wellness and Recovery in the Behavioral Health Workplace, Creating a Worker Friendly Environment: Strategies for Consumer Employment and Retention." The workshop will take place from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at St. Mary's Cathedral Conference Center, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco CA. Sharon Kuehn, a specialist in the field of Wellness and Recovery and Consumer Employment in the Mental Health System, will be the keynote speaker. More information and to registration is available online.
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Resources
10. RESOURCE of the MONTH—THP-Plus Website Launched
The THP-Plus website is now officially online! The site includes current news about THP-Plus and information about training opportunities, as well as links to download THP-Plus publications, templates, and more—including their new annual report. Visit the THP-Plus website at www.thpplus.org.
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 About
Honoring Emancipated Youth
Honoring Emancipated Youth (HEY), a community project of United Way of the Bay Area, 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 policies that affect emancipated foster youth. At the core of its philosophy, HEY is committed to the inclusion of current and former foster youth, service providers, and supporters in identifying and promoting strategies and best practices that ensure there are effective and holistic systems to serve foster care youth in achieving a healthy transition into adulthood.
For more information or if you would like to subscribe others,
please contact Sara Razavi, HEY Interim Director, 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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