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Supporting School Proximity: Requirements, Strategies and State Examples NAEHCY National Conference November 6, 2011. Collaboration between ABA, Casey Family Programs, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Stuart Foundation, in conjunction with the Juvenile Law Center and Education Law Center.
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Supporting School Proximity: Requirements, Strategies and State Examples NAEHCY National Conference November 6, 2011
Collaboration between ABA, Casey Family Programs, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Stuart Foundation, in conjunction with the Juvenile Law Center and Education Law Center. A national technical assistance resource and information clearinghouse on legal and policy matters affecting the education of children and youth in out-of-home care. Website: www.ambar.org/LegalCenter Listserv, Conference Calls, Publications, Searchable Database
Outline for Presentation Fostering Connections Act and Supporting School Proximity Sacramento County Foster Youth Services Program, School Connect Tools and Resources
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 • Amends Title IV (Parts B and E) of the Social Security Act • Broad-reaching amendments to child welfare law; requires court oversight • Important provisions promoting education stability and enrollment for youth in care • Changes child welfare law, but cannot be fully realized without collaboration from education system
Appropriateness and Proximity Living placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school. 42 U.S.C.A. 675(1)(G)(i)
School Stability Requirements, cont Ensure child remains in same school unless not in the child’s best interest. 42 U.S.C.A. 675(1)(G)(ii) Federal reimbursement allowability for school transportation. 42 U.S.C.A. 675(4)(A). If not in the best interest to remain, immediate and appropriate enrollment in new school, with records. 42 U.S.C.A. 675(1)(G)(ii)
Proximity is not always “easy” “[t]he title IV-E agency is vested with the responsibility for making individual placement decisions on a case-by-case basis on behalf of a child in foster care. As such, we realize that the agency will be balancing the child’s needs for proximity to the family, the available foster care resources, along with the appropriateness of the child’s current educational setting, among other things.” (July 2010 Program Instruction)
Benefits of Proximity • Improves transition, reunification • Increases connection with community and improves community support for the child (family members, coaches, teachers, and church members) • Improves quality of school experience (i.e. extracurriculars) • Saves time and money for child welfare and education agencies • Reduce commuting time for child
Supporting Proximity • Using Technology to find placements • GIS mapping (Illinois, Louisiana) • Other Programs (Sacramento) • Increasing Neighborhood Placement Options • GIS mapping (Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois) • Community-based recruitment (Arizona, AECF, San Diego) • School-based recruitment (Vermont, Baltimore, San Francisco)
Sacramento, California Foster Youth Services Program Foster Focus School Connect
Foster Focus and School Connect:Improving School Stability and Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth Virginia D’Amico, Project Specialist Sacramento County Office of Education Foster Youth Services
Legal Center for Foster Care and Education Resources www.ambar.org/LegalCenterMATERIALS • Data and Information Sharing (Manual and Tools) • McKinney-Vento and Fostering Connections Overlap Series • Fostering Connections Toolkit • State Law Chart and AFCP Chart • Searchable Database
Blueprint for Change: Education Success for Children in Foster Care 8 Goals for Youth Benchmarks for each goal indicating progress toward achieving education success National, State, and Local Examples
Endless Dreams Endless DreamsVideo &Curriculum—Casey Family Programs These practice-oriented tools were designed to support educational advocates, education specialists, education liaisons, CASA volunteers, child welfare professionals, and others that assist youth in care with their educational needs. This curriculum was developed to educate educators about the unique educational needs of youth in foster care. Access to the curriculum requires participation in a certified trainer of trainers program. For free videos, and information about Endless Dreams, contact contactus@casey.org
Contact Information Kristin Kelly - ABA Center on Children and the Law, Legal Center for Foster Care and Education Kristin.Kelly@AmericanBar.Org Virginia D’Amico
