promoting education stability through state legislation: promoting education stability through state...
TRANSCRIPT
Promoting Education Stability Promoting Education Stability Through State Legislation:Through State Legislation:
Voices of Legislators and Youth
Christopher Lyddy, MSW
State Representative
The ProcessThe Process
Identification of Problems and Stakeholders
Brainstorm Possible Solutions
(Federally Required)
(State Centered)
Mobilization of Support
Introduction of Legislation
Lobby
What do Foster Youth Need?What do Foster Youth Need?
A Permanent Family
A Stable Education
Opportunities to Achieve Economic Success
A Place to Live
Access to Health Care
Opportunities to Engage
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, Policy and Practice Recommendations
http://www.jimcaseyyouth.org/policy-and-practice-recommendations
Problem IdentificationProblem IdentificationEducational Instability
“In her seven years in state foster care, Cheniece O'Neal lived in seven different foster homes, three residential centers and a shelter. She had five different social workers, three different
lawyers and attended seven different schools. Being a foster kid and trying to get good grades in school is tough enough, O'Neal
told a panel of state legislators Thursday. Having to adjust to a new school, new classes and new friends every few months brings a
whole new dimension to the struggle.”
Poitras, C., (2008, February 29). Bill would limit school changes for foster children, Hartford Courant.
Problem IdentificationProblem IdentificationEducational Instability
1. Foster children in Connecticut are frequently uprooted from their schools
2. Frequent school changes are traumatic for foster children
3. School disruptions have devastating effects on the educational outcomes of foster children
4. School stability is better for foster children’s classmates, educators, schools and communities
Connecticut Voices for Children. (February 2009). Fostering School Stability for Children in Connecticut’s Care.
StakeholdersStakeholders
Judges
Towns &
Cities
LocalEducationAgencies
FosterParents
FederalGovernment
Legislators
Advocates
State Agencies
SchoolSystems
Foster Youth
Educational Stability
Supportive
Uncertain
SolutionsSolutionsEducational Instability
• What has been done to address school instability?
– McKinney-Vento Act (1986) • provided federal funding to the national shelter program. • Homeless children be allowed to attend any school they choose, with transportation provided by the school district• A definition of “homeless children” was determined to be: individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence.
– 2003 Connecticut Legislation• Compliance with McKinney-Vento Act• Extended educational stability to youth who fall in identified categories
– Collaboration between Department of Children and Families and the State Department of Education• Agreed that children in DCF custody who are placed in emergency or transitional shelter placements are entitled to school
stability• 2005 MOU – Departments of Education and Children and Families
SolutionsSolutionsEducational Instability
• What has been done to address school instability?
– Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (2008)• Require states to adopt an educational stability system by July 1, 2010• Requires coordination between child welfare agencies and local educational agencies• Requires the agencies’ act in the child’s best interest
– Select Committee on Children (CT) 2008 Proposal• Driven by a group of stakeholders• Require the Department of Children and Families to provide and pay for transportation to a child’s school of origin when it
was in the child’s best interest• Cost Concerns: The bill limited school stability to children whose schools of origin were within 25 miles of the child’s new
residential placement• Passed the Children’s Committee, Education Committee, and the Appropriations Committee• Failed to reach the House or Senate
– 2008 Task Force • DCF, SDE, Child Advocates• Legislative, policy, and practice changes necessary for school stability
– 2009 Connecticut Proposals• Two legislative proposals introduced• One with the 25 mile limit and one without• Both bills died in the Appropriations Committee
– 2010 Victory• Public Act 10-160, allows young people to remain in the same school any time their home placement changes
unless not in their best interest!
Mobilization of SupportMobilization of Support
• Foster Youth
• Connecticut Center for Children’s Advocacy, University of Connecticut Law School
• Connecticut Voices for Children
• Connecticut Legal Services
• Chief Child Protective Attorney, Commission on Child Protection
• Connecticut Association of Boards of Education
• State’s Child Advocate
• Department of Children and Families
• State Department of Education
• Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
• Fifteen Other States who had passed similar legislation
CT Voices for Children ForumCT Voices for Children Forum• October 3, 2011 • Legislative Office Building• Attendees:
– Lt. Governor– Deputy Secretary of the State– DCF Commissioner– State Comptroller– Advocates– Chairs of Appropriations and Human Services
Committees – Foster Youth – Social Workers– Foster Parents
CT Voices for Children ForumCT Voices for Children ForumWhat did we learn this time?
1.Transitioning Out of Foster Care– Permanent Family
– Child Welfare Support
– Higher Education
2.Sibling Reunification and Preservation• Perhaps the most basic need of a foster child is feeling the sense of
connectedness
MEMORANDUM
To: All StaffFrom: Joette Katz, Commissioner Date: Tuesday, October 04, 2011Subject: Special Training for Workers Serving Adolescents
1. Work with foster youth and school administrators to track academic records.2. Ensure coordination and monitoring of individual Education Plans (IEPs) among case workers
for youth with disabilities.3. Educate foster youth while in middle school and high school about postsecondary education or
job training options.4. Provide assistance with college application process. 5. Help facilitate tuition waivers for foster youth at state higher educational institutions and offer
scholarships that cover all costs (e.g., books, room and board, and clothing). 6. Give youth transitioning out of foster care opportunities to learn about career options and
develop the habits, attitudes, and skills they need to find and retain employment. 7. Connect youth to employment opportunities through partnerships with the public workforce
system and employers. 8. Structure opportunities for youth to learn about money management and asset development.
Contact InformationContact Information
Representative Christopher Lyddy, MSW
www.housedems.ct.gov/lyddy
(860) 240-8585