Orange County is No Camelot for Emancipated Youth

The State of California Department of Social Services reports that all counties now offer some type of independent living or Studies following youth emancipation transitional services to foster youths. The extent and reveal the failure of the effectiveness of these programs varies considerably. Studies system. following youths emancipating from the foster care system 50% were unemployed demonstrate the failure of the system. The Independent 37% had not finished Living Programs can consist of anything from informal high school discussions, to classes, to concrete assistance. Even if the 27% of the males and County’s Independent Living Program is delivered with an 10% of the females had excellent evaluation, it is nonetheless, incomplete. Very few been incarcerated. young people reach age 18 and are immediately able to fully support themselves financially and emotionally. The Orange County Continuum of Care Steering Committee identified transitional housing as most critical in the difficult transition to independent living and productive adulthood. Housing specifically designed for transitional The County of Orange does not youths in Orange County is almost nonexistent. have an overall countywide Yet, many agencies and organizations involved umbrella to coordinate programs, in independent living programs deem such data, and services for housing to be critical. The relatively few emancipating youth. The missing linchpin is a director with authority programs that do exist are scattered, fragmented, and responsibility to coordinate and those who operate them often do so without and collaborate the efforts of all knowledge of other similar programs. The Little concerned agencies. He or she Hoover Commission Report states that, “The should be held accountable for the State puts its investment in foster youth at risk by performance and evaluation of failing to help children ‘aging out’ of the child these programs. welfare system to successfully transition to self- sufficiency.” Several County agencies, non-profit group homes, and community organizations have some responsibility for foster care youths. Yet, no one person or agency is acting with responsibility and accountability for ensuring that efforts are coordinated. The best option for creating housing for former foster youths is through collaboration between County social service agencies, local housing authorities, private grants, and most importantly, the Board of Supervisors. 15

The 1999–2000 Orange County Grand Jury commends: Probation Department County of Orange For its outstanding accomplishments and leadership, the Probation Department is commended for its nationally renowned 8% Solution and for coordinating the collaborative team to develop Youth and Family Resource Centers in the West, Central, South, and North regions of the County of Orange. Shelter for the Homeless In addition to the 45 properties owned and operated by this care- giving agency and the National Guard Armory emergency shelters that they operate during the cold weather months, Shelter for the Homeless opened two new shelters for emancipated youths. A male shelter was opened August 1998 and a female shelter programmed for single mothers was opened August 1999. This agency also has a program called Women of Worth (WOW) designed to help young women develop life skills, which will help them become independent with a feeling of self worth. Crittenton Services for Children and Families In September 1999, to improve the odds for emancipating women, Crittenton Services opened Stepping Stones, a transitional living program in two houses in Fullerton. Presently they can accommodate up to eight young women ages 18 to 21 and up to four infants or toddlers. Orange County Rescue Mission One of the largest private nonprofit organizations assisting the homeless, serving more than 40,000 people each year in Orange County. The Rescue Mission has received national recognition for The House of Hope, which rebuilds the lives of mothers with their children in a warm family atmosphere. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Over 300 dedicated, concerned, volunteer adults who serve as mentors for foster children, provide continuity and a stable presence in the child’s life. They establish meaningful relationships, which are most important for foster youths and especially for emancipated foster youths. United Friends of the Children Bridges For creating and supporting a benchmark program for transitional housing for emancipated youths, and for holding the conference in July 1999 to show their housing and to share their program, the UFC Bridges should be commended. 19 Study of Orange County Emancipated Youths Common Acronyms ARC Alumni Resource Center (Alumni of foster care system) CAR Child Abuse Registry CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates CAST Child Abuse Service Team DCFS Department of Child and Family Services CDC Community Development Commission CDSS California Department of Social Services CFS Children and Family Services CHDO Community Housing Development Organization CSA Community Services Agency CSOP Children's System of Care CSP Community Service Program CWS/CMS Child Welfare Services/Case Management System CYA California Youth Authority CYC California Youth Connection CYS Children and Youth Services DOE Department of Education DSS Department of Social Services (California State Department) ECP Economic and Community Partnerships FFA Foster Family Agency FaCT Family and Communities Together GAO General Accounting Office HCDD Housing and Community Development Department HUD Housing and Urban Development ILP Independent Living Program JJC Juvenile Justice Commission JTPA Job Training Partnership Act NOFA Notice of Funding Availability (HUD Competitive Grant) OCF Orangewood Children’s Foundation OCH Orangewood Children’s Home RCL Rate Classification Levels RFP Request for Proposal ROP Regional Occupational Programs (Department of Education) Section 8 HUD’s Rental Assistance Program SHP Supportive Housing Program SSA Social Services Agency Super NOFA Notice of Funding Availability – HUD Combined Grants THPP Transitional Housing Placement Program UFC United Friends of the Children Bridges WORKS O.C. Works provides job readiness training programs. WOW Women of Worth YFRC Youth and Family Resource Center 20 APPENDIX A GAO outcome information on former foster care youths reported in recent studies Study on which percentages Outcome information on former foster care youths are based Westat Education 1991 study of 810 former 46% had not completed high school foster in eight states at 2.5 to 4 Employment years after leaving care. 51% were unemployed 62% had not maintained a job for at least one year Other 40% were a cost to the community 25% had experienced homelessness 42% had birthed or fathered a child Courtney and Piliavin Education 1998 study of 113 former 37% had not completed high school foster care youths at 12–18 Employment months after leaving care. 50% were unemployed 19% had not held a job since leaving care Other 32% received some kind of public assistance 12% were homeless at least once 22% had lived in four or more places in one year 44% reported problems with medical care 27% of males and 10% of females had been incarcerated Barth Education 1990 Study of 55 former foster 38% had not completed high school care youths in the San Employment Francisco Bay area at least one 25% were unemployed year after leaving care. Other 47% had problems paying for food or housing 35% were homeless 38% did not have health or medical coverage 40% of females reported a pregnancy 35% had been arrested or spent time in jail or prison Grand Jury Education 2000 Study of 38 former foster 60% of females had high school diplomas care youths in Orange County 45% of males had high school diplomas Employment 55% were unemployed Other 45% were involved with out of wedlock births 20% had been incarcerated (theft, drugs, gangs) 21 APPENDIX B CASA Esperanza 10215 Runoff Avenue Whittier, CA 90604 Project Description: Casa Esperanza, located in Whittier, provides transitional housing for emancipating foster youths. The six-building complex includes 20 rehabilitated apartments and a newly constructed community center. Casa Esperanza was completed in 1998. Description of Developer: The Community Development Commission, County of Los Angeles (CDC) developed Casa Esperanza as part of its ongoing partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and United Friends of the Children Bridges (UFC) Bridges. CDC funds and develops affordable and special-needs housing throughout the County. CDC remains the owner of the apartments, and UFC leased the property from CDC for 55 years. Description of Property Management: UFC contracts with Community Housing Management Services (CHMS) for property management. CHMS is a nonprofit firm with extensive experience in affordable and special-needs housing management. Housing Type: Rehabilitation of five structures, each consisting of four two-bedroom apartments. Population Served: Emancipating foster youths who have “aged out” of the County of Los Angeles’ foster care system. The young adults, ages 18–22, can live at the site for 12 to 18 months while they prepare themselves for independent living. Some of the residents are young single mothers. Number of Units: Twenty, two-bedroom apartments. Each unit houses two emancipating foster youths. Two units are reserved for resident managers. Services Provided: DCFS provides social services on site. Services provided include case management, childcare for parents, assistance with the development of employment money management, food preparation, and purchase skills. We also provide funds for food, bus passes, personal items, and childcare. Methodology of Services Provided: These services are provided by DCFS social workers directly or by referrals to community-based organizations. Resident Participation: Residents at sites with only program participants have resident councils which meet regularly. The social workers meet individually and in groups with other residents in scattered sites. 22 APPENDIX C MEETINGS AND TOURS July 9, 1999. Interview with 1998–99 Orange County Grand Jury Juvenile Services Committee. July 15, 1999. Attended a two day workshop and seminar sponsored by United Friends of Children Bridges: Developing Transitional Housing for Emancipated Youth. July 15, 1999. Interview with Weingart Foundation managers. July 15, 1999. Interview with social workers at Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services Housing Services. July 16, 1999. Meeting with University of Southern California Social Science Department. July 16, 1999. Meeting with State of California Department of Social Services. July 16, 1999. Tour of several Transitional Housing Apartments in Los Angeles County: Casa Esperanza, Margarita Mendez Apartments, Ruoff and Coteau 1 Apartments. July 29, 1999. Interview with Orange County Social Services Agency, Children and Family Services, and Economic and Community Partnerships. July—January 1999. Attended monthly meetings with Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission. August 5, 1999. Interview with Orangewood Children’s Foundation. August 9, 1999. Interview with Orange County WORKS. August 12, 1999. Toured the new Youth and Family Resource Center in Santa Ana and attended the grand opening ceremonies sponsored by the Probation Department and received a copy of the Probation Department video, The 8% Solution. August 17, 1999. Toured the Orangewood Children’s Home. August 18, 1999. Toured Juvenile Hall and visited the Fischer School at the hall. August 18,1999. Visited the Orangewood Children’s Foundation Offices and the Independent Living Program operation of Orangewood Children’s Foundation. August 19, 1999. Attended Conference on Transitional Housing Placement Program presented by both the State and County Social Service Agencies. 23 August—November 1999. Visited several group homes. August 31, 1999. Visited Rising Tide Offices located with the Foundation for Christian Stewardship. September 9, 1999. Toured two new transitional housing units for emancipated youths at Shelter for the Homeless in Santa Ana. September 14, 1999. Visited Orangewood Children’s Home and participated in a roundtable discussion with Orangewood Children’s Foundation, Social Services Agency, and private agencies. September 23, 1999. Interview with County Executive Office, Orange County Strategic and Intergovernmental Affairs. September 23, 1999. Interview with Court Appointed Special Advocates. October—January, 1999. Participated in group home forums held at Olive Crest. October 5, 1999. Visited House of Hope Rescue Mission. October 5, 1999. Interview with Mariners Church personnel. October 21, 1999. Attended Children’s System of Care Steering Committee meeting. October 21, 1999. Interview with Children’s Network, San Bernardino, Ca. November 4, 1999. Visited Stepping-Stones transitional housing residences, Crittenton Services, Fullerton. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Garreau, Joel, The Nine Nations of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1981, p. 350. Humes, Edward, No Matter How Loud I Shout, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1996, p.76. REPORTS Barth, Richard P., “On Their Own” The Experiences of Youth After Foster Care, Child and Adolescent Social Work, San Francisco, October 1990. Courtney, M.E., Piliavin, I, and Grogan-Kaylor, A., The Wisconsin Study of Youth Aging Out of Out-of-Home Care. A Portrait of Children About to Leave Care, University of Wisconsin- Madison, School of Social Work, 1995. 24 Courtney, Mark E., and Piliavin, Irving. Foster Youth Transitions to Adulthood: Outcomes 12 to 18 Months After Leaving Out-of-Home Care. University of Wisconsin-Madison, August 1998. Crittenton Services for Children and Families, Fullerton, CA, 1999. Department of Social Services, State of California, Foster Care Group Home and Foster Family Agency Final Rate Notification Listing For (FY) 1998–99. Sacramento, August 1999. Department of Social Services, State of California, Transitional Housing Placement Program. Assembly Bill AB 2774, Sacramento, 1994. Families and Communities Together of Orange County (FaCT). Five Year Plan Update, November 10, 1998. GAO Report, Foster Care: Challenges in Helping Youths Live Independently, May 1999. Grand Jury Orange County, 1997–98 Final Report, Care of Children in Group Homes. Grand Jury Orange County, 1998–99 Final Report, Orange County Emancipation Programs. Grand Jury Los Angeles County, 1996–97 Final Report, Children in Group Homes. Housing and Community Development Department, County of Orange Continuum of Care Plan for 1999. Juvenile Justice Commission of Orange County, Annual Report, 1998. Little Hoover Report, Now In Our Hands: Caring For California’s Abused and Neglected Children. Little Hoover Commission, Sacramento, August 1999. Los Angeles County Emancipation Planning for Youths in Out-Of-Home Care. Policy #OHC 97-05. Children and Family Services, Los Angeles, November 1997. The National Foster Care Awareness Project, Washington, D.C., 1999. Orangewood Children’s Foundation: Shelter Care Master Plan, 1998 Executive Summary. Orangewood Children’s Foundation: Independent Living Program Component 2 Proposal, May 1999. Orangewood Children’s Foundation: Transitional Housing Program, July 1999. Social Services Agency of Orange County, Independent Living Services Report, 1999. Social Services Agency of Orange County, Business Plan and Manual, 1999. 25 United Friends of the Children, Housing for Emancipated Foster Youth, SuperNOFA Process and Funding. July 1999. United Friends of the Children, Housing for Emancipated Foster Youth, Transitional Housing Program Handbook. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), A User’s Guide to HUD Programs and the 1999 Super NOFA Process. Westat, Inc. A National Evaluation of Title IV-E Foster Care Independent Living Program for Youth, Washington, D.C., 1991. Orange County Probation Department video, 8% Solution. HR1802, Senate Bill1327. The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999. HR3443, The Title IV-E Independent Living Program renamed the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program in honor of the late Senator John Chafee (R-RI). AB1111 State of California, Independent Living Program, July 1999. 26