A Young Person who is “ Connected by 25” Is Educated, Housed,

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Education Services for

Youth in CarePresenter: Kelli Stocker,

LMHCGuidance Counselor on Special

AssignmentHillsborough County Public Schools:

Florida

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A Young Person who is

“Connected by 25”Is Educated, Housed,Banked, and Connected to

“permanent” supportive adults [Family]

www.youthtransitions.org

Creation of Guidance Counselor

• In 2005, Cby25 collaborated with Hillsborough County Public Schools to establish and fund guidance position

• Position funded by Lumina Foundation grant for two years

Cby25 Initiative 3

• High School Guidance Counselor remains employee of Hillsborough County Public Schools

• Hillsborough County Public Schools now funds position; local child welfare agency (Hillsborough Kids) and Eckerd Family Foundation fund Middle School Guidance Counselor

Cby25 Initiative 4

Role of Foster Care Guidance Counselor

• Assist with enrollment and maintaining students at schools of origin

• Support students when transitioning to new schools

• Establish system to monitor and track student data

• Meet individually with students at school for academic planning, support, and consultation

Cby25 Initiative 5

Guidance Role

• Liaison between school system, student, guardians, and child welfare system

• Resource for school personnel in regards to child welfare system

• Resource for child welfare personnel and guardians to assist in understanding and navigating the school system and academic requirements

Cby25 Initiative 6

Guidance Role

• Provide training to various stakeholders in student’s life: educators, child welfare personnel, guardians, court personnel

• Assist with post-secondary goals: planning, applications, and Financial Aid applications (FAFSA)

Cby25 Initiative 7

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

• Hillsborough County Public Schools interprets FERPA to state that the foster parent is the student’s parent (guardian), not the local child welfare agency

• Foster parents sign a Release of Records annually to allow Guidance Counselors to share specific written information with the child welfare agency, in accordance with FERPA

Cby25 Initiative 8

Special Needs and Challenges

• Aging out of care at 18, still in high school

• Transportation across a large county is not always available

Cby25 Initiative 9

Successful System Outcomes

• Established Middle School Guidance Counselor Position

• On-site, underage ABE/GED program for youth in care/aged out of care

• School District DJJ Transition Department housed in same office

• Principals Handbook (enrollment procedures and recommendations)

• Student Registration Form

Cby25 Initiative 10

Successful System Outcomes

• School Social Workers trained as school liaisons

• Transportation services• Eckerd Family Foundation Scholarship

Fund: club fees, athletic fees, drivers ed fees, senior yearbooks, etc.

• Collaboration with School District Information Systems for data compilation and access to current student progress (EdLine)

Cby25 Initiative 11

Keys to Success

• School District employee: knowledgeable of school system; welcomed and trusted by schools

• Provided child welfare system email account and access to case manager information

• Recognized and trusted by both systems

Cby25 Initiative 12

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Thank You! For more information:

Kelli Stocker@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Ken.Gaughan@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Diane M. Zambito:Info@Cby25i.org

Unified Family Court:www.fl.jud13.org