Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Education Services for Youth in Care Presenter: Kelli Stocker, LMHC Guidance Counselor on Special Assignment Hillsborough County Public Schools: Florida. A Young Person who is “ Connected by 25” Is Educated, Housed, Banked, and Connected to “permanent” supportive adults [Family]. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
1
Education Services for
Youth in CarePresenter: Kelli Stocker,
LMHCGuidance Counselor on Special
AssignmentHillsborough County Public Schools:
Florida
2
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
13
Thank You! For more information:
Kelli [email protected]
Diane M. Zambito:[email protected]
Unified Family Court:www.fl.jud13.org
