Supporting School Proximity: Supporting School Proximity:

Requirements, Strategies and Requirements, Strategies and State ExamplesState Examples

NAEHCY National Conference NAEHCY National Conference

November 6, 2011November 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 SpecialistSacramento County Office of EducationFoster Youth Services

Foster Focus: Schools Screen

Foster Focus: Child Record Snapshot Screen

School Connect: Search Screen 1 of 4

School Connect: Search Screen 2 of 4

School Connect: Search Screen 3 of 4

School Connect: Search Screen 4 of 4

School Connect: Search Results Screen

School Connect: Home/Location Screen

School Connect: Home/Location Screen Detail 1 of 2

School Connect: Home/Location Screen Detail 2 of 2

School Connect: Parents Screen

School Connect: Schools Screen

School Connect: Schools Screen Detail

School Connect: Certification Screen

School Connect: Certification Screen Detail

School Connect: Experience/Willing Screen

School Connect: Experience/Willing Screen Detail 1 of 2

School Connect: Experience/Willing Screen Detail 2 of 2

School Connect: Home Photos Screen

School Connect: CPS Notes Screen

Tools and Resources

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 Dreams Video & 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 EducationKristin.Kelly@AmericanBar.Org

Virginia D’Amico