The Adolescent Brain: New Research and its Implications for Young People Transitioning from

Foster Care

New England Permanency ConveningNovember 27, 2012

Portland, ME

Our Focus

Young people ages 14 - 25

Site Locations

44

Outcome Areas

• Permanence

• Education

• Employment

• Housing

• Health

• Financial

Capability

• Social Capital

Core Strategies

66

Overview

• Experience Matters• Relationships and Resilience

• Supporting Well Being

77

Emerging Adulthood

88

Not Done Yet!

99

Gradual Development

•

1010

Shifting Dopamine

• Normal risk-taking

is a part of healthy

development

1111

Understanding Experience

• Use Dependent

• Prunes Redundant Connections

• Enhances Transmission of Brain Messages

1212

Overview • Experience Matters

• Relationships and Resilience • Supporting Well Being

1313

Stress Continuum

1414

Complex Trauma

1515

Neuroplasticity

• Impact of trauma is NOT permanent

• Relationships

• Experiences

• No ‘point of no return’

Development of Resilience

1717

Social Capital Relationships for a Reason, a Season and a Lifetime

• Quantity

• Quality

• Value

1818

Impact of Ambiguous Loss

• Uncertainty

• Lack of Clarity

• Confusion

• Grief

1919

Overview • Experience Matters

• Relationships and Resilience

• Supporting Well-being

2020

Strengthen Positive Youth Development

• Lead, contribute, create

• Focus on internal/external assets

• Learn from teachable moments

• Find and develop passions

2121

Promote Interdependent Services

• Stability & Continuity

• Family Connections

• Social Capital

2222

Authentic Youth Engagement

• Team Planning & Decision-Making

• Partnerships

• High expectations

• Normative risk-taking

• Supported responsibility

2323

Extend Foster Care Do it Right

• Build Relationships

• Enhance Options, Expectations

• Teach Roles & Responsibilities

2424

Be Trauma Informed

• Basic Understanding

• Prevent Added Trauma

• Maximize Safety

• Making Sense of their Story

2525

Outcomes• Young people safely make sense of their story, make peace with

their past, and make realistic plans for their future

• Young people are “connected by 25” to the relationships, knowledge, skills and resources needed for a successful transition to adulthood – and beyond!

• Young people have supportive relationships for a reason, a season and a lifetime ….

2626

Key Concepts

• Opportunity

• Relationships

• Balance

Thank You!

Website: wwwJimCaseyYouth.org

sgreenblatt@JimCaseyYouth.orgdwalters@JimCaseyYouth.org