The John Burton Foundation will be presenting the 2015 Community Hero Award to an organization or individual that has gone above and beyond in their service to transition-age youth in California. This award will go to visionary and dedicated leaders doing extraordinary work addressing issues foster youth face in California. Past recipients have included Professor Mark Courtney of the University of Chicago for his ground-breaking research into the experiences of youth in their transition from foster care. The nomination deadline is November 1, 2015. For more details about the award and how to nominate a person or organization, follow this LINK.

Under the Affordable Care Act, extended Medicaid coverage allows foster youth access to healthcare coverage until age 26. This new benefit can literally be life saving for many foster youth who are documented to be more likely to experience chronic health conditions than their peers. This workshop will provide an overview of the Medi-Cal Program for Former Foster Youth, successes and challenges of implementation, and an explanation of the enrollment process including a tutorial on filling out the new user-friendly online applications. The panel will also include insights from a former foster youth on the great need for this program and their enrollment experience.

Getting Healthcare STAT! Presentation

Speakers: Karen Chang, Dee Paull, and Gina Phillipi, CA Department of Health Care Services; Steven Fong and Susan Zimny, Department of Social Services Jessica Haspel, Children Now; Marcy Valenzuela, Former Foster Youth

The transitions from traditional foster care to THP+FC is often overwhelming. Who better to help ease that transition or help staff understand that transition than a former foster youth? In this workshop, Walden Family Services will share a three-phase transition model developed by the late and nationally renowned author of “Transitions and Managing Transitions” William Bridges and adapted by the Andrus Foundation for transition age youth. This model will guide participants through their development of a youth-led program focused on navigating transitions through trainings led by former foster youth.

Been There, Done That Presentation

Speakers: Sue Evans, Mary Frame, and Leslie Lucas, Walden Family Services; Melinda Avila, Walden Family Services and Advancing Youth Advocate

The key to a successful program is a trusting, collaborative relationship between providers and county representatives. Sounds simple, right? In fact, clarifying roles and responsibilities between these two key partners can be a challenge. This workshop will provide insight into how one group of providers and one county has learned to forge a productive and effective relationship, putting the needs of youth first. Specific topics to be covered will include early steps to building trust and moving from “vendor” to true partner; ongoing strategies to keep the partnership growing; leveraging the partnership to engage other key stakeholders, such as probation and behavioral health; and building data collection systems that inform continuous improvement of the programs and services offered to youth.

Creating a Love that Lasts Presentation

Speakers: Deanne Pearn, First Place for Youth; Kara Carnahan, Abode Services; Kate Durham, Beyond Emancipation; Faith M. Battles, Alameda County Department of Children & Family Services; Jason Ranieri, Fred Finch Youth Center

THP-Plus and THP+FC were developed as transitional housing options for current and former foster youth who continue to need comprehensive supportive services. Yet, oftentimes, the resources to truly support very high needs youth can be difficult to access and employ. Led by the Bay Area Youth Center, this workshop will focus on the benefits and challenges of utilizing Katie A. services to support higher needs youth, with special attention to serving Commercially Sexually Exploited (CSEC) youth. Emphasis will be given to providing these services in a strengths-based and trauma-informed framework.

Speakers: Alex Volpe, Alison Larkin, and Rebecca Hathorn, Bay Area Youth Center

Cris Beam is an author and professor in New York City. Her most recent book, To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care (Houghton Mifflin-Harcourt, 2013), was named a 2013 New York Times Notable Book, was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Award, shortlisted for the William Saroyan Prize and was named a best book on several year end lists including NPR, New York Magazine and The Boston Globe. She is also the author of Transparent: Love, Family and Living the T with Trangender Teenagers (Harcourt, 2007), which won a Lambda Literary Award and was Stonewall Honor book. Cris teaches creative writing at Columbia University and New York University. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction from Columbia University and has received fellowships from the Point Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, and the Corporation of Yaddo. She’s currently working on a book about philosophies of empathy.  

Since its implementation, parenting youth have made up a sizable population in THP+FC. Yet many providers still understandably struggle with how to best serve these new parents and their children. Casa Pacifica will share experience over the last 5 years in choosing to intentionally outreach to and serve parenting transition age youth. The presentation will discuss the strategies they’ve employed to integrate infant-parent mental health concepts into core programs and equip their staff with the training they need to not only support the parenting youth but also strengthen their whole family.

Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Presentation

Speakers: Joshua Lepore, Lauren Lawson and Anna Colangelo, Casa Pacifica; Miranda Barajas Former foster youth

Research has demonstrated that experiences of racial oppression can cause the same long term negative physical and mental outcomes that other forms of trauma create. Conversations need to be had to ensure that service delivery models will not re-traumatize youth who have experienced racism. This workshop will provide a safe space to explore how internal biases can affect interactions at both the individual and institutional level, how we can best support youth who have been traumatized by racism and how we can strengthen a culture of awareness in our programs.

Crossing the Bridge: Race and Trauma Presentation

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Speakers: Janine Greer and Melinda Stone, Xanadu University

With 83% of 17 year old foster youth in California expressing aspirations to go to college but less than five percent graduating with a degree by age 26, it is clear that more must be done to help these youth achieve their post-secondary dreams. The Family Care Network, in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services, has created a model program that assists youth with everything from financial aid to celebrating their academic victories. This workshop will teach attendees how they can replicate this program that has more than doubled graduation rates for participating youth.

Majoring in Success Presentation

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Speakers: Marie Hughes, Family Care Network and Tracy Schiro, San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services

For the past seven years, THP-Plus providers and counties alike have been able to capture THP-Plus demographic and outcome data to improve their programs, track milestones, and utilize it to attract potential funders. With the launch of the THP+FC Participant Tracking System, counties and THP+FC providers will now have the opportunity to do the same for their programs. County representatives and THP+FC providers are invited to come and learn how you can become a THP+FC PTS user. The workshop will provide a live tutorial on the comprehensive reporting functions and data collection features that this free and secure online database offers.

Knowledge is Power Presentation

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Speakers: Amy Lemley, John Burton Foundation

Three years into the implementation of extended foster care, THP-Plus Foster Care (THP+FC) has the emerged as a prevalent placement option for high-need youth, such as those who have a history of commercial sexual exploitation or serious mental illness. To meeting the complex needs of these youth, some providers have turned to Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT), which is a source of funding for specialized mental health services for youth through age 21.

But what does being an EPSDT provider really entail? How do you apply to become an EPSDT provider, what services does it cover, is a formal diagnosis required, what staffing does it require, what reporting does it require and how much funding does it provide? At this workshop, we provide these answers and have an opportunity for youth to ask your questions.

How to Access Mental Health Funding Presentation

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Speakers: Alex Volpe, Bay Area Youth Center; Tom Alexander, Fred Finch Youth Services; and Lynn Thull, California Alliance of Child and Family Services

The low rate of college completion among youth in foster care is well known: by age 26, just five percent of youth will hold a Bachelor’s degree. What is less known, however is that unplanned pregnancy is a key factor in this low-rate of educational attainment. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, youth who give birth in college are 60 percent less likely to graduate than their peers who do not. This workshop will offer providers and county representatives hands-on strategies to prevent first and repeat pregnancy among youth in their programs along with an in-depth look at tools in use on campuses across the country. Additionally, participants will learn about youth-friendly resources and training modules to strengthen adults’ ability to address this issue with youth.

Helping Youth Get Their B.A. Presentation

Speaker: Katherine Suellentrop, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

The Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) is one of California’s most ambitious child welfare reform efforts in the last decade. Yet, the legislation that implements CCR is almost 350 pages, making it hard to understand what it will mean for providers, counties and most importantly, the youth we serve. This workshop will provide a fundamental understanding of this important reform effort, including how CCR will change programs, rates, licensing and much more.

The ABC’s of CCR Presentation

Speakers: Theresa Thurmond, CDSS and Jackie Rutheiser, California Alliance of Child and Family Services

Rising housing costs, limited affordable housing options, and inexperience with apartment hunting are three major barriers for youth seeking stable, permanent housing. The Bill Wilson Center will demonstrate how they have managed to meet these challenges with creativity and innovation in the bustling and rapidly growing Silicon Valley. Some key points that will be covered include how to prepare youth for a housing search, intensive case management and cultivating relationships with landlords so that youth can successfully transition in place.

From Finding Shelter to Finding Home Presentation

Speakers: Laura Foster, Bill Wilson Center