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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Foster care improvements and support for youth
3:17:13
ยท
121 sec
Commissioner Dannhauser highlights various improvements and support programs for youth in foster care.
- Implementation of trauma-informed approaches, including renovations at the Children's Center
- Nearly half of children entering foster care placed with relatives or close family friends
- Introduction of TRIP training model for foster parents
- Improved housing support for youth leaving foster care, with a 19% increase in successful housing move-ins
- Expansion of Fair Futures program, benefiting over 4,000 youth in 2024
- Growth of College Choice Program, with over 400 youth enrolled in fall semester
- 92% of youth coached for more than 90 days achieved at least three positive outcomes
Jess Dannhauser
3:17:13
Their work and recommendations will be incorporated into our annual public fatality report.
3:17:17
When children and youth come into our care, either through foster care or the justice system, ACS is focused on ensuring that they and their parents get the services and supports that they need.
3:17:26
For families with children in foster care, have strengthened our trauma informed approach.
3:17:30
For some children entering foster care, this starts with our newly renovated intake, family visiting room, beauty bar, comfort shop, and cell phone cafe at the Children's Center, all developed with the goal of reducing trauma.
3:17:42
Nearly half of children entering foster care are placed in the care of a relative or a close family friend, which both reduces the trauma of removal and assists with timely reunification.
3:17:51
Foster parents are now trained using the trip training model, which supports caregivers' knowledge and ability to respond to the needs of the youth in their care.
3:17:59
We're also taking important steps to better connect youth to appropriate and stable housing when they leave foster care.
3:18:05
In 2023, there were two sixty nine successful housing move ins, and in 2024, we increased it to three twenty youth, a 19% increase.
3:18:16
We have been contracting with Anthos Home, a housing navigation and stability provider that helps youth and families with housing vouchers find apartments, get leases, move in, and then maintain their housing over the course of that first year.
3:18:29
We've also strengthened support for young people in care including major expansions of programs like Fair Futures and College Choice so that youth in care can thrive into their adulthoods.
3:18:38
In 2024, more than 4,000 youth benefited from Fair Futures coaching and or tutoring.
3:18:43
Of the 2,000 young people coached for more than ninety days, ninety two percent achieved at least three positive outcomes, such as reconnecting to school, grade promotion, graduation, enrollment in college or vocational training, or successfully engaging in a job or internship.
3:18:59
In 2024 participation in the ACS College Choice Program where tuition, housing and a daily living stipend are given to foster youth attending college doubled from the program's inception just two years ago with over 400 youth enrolled in the fall semester.