Vulnerabilities & Opportunities: Profiles of Foster & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Vulnerabilities & Opportunities:

Profiles of Foster & Non-Foster Youth Served by LifeWorks

Liz Schoenfeld, Ph.D. | Director of Research & Evaluation Susan McDowell | Executive Director

We know that foster youth face a range of barriers to their self-sufficiency.

but we know far less about how foster youth compare to

• ther at-risk youth across these characteristics.

…

But we know a lot of youth are affected

3,568 youth in care in Region 7 in 2015 (approximately 25.7% between the ages of 14–21) Approximately 15,140 disconnected youth in Travis County between the ages of 16–24 (10.1% of youth in this age range)

…

And we know that the problem is expensive

Annual taxpayer burden in Travis County is over $210 million, and annual social burden is nearly $567 million The proposed budget for the City of Austin General Fund is $906.7 million in 2015–2016

…

• 488 youth aged 16–24, who initiated and enrolled in

services during FY2015 and who provided information

• n their history of foster care involvement.
• 43.65% had a history of foster care involvement
• 27.23% Street Outreach; 23.98% Youth & Adult

Counseling; 26.84% After Care Transitional Services

• Data were collected during program intake and thus

represent clients’ characteristics at baseline

Sample: Data Source:

Educational Attainment: School-Aged Youth

11.36% 1.39% 2.27% 2.78% 38.64% 21.92% 40.91% 68.49% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster < HS, Not Enrolled < HS, Enrolled Some HS, Not Enrolled Enrolled in HS

% of School-Aged Youth

• LW foster youth are more disconnected from school systems, relative to other foster youth
• Larger proportion of LW non-foster youth are enrolled in school, compared to other

disconnected youth

Employment

• Larger proportion of LW non-foster youth are employed, compared to other disconnected

youth

• Smaller proportion of LW non-foster youth are unemployed due to a disability, and a greater

proportion were seeking employment, compared to disconnected youth in general 26.85% 44.83% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Foster Non-Foster % of Youth Employed

Household Income

$209.70

average monthly household income reported by foster youth

$1,006.60

average monthly household income reported by non-foster youth

• Greater proportion of LW aged-out youth lived in poverty, compared to aged-out youth in TX
• Greater proportion of LW non-foster youth lived in poverty, compared to disconnected youth

in general

• Smaller proportion of LW aged-out youth and LW non-foster youth received non-cash

benefits, compared to their peers

Insurance

• Smaller proportion of LW foster and non-foster youth have health insurance, compared to

their peers 74.26% 51.92% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Foster Non-Foster % of Youth Insured

Housing

• LW foster and non-foster youth had less stable housing situations relative to their peers.

19.51% 17.56% 8.29% 1.91% 15.61% 8.78% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Place Not Meant for Habitation Emergency Shelter Temp w/ Friends % of Youth

Custody-Related Transitions

• LW aged-out foster youth experienced a comparable number of CPS-related transitions as
• ther foster youth in TX

9.96

average number of transitions experienced by foster youth

1.30

average number of transitions experienced by non-foster youth

Diagnosed Disabilities

• A comparable proportion of LW foster youth had a diagnosed disability, compared to other

foster youth in TX – but a smaller proportion of LW foster youth receive SSI benefits, relative to foster youth in general

• A smaller proportion of LW non-foster youth had a diagnosed disability, compared to

disconnected youth in general 16.85% 9.54% 3.30% 6.34% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Diagnosed Disabilities Receive SSI % of Youth

58.60% 47.00% 13.46% 19.70% 38.85% 26.50% 30.41% 9.84% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Foster Non-Foster Depression Current Depression Suicidal Ideation Suicide Attempts

% of Youth

Mental Health

• A greater proportion of LW foster youth reported a history of depression, compared to other

samples of foster youth

• A greater proportion of LW non-foster youth reported a history of depression, current

depression, and history of suicidal ideation, compared to youth in general

Our research confirms current DFPS emphasis on the importance of trauma informed care and minimizing transitions. One size does not fit all – Workforce, Mental Health and housing programs focused on young adults need to recognize the unique needs of youth in foster care.

• Trauma informed care
• Housing First

Build systems of alignment between workforce, housing, higher education, and mental health systems.

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