2. Purposes
To identify children
who are likely to
remain in foster care
until 18 years of age
and to help these
children attain self-
sufficiency by
providing transitional
services.
2
3. Purposes
Assist children likely
to remain in foster
care until 18 years of
age with the
education, training,
and services
necessary to obtain
employment.
3
4. Purposes
Assist children likely to remain in
foster care until 18 years of age
prepare for and enter post-
secondary educational and training
institutions:
Colleges
Universities
Technical Schools
4
Vocational Schools
5. Purposes
Provide personal and
emotional support, through
mentors and the promotion
of interactions with
dedicated adults, to children
aging out of foster care.
5
6. Purposes
Provide transitional services
and other appropriate
supportive services to
children between 18 and 21
years of age to complement
their own efforts to achieve
self-sufficiency.
6
7. Purposes
Make available vouchers for
education and training,
including post-secondary
training and education, to
youths who have aged out of
foster care.
7
8. Purposes
Provide services to youth
who leave Foster Care to
Guardianship or Adoption at
age 16.
8
9. Who, What, When of Chafee
• We have regional staff with a territory that covers that entire
great state of West Virginia.
• What we are has developed from the Independent Living
Programs and was solidified by Federal Legislation in 1999.
• When should youth access Chafee Services?
– At age 14 for Life Skills Assessments & Learning Plans
– Through Multidisciplinary Team Meetings as the youth
plans their future, & develops transition plans.
– When youth are within 6 months of graduating High
School or obtaining the GED.
9
11. Chafee Staff Technical Assistance
• Youth in Care
– Assist with Life Skills Assessments
– Assist with Life Skills Curriculum
– MDT Support/Attend/Development of Youth
Transition Plans
– Consults for Educational Plans/Placements/
Transitional Services
11
12. Chafee Staff Technical Assistance
• Youth in Care
• Referrals and Linkages for:
– Education Supports
– Assessments
– Other Transitional Living Services
12
13. Chafee Staff Assistance
• Youth 18+ (In Care and Out of Care)
– Case Management for Chafee Array of Services
– Employment Guidance/Referrals
– Supportive Counseling
– Medical Card
– Housing Startup Assistance
– Linkage to Community Support
– Educational Assistance
13
14. The FC-18
The FC-18 is not placing a youth in custody.
The FC-18 is a CONTRACT with a youth enrolled
in an educational or career program.
The FC-18 is for continuing to obtain foster care
services, which includes transitioning services.
14
15. Chafee Staff Assistance with ETV
To participate in this program youth must meet the
following criteria:
Youth must be under 21 years old and must have completed
your high school diploma or GED
Youth must be enrolled in a post secondary educational
program/ vocational program/ trade school…..
Youth must make progress toward your educational goals and
abide by the rules each semester/ reporting period
15
16. Expectations for All ETV Students
Youth must maintain a 2.0 GPA AND an 80% completion rate
each semester.
If youth fall below this expectation, they may be granted one
improvement period and must comply with the conditions set
forth in an educational improvement plan for continuation of
ETV services/funding.
Youth must be in good standing with the rules/regulations of
the educational institution. If the educational institution finds
youth in violation of their rules/regulations, this may
constitute non-compliance with Chafee expectations.
16
17. Supports for All ETV Students
Youth can access tutoring and additional services through the
Office of Disability Services.
Career Services through the Universities .
Youth can use TRIO and Student Support Services.
Summer programs offer students the ability to travel, learn
and grow as adults.
We encourage youth to participate in internships.
We provide opportunities for Educational Improvement
Periods to get back on track to graduation!
17
18. Referral Process
• Any youth who is in Foster Care, ready to graduate high
school or get a GED, 18 years old or will be 18 years old soon
should be referred 6 months prior to graduation or date
leaving care.
• Fill out the referral form:
– FAX 304-558-4563,
– Email Chafee@hsc.wvu.edu
• Referral form is on the website
– http://chafee.cedwvu.org/
– Or Google WV Chafee
18
21. From Chafee Legislation to the
National Youth in Transition Database
• Foster Care Independence Act (“Chafee Act”)
(1999)
– Replaced the Independent Living Program of
1986
– Created the John H. Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program
– Made provisions for services to youth who had
exited care at 18 but were not yet 21
21 21
22. From Chafee Legislation to the
National Youth in Transition Database
• The Final Rule from the Federal Government was provided to
the States July of 2008
• The WV NYTD Team came back from DC and got right to the
task of developing the policy, practice and data systems to
meet the NYTD Requirements.
• WV was selected as one of 9 states to participate in the Pilot
Project to test the data systems with the Federal Team.
• WV NYTD completed systems and policy requirements and
began training across the state:
– Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessments
– Youth Transitioning Screens in FACTS
22 22
23. Congratulations
• WV received accolades from the Federal Team
for having completed their system first!
• WV was given the opportunity to participate
in the data transfer test phase, and was
praised for our data accuracy.
• WV statewide implementation of ACLSA
Process has been hailed by Casey Foundation
as “the right way.”
23 23
24. “The Right Way” to do
Life Skills Assessments
• Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessments
– Web-based, Current, Easy, FREE
– ACLSA replaces Daniel and Phillip Roy
• Documentation in FACTS provides accessibility
to all staff.
24
25. Process
Youth Assessment Caretaker Assessment
• Youth takes the • Caretaker(s) take the
assessment on-line assessment on-line
• Results are provided to: • Matching Score Report
– DHHR Worker is generated
– Provider • Caretaker Results are
– Chafee placed in FACTS File
• Results are placed in Cabinet for easy
FACTS File Cabinet for retrieval
easy retrieval
25
26. Creation of the Learning Plan
• Once the Youth has
completed the assessment,
a learning plan is created
based upon the areas that
the Youth wants to work to
improve.
• The Youth selects from a
number of FREE
materials /activities.
• The Learning Plan is also
saved to the FACTS File
Cabinet.
26
27. Youth Perspective
Youth Voice
What we learned through the Ansell-Casey
implementation was that youth engagement is
the key to success.
The NYTD Project will only be successful with
youth engagement.
27
28. National Youth in Transition Database
NYTD requires that States engage in two data collection &
reporting activities on:
1. Each youth who receives independent living services; and
2. The outcomes of youth who are aging out of Foster Care.
So that the reporting of demographic, services and outcomes
data is accurate, every worker should document in FACTS,
especially the Education Screens, Independent Living
Assessments, Addresses, Phone Numbers and Relationships.
28
29. Youth Survey in FACTS
The Youth Survey must be completed by the assigned
worker for youth at age 17.
29
30. Youth Survey
Follow-up
surveys will be
completed on
youth at age 19
and again at age
21!
30
32. Don’t Forget
The reason for the survey is that right now we
do not know the statistics that can help us argue
for change in Foster Care, Adoption Policy and
Permanency.
32
33. Great Young People
I have the ultimate privilege to work
with and get to know great young
people.
I’m going to introduce some of them
to you in a bit, but let me tell you
about a few who couldn’t be here.
33
34. The Time Is NOW
• NYTD Implementation
& Compliance began
October 1, 2010.
• States are required to
collect data beginning
October 1, 2010, and
submitted first report
May 15, 2011.
• Surveys are due for
youth who are 17.
34
35. We are here to assist!
• Chafee Staff can assist • Chafee Staff continue
with group assessments. ACLSA training of
provider Agencies.
35
36. Thank You
• Contact:
Toll-Free 1-866-720-3605
The West Virginia Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program,
350 Capitol Street, Room 691,
Charleston, WV 25301
Fax 304-558-6067
Chafee@hsc.wvu.edu
36
37. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Websites helpful for transitioning youth:
– Casey Family Programs: www.casey.org
– National Resource Center for Youth Development:
www.nrcyd.ou.edu
– It’s My Move: www.itsmymove.org
– Foster Care Alumni: www.fostercarealumni.org
– National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and
Judicial Issues:
apps.americanbar.org/child/rclji/home.html
– FosteringConnections.org: www.fosteringconnections.org
– Child Welfare Information Gateway:
www.childwelfare.gov
– Center for Juvenile Justice Reform: cjjr.georgetown.edu
38. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• National Governor’s Association publication “The
Transition to Adulthood: How States Can Support
Older Youth in Foster Care”
www.nga.org/Files/pdf/1012FOSTERCARE.PDF
• “It’s My Life” publication from Casey Family
Programs, available at www.casey.org
• FLUX: Life After Foster Care
Available for order at (703)299 6767 or online at
www.fostercarealumni.org/resources/FLUX.htm
39. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
www.cfwv.com College Foundation of West Virginia
True Independence can be ordered from the National
Resource Center for Youth Services, University of OK, 4502
E 41st Street Building 4W Tulsa OK 74135-2512 Phone 918-
660-3700 FAX 918-660-3737
www.fosterclub.com Foster Club National Association
chafee.cedwvu.org/ The West Virginia
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
