A Call to Action

1. A Call to Action May 6, 2011 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm 546 NW University Blvd, Suite 201 Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

2. Everybody’s A Teacher • http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/initiatives/everybodysateacher/index.shtml

3. Mythbusting • Children in foster care overcome the trauma of abuse as soon as they are removed from the abusing parent and are in a safe place. • TRUE OR FALSE?

4. Answer: False The trauma of both abuse and removal from all the child knows lingers beyond immediate safety. 100 % of children have hopes and dreams before coming into the dependency system. 4

5. Mythbusting • Children placed in foster care are enrolled in school right away. • TRUE OR FALSE?

6. Answer: False • The possibility of switching schools multiple times is increased given that on average, children and youth in out-of-home care experience three foster care placement changes per year.  In fact, research has shown that over a third of young adults reported having had five or more school changes. School moves are further complicated by enrollment delays while waiting for necessary paperwork to be transferred, resulting in lost education time and disruption of supportive services.

7. Mythbusting • Studies show that children in care have twice the post traumatic stress as the rate of US war vets. • TRUE OR FALSE?

8. Answer: True • Children in the child welfare system already have been traumatized by abuse or neglect in their homes and removal from their families. Uprooting a child from their school community deepens this trauma. Not only does the child lose their parents and possibly siblings, but also lose connections to classmates, a favorite teacher, coach, and school activities – the aspects of daily life that create a sense of security, self-worth and belonging.

9. Mythbusting • Changing schools is a small set back that children in foster care can easily overcome. • TRUE OR FALSE?

10. Answer: False It is estimated that when a student in foster care changes schools, an average of four to six months of educational progress is lost FOR EACH CHANGE. Children in foster care in one Florida school system were more likely than same age peers to be retained in grade and score lower on standardized tests.

11. Everybody’s A Teacher • 2003-2004 school year: 38% of Florida’s youth in care changed schools at least once, compared to 7% of the general population. 2005 OPPAGA • A national study found that youth who had one fewer placement change per year were almost twice as likely to graduate from high school before leaving care. National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, Educational Outcomes for Youth in Foster and Out-of-Home Care (September 2007).

12. Mythbusting • Children in foster care earn diplomas at same rate as their peers. • TRUE OR FALSE?

13. Answer: False • Studies show high school students who change schools even once have a hard time adjusting and are less than half as likely to earn a high school diploma. • Only 60 percent of youth aging out of foster care will finish high school by age 19 compared to 89 percent nationally of 18-24 year olds.

14. Mythbusting • Because students in foster care have free tuition in state colleges and universities, they enroll at a higher rate than students not in care. • TRUE OR FALSE?

15. Answer: False • In 2007, 40% had dropped out of school in contrast to 16% of all youth. 55% of 17 year olds are below grade level and 58% of 17 year olds failed the FCAT. The 2009 Survey showed some improvement with “only” 50% below grade level and “only 46% failing the FCAT. • One cannot go to college if one does not graduate high school.

16. Mythbusting • Infants and toddlers in foster care just need food, shelter and nurturing and they will be fine. • TRUE OR FALSE?

17. Answer: False • A 2005 national study of children in state care found that 40% of toddlers and 50% of pre-schoolers had significant behavioral and developmental needs. Yet only 21% of the children were receiving services. National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, Educational Outcomes for Youth in Foster and Out-of-Home Care (September 2007).

18. Everybody’s A Teacher • Everyone who works with a child in care is a teacher. • Answer: True!

19. Everybody’s A Teacher! FAMILY Parents Guardians Legal Custodians • Family means those persons with legal custody of the child p prior to out of home placement JUDICIARY Relatives Foster parents Surrogate parent Group home staff CHILD DCF CPI DCM GUARDIAN AD LITEM SCHOOL Principal Teachers Counselors

20. http://www.ctkidslink.org/stability.html

21. The voice of a child “It’s hard to be making new friends, meeting new people, and getting used to each school’s vibe. And it can be hard to concentrate when you jump from home to home and school to school.…Sometimes teachers assume you’re just passing through their school and class, and won’t take an interest in you. And if an adult in school does take a special interest in you, you usually lose that connection when you switch schools.” Russell Morse, School Daze, Foster Care Youth United, p.9 (November/December 1999).

22. Frequent school changes Linked to: • an increased risk of failing a grade, • behavior problems, • dropping out, • absenteeism from placement changes and/or school changes.

23. Poor academic performance Contributes to above-average rates of: • homelessness, • criminality, • drug abuse, • Unemployment.

24. Everybody’s A Teacher • High student mobility puts an enormous burden on schools and educators. Teachers and administrators must scramble to determine the appropriate education program for each new student, without being able to predict how long that student will remain in the school. Even the most extraordinary and devoted teachers cannot educate children effectively without stability and continuity.

25. For these reasons, experts have identified school stability as arguably thesingle most effective way to improve educational outcomes for foster children.

26. Circuit 19 There are 682 children in out of home care on any given day, over 372 have been in care longer than a year. 378 children in out of home care are of school age. Each year, approximately 30 youth emancipate from licensed foster care at age 18. The average number of placement changes for children out of home is 4.45. The national average is 3.

27. . Focus Topics Information Gathering and Sharing Services Necessary and Services Available Transportation – McKinney-Vento ? Community Partnerships

28. Transportation McKinney-Vento • It is within the intent of the McKinney-Vento legislation to continue to provide transportation to the school of origin in order to prevent fragmentation of school services for formerly homeless students who may not be able to maintain the continuity of their education in the school of origin if transportation support is no longer provided. • The Statewide “InterAgency Agreement” between Department of Children and Families, Department of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and Agency for Workforce Innovation seeks to coordinate services for children and encourages use of funding provided by the McKinney-Vento Act for transportation.

29. Circuit 19 issues (Identified in breakout session) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

30. Our Goal School Stability: Students should remain in their same school, unless it is unsafe

31. Actions We Can Take Actions identified locally to ensure school stability for out of home children in Circuit 19 (Insert Action Plan Here)

32. Implementing the Action Plan • The Next Step

33. Every child needs teachers