|
 When young people in foster care become homeless, unemployed or
incarcerated after reaching their 18th birthday, our
entire community suffers the consequences. On the positive side,
our community benefits when foster youth make successful transitions
to adulthood and become productive citizens with homes, jobs,
healthcare and stable relationships. Because the entire community
has a stake in the success of foster youth, the Community
Partnership Board (CPB) of Fostering Success brings community
resources to address systemic challenges facing these young people.
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville is lead agency for the
Fostering Success Community Partnership Board. United Way is an
ideal partner because its mission is to create a better community
where individuals, families and neighborhoods thrive.
The Community Partnership Board (CPB) works with the Youth Advisory
Council to engage community leaders to address needs for foster
youth that range from housing to jobs to transportation. Board
members may have connections to safe affordable housing, job
training or other opportunities for young people aging out of foster
care. Other board members can use their contacts in government and
political leadership to advocate for system-wide changes.
The CPB is charged with identifying gaps in the system for youth
aging out of care. The board makes recommendations to address and
solve root causes of problems, such as issues with transportation or
government policies. There are always opportunities for any member
of the community to contribute to Fostering Success. A business can
provide discounts for products and services, provide access to legal
services and healthcare, and offer internships. Individuals can
serve as foster parents or mentors, assist with matching funds for
bank accounts and contribute to college scholarships.
We can’t fix the problem if we don’t know what’s broken
That’s the dilemma facing those who serve foster youth aging out of
the system in Tennessee. In the past, little data was collected
about foster youth after they reached their 18th birthdays. We could
only guess at why alarmingly high numbers of foster youth failed to
find jobs, homes and stability as adults. Information about foster
youth who became successful adults was anecdotal. It was difficult
to galvanize public support for young people who simply disappeared
from the system.
Fostering Success conducts rigorous research and evaluation of our
programs to determine what’s effective, what’s not, and where we
need to concentrate our efforts. Research and evaluation increases
accountability of public systems serving foster youth and ensures
that resources are spent wisely.
Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies’ (VIPPS) Child &
Family Policy Center leads the research, evaluation and public
awareness components of Fostering Success. Located at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, VIPPS brings the expertise and reputation
of a leading research university to its oversight role for Fostering
Success. VIPPS also draws on the national resources of the Jim
Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, which has piloted initiatives
similar to Fostering Success in other cities such as Atlanta,
Detroit and San Diego.
Research and evaluation includes online and telephone surveys with
foster youth who participate in the Opportunity Passport™ and
Tennessee Youth Advisory Council. Findings from our surveys of
former foster youth revealed significant barriers to success. The
majority didn’t have a driver’s license or access to public
transportation, which is a barrier to getting a job. One in three
lacked a high school diploma or GED and one in four failed to stay
in school or keep a job.
Follow-up surveys show that youth who participate in Fostering
Success are making positive changes in their lives:
-
5 times as many youth report working 40 hours a week for 6
months or more
-
53% increase in youth who are living independently
-
27% increase in youth completing education or training beyond
high school
-
23% increase in youth with a high school diploma or GED
Vanderbilt staff work closely with partner agencies such as the
Department of Children’s Services, Monroe Harding, Oasis Center and
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville to ensure that services are
coordinated and effective. The Fostering Success team established
clear expectations and accountability for partner agencies.
Get
Involved Today! |
