21.9  Outcomes

The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) provides States flexible funding to carry out independent living programs that assist youth in care as well as those transitioning to adulthood. The law also requires the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to develop a data collection system to track the independent living services provided to youth and to develop outcomes that measure States' performance in preparing youth for their transition from foster care to independent living. To meet this requirement, ACF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register in July 2006 and issued a final rule in February 2008. The data collection system is called the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD).

The NYTD regulation requires States to engage in two data collection and reporting activities. First, States collect and report basic demographic data on each youth and the independent living (IL) services provided to them by the State in thirteen broad categories:

• independent living needs assessment
• academic support
• post-secondary educational support
• career preparation
• employment programs or vocational training
• housing education and home management training
• budget and financial management
• health education and risk prevention
• family support and healthy marriage education
• mentoring
• supervised independent living
• room and board financial assistance
• education financial assistance

Life Skills services may be provided for collection and reporting in one of the following ways:

• Through the Chafee provider if the youth is enrolled.
• Through the CD Contracted TLP provider if the youth is enrolled through CD.
• Through TLP services provided via Foster Care Case Management Agencies and reported by the Children’s Service Worker.
• Through Missouri Alliance Specialized if the youth is enrolled.
• Through the foster parent or other community service provider if arranged by the Chafee, TLP, or Specialized Care Contracted Provider.
• Through the foster parent as part of their services and entered by the Children’s Service Worker.
• Through a community service provider if arranged by the Children’s Service Worker and entered by the Children’s Service Worker.
• Through the Children’s Service Worker.

Second, States conduct a baseline survey of youth in foster care at age 17 and conduct a follow-up survey with these youth at ages 19 and 21 to collect and report information about the following youth outcomes:

• financial self-sufficiency
• experience with homelessness
• educational attainment
• positive connections with adults
• high-risk behavior
• access to health insurance

States collect the outcomes information by conducting a survey of youth in foster care on or around their 17th birthday. States track these youth as they age and conduct a new outcome survey on or around the youth's 19th birthday; and again on or around the youth's 21st birthday. States collect outcomes information on these older youth after they leave the State's foster care system, regardless of whether they are still receiving independent living services from the State when they are 19 or 21 years old. All States collect and report outcome information on a new cohort of youth every three years. All outcome information with the exception of demographics must be obtained directly from the youth and reflect the youth’s provided response and not information obtained from other agency databases. The state will survey youth who reach their 17th birthday every third year thereafter.

The table below illustrates an example of the timeframes:

The survey consists of 21 questions in which the answers must come directly from the youth. For those youth still in care, the Case Manager or Children’s Service Worker will be responsible for ensuring that a survey is completed via one of the methods outlined below and entered into FACES. For youth who need assistance completing the survey, the Case Manager or Children’s Service Worker should assist with this to ensure survey completion. For example, if a youth is incarcerated and the youth can be located, the youth could be interviewed by phone.

Options for youth to complete survey:

• Completed electronically by the youth within 45 days of youth’s 17th birthday from web-based link sent to the youth’s email account.
• Completed electronically by the youth within 45 days of youth’s 17th birthday from a letter sent to youth’s last known address containing information on an electronic link to complete survey.
• Paper copy sent to youth and completed by the youth within 45 days from 17th birthday and sent to Central Office for entry in postage paid envelope.
• Paper copy completed by youth during home/office visit and entered by Case Manager or Children Service Worker.

Regardless of method of completion of the survey, the Case Manager or Children’s Service Worker should talk to youth once the youth turns 17 about method of completion.

A Consent to Access Administrative Data release form will also be discussed and offered to youth during transition planning by the Case Manager or Children’s Service Worker. The consent release form gives our agency permission to search other agency databases in order to locate the youth. This will assist in efforts to reach youth that are transient after they are no longer in care. These forms are completed at exit from care and then sent to the Older Youth Transition Specialist in the youth’s Case Manager Region. The Older Youth Transition Specialist will maintain a file of releases to be used in searching for the youth if all contact information becomes invalid.

Efforts must be made to ensure contact information is available after the youth leaves care. E-mail is the preferred method to distribute the survey so that data collection can be as automated as possible.

By utilizing resources available through the Division, such as Chafee, MO HealthNet and the community, youth who are currently in out-of-home care or left the legal custody of the Division will be:

• Better prepared to meet the challenges they face on their road to self-sufficiency and independence;
• Will understand the importance of their role and personal responsibility to self and community;
• Will be more aware of community resources and how to access them if needed; and
• Will be able to develop their own support system to enable them to transition successfully to independence.

Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)

CD04-15, CD04-56, CD04-79; CD05-02; CD05-72

Memoranda History:

CD07-38, CD09-05, CD10-18, CD10-108