1. Connecting the Dots
From Foster Care to Employment and Independent Living
Alice Worrell
Connecting the Dots Conference
August 3, 2012

2. Program History
Originated Summer, 2011
 OH Youth Advisory Board (OYAB) conference
with Director Michael B. Colbert
 Youth Voice: local waiting lists (WIA), youth ill-
prepared for independent living; inconsistent
services across county lines
Call to Action: “Connecting the Dots”
 Foster Care/Office of Families and Children and
Workforce Investment Act (WIA)/Office of
Workforce Development to collaborate to
address concerns as raised by OYAB

3. Significance of Connecting
the Dots in Ohio
Every year
in Ohio,
1,000 – 1,300
youth age out
of our foster
care system

4. National Statistics
Employment Less than 50% are employed full time
Education 25% do not have HS degree or GED by age 23
Poverty 33% in households below poverty level (3X national rate)
Housing 22% experience homelessness
Mental Health 54% report at least one mental health problem
25% experience post-traumatic stress syndrome
Criminal Activity 33% of males incarcerated by age 19
Health Care less than 33% have healthcare coverage
Teen Pregnancy 48% of females are pregnant by19

5. Old View
Services and
US Health and
Human Services
Programs US Dept of Labor
Available… WIA Youth
Chafee Funds
Program
88 PCSA IL
20 Ohio WIBs
Programs
Foster Youth
and Young
…but
Adults Disconnected

6. Connecting
the Dots
The Vision
To dramatically improve the education and employment
outcomes of youth emancipating from foster care, better
supporting their transition to adulthood.

7. Four-tiered Initiative
1.State-wide Cross-program training for independent living and One-
training to build Stop WIA youth program staff
common
knowledge Training for One-Stop youth staff, service providers, and
foster youth, parents and case managers on web-based
tools for career exploration, educational requirements,
(COMPLETED)
jobs available, and job search
2. Pilot programs at Cuyahoga; Hamilton; Lake; Summit; and a collaboration
local level of Montgomery, Greene, Preble, & Clinton counties
3. Website for youth Access to transition information (OYAB Ask)
4. Statewide best Phased in approach
practice model

9. Pilots:
What were we looking for?
Signs of program coordination/integration:
• Integrated system design
• Blended funding streams
• Synchronized policies
• Strategic case practice
• Meaningful youth involvement (voice)
• Collaborative planning

10. Pilots Will Provide
Effective Program Elements
 Youth Voice and Engagement (Youth in Transition)
 Vocational Mentoring
 Educational Supports (e.g., targeted tutoring)
 Work Experience (before graduation)
 Coordinated Delivery of WIA Youth
Coordinators and PCSA IL Coordinators

11. CTD - Contributors
Older Youth Additional Partners Supporters
Age: 14 – 21 Local Agencies Adult Supporters
(17 – 19 for DOL grant) (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, (e.g., foster parents and
WIA youth service providers) young adults)
All Demographics Corporations and Local University Partners
(meet readiness criteria) Companies (for expertise, resources &
(work experience and evaluation purposes)
opportunities)
Across Ohio School Districts Policy makers
(pilots sites; in various (e.g., County
placement types) Commissioners)

12. New View
 No more silos!
 Integrated system design
 Blended funding streams
 Synchronized policies
 Strategic case practice
 Meaningful consumer involvement (youth and
young adults)
 Collaborative planning

13. Changes Already Evident
 New workforce & employment component to IL
services curriculum
 New job opportunities specifically for youth to
promote self-sufficiency
 Foster youth/parent on Youth Council
 Priority for foster youth in WIA summer youth
program
 Common service providers
 Passion for serving foster youth evident in WIA
youth program service providers

14. Program Outcomes
Youth who exit Ohio’s foster care system:
 receive adequate services to meet their
needs
 are educated and employed
 are connected to available resources
 demonstrate the ability to weather
living/life’s terrains beyond
emancipation
Change Champions have successfully linked
 CTD to other commitments
(e.g., clothing and shelter, mental health)

15. Connecting the Dots…
Moving Forward
What do you think would
help improve educational and
employment outcomes
for our youth?

16. Contact Information
Alice Worrell
Project Manager
ODJFS Office of Workforce Development
P.O. Box 1618
Columbus, OH 43216-1618
614-644-0351
Alice.Worrell@jfs.ohio.gov

17. QUESTIONS?