Maggie Riden, DC Alliance of Youth Advocates Testimony to the Committee on Human Services Oversight Hearing: Child and Family

Services Agency February 10, 2012 Good Afternoon Chairman Graham, fellow Council members and committee staff. My name is Maggie Riden and I am here to testify on behalf of the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, a coalition of 100 youth serving agencies in the District to provide feedback and recommendations related to the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). While CFSA has clearly made improvements related to service delivery and system infrastructure, DCAYA remains significantly concerned with the agencies capacity to successfully transition older youth. Over two weeks in March, DCAYA conducted an extensive survey of the Districts homeless youth population. In 14 days and at over 60 sites (ranging from shelters, multiservice providers, schools and recreation centers) volunteers and staff encountered 390 youth aged 12-24 who were actively homeless the night they completed the survey. Of those 330 youth; 40% had a history of involvement with the child welfare and or juvenile justice system. To put this in context, most national estimates suggest that 15-25% of former foster care youth will experience homelessness. In essence, our child and family welfare system continues to be a pipeline into homelessness and instability for hundreds of youth each year. Our report does provide a specific subsection detailing our findings related to system involved homeless youth. So rather than go through the details of our findings, I would like to take this opportunity to compliment much of what youve heard today, particularly what youve heard from some very eloquent youth, with two broader systems level recommendations weve developed based on ongoing work related to this issue. Effective Discharge Planning and Preparation: Youth reported frequently running from placement because of either conflict at the placement, or in an effort to be closer to friends and family (median five times, but 13% reported running from placement 10 times or more). Yet upon system exit, are not successfully reuniting with family. This suggests the need to expand family based treatment opportunities, implement high quality, streamlined aftercare services connected to a transition or re-engagement center and to examine existing policies on discharge planning to ensure this process is beginning years, not 6 months before a youth exits care and custody. The data further suggests a need to focus on diploma or GED attainment, job training opportunities and an expansion of independent living preparation. Based on our findings,

less than 50% of youth were engaged in an educational or job training activities. Only 36% reported receiving any independent living skill development opportunities; 60% did not have a checking account and 40% did not have basic identification. Without basic credentials, experience or life skills, these youth will continue to struggle obtaining employment, returning to school, signing a lease or budgeting their household. Systems Coordination: Increasing coordination and communication across agencies working with youth, families and young adults is a vital component to achieving positive outcomes for foster youth. Young adults, under the best of circumstances, do not turn 18 or 21 years old and magically become rational, self sufficient adults and a history of trauma, abuse or neglect further impacts this social-emotional development. We must recognize that our foster care system ends at a dynamic time phase of growth; and to achieve lasting stability, this population will need an array of supportive resources that is not defined by their age, but by their scope of need. Developing this array of services requires collaboration between government agencies, CBOs and youth. One venue in which this could occur would be the ICH, and with the appointment of Ms. Donald, I would hope that CFSA can become more engaged in this body and work with the group to more clearly define and address the service gaps that are resulting in such significant rates of homelessness among former foster youth. Addressing the relationship between our foster care system and homeless youth population is critically important to mitigating the larger issue of homelessness in the District and fostering positive changes for CFSA involved youth. I have confidence that with the change in leadership at CFSA, increasing energy at the ICH, and this committees investment in addressing the issue of youth homelessness, we can make definitive strides in the year to come. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak today, and I welcome any questions you may have.