Independent Futures Program

Walden created the Independent Futures Program in 2001 to assist pre and post emancipated foster youth who were placed with Walden when they exit from foster care.  It is a fully grant and philanthropy funded program which serves over 150 pre and post emancipated foster youth.

PROGRAM CONCEPTS

Adult Learning Theory

Young adults have accumulated a foundation of life experiences and knowledge. It is important that they connect learning to this knowledge and experience. To help them do so, the Independent Futures program works with young adults to draw out participants' experience and knowledge while providing opportunities for experiential leaning in a supportive environment.

Autonomy

Establishing a sense of autonomy, or independence, is an important a part of the emotional transition out of childhood.  Encouraging independent thinking and the expression of original ideas and beliefs, validating feelings, and expressing unconditional support are ways to nurture autonomy.  The Independent Futures program believes that supporting autonomy versus control of young adults’ behavior and decisions will contribute to their success beyond their exit from foster care.  Focus is placed allowing young adults to make mistakes while surrounded by supportive adults who can provide teachable moments from an unconditional place. 

Empowerment

Young adults need to believe they can control events that affect them.  The Independent Futures program encourages and allows natural consequences, which fosters real learning and eventual behavioral change.

Permanent Connections

Many foster youth have a desire to reunify with their biological parents after they emancipate from foster care.  Likewise, many parents want to properly parent their children although they may not have the skills and resources to do so.  This often results in youth and parents jointly nurturing a “fantasy” return home upon emancipation from foster care.  The Independent Futures program recognized that often youth have to experience the failure of this reunification prior to realistically focusing on independent living.  Plan “B” becomes an essential part of the work with these young adults.

Additionally, many independent living programs operate from the prospective that young adults will leave foster care to become financial and emotional independent.  In reality, we all need the support of other people.  The Independent Futures program supports the youth in seeking out potential permanent connections with others such as, family, neighbors, foster parents, bosses and/or teachers.

Dependency/Entitlement Paradox

Transitional age youth often send out conflicting and frustrating messages.  They believe they should be treated as completely independent as far as decisions, behavior and freedom are concerned.  At the same time, entitled system-wise young adults will emphasize what the system “owes” him/her.  The Independent Futures program works to close the communication loop with other service providers and team members working with the young adult to make sure all are on the same page.  Additionally, the young adult is redirected and empowered to focus on his/her own behavior to make positive change in his/her life.

Positive Youth Development Philosophy

Positive Youth Development (PYD) is based on the belief that, given guidance and support from caring adults, all youth can grow up healthy and happy, making positive contributions to their families, schools and communities.  The approach favors leadership and skill-building opportunities that build assets rather than focusing on problems to be solved (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2007.) PYD refers to the process in which all young adults attempt to meet their basic needs for safety, caring relationships and connections to their community, while also striving to build academic, vocational, personal and social skills (Quinn, 1999).Characteristics the Independent Futures program embraces are that affiliated with a PYD approach are that it is asset based, collaborative, community oriented and competence building.

Concrete Versus Abstract Skills

Concrete skills are day to day activities such as cooking, cleaning and going to school.  Abstract skills are interpersonal skills that include such areas as communication, decision making, positive work ethic and dating and relationships.  While concrete skills are crucial in becoming self-sufficient, the lack of abstract skills will more likely to disrupt a successful transition to adulthood.  The Independent Futures program provides young adults real world practice with abstract skills.

PROGRAM STAFF

The Independent Futures Program staff consists of four Teen Services Coordinators, all of whom have bachelor degrees in a social service related field.  The Coordinator serves as a mentor, cheerleader, advocate and case manager for Independent Futures participants, hanging in therewith each young adult no matter how far off track he or she strays.  When the youth is most troubled is exactly when the Coordinator is needed the most, conveying the message that the Coordinator will never give up on the youth.  The Coordinators are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for program participants. What makes the Teen Services Coordinators role unique from other transitional youth programs is the availability to provide one-on-one support and guidance as well as group activities.

It is not uncommon for a Coordinator’s relationship with a participant to transcend their employment with Walden, thus fulfilling the connection role for an Independent Futures participant.  Undoubtedly, the Independent Futures Program could not exist in its current form without the unique role of the Teen Services Coordinators.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

To meet the significant need of services for pre- and post-emancipating foster youth, Walden’s Independent Futures Program focuses on six key areas of support (as described below) which include: education, employment, health, permanent connections, financial literacy and housing.

Education

An important and key objective of the Independent Futures Programis assisting young adults with educational planning. A great number of young adults enrolled in the Independent Futures Programare interested in continuing their education therefore relying on Walden’s Teen Services Coordinators to help them navigate through the often confusing enrollment, scheduling and financial aid processes. Since studies have shown that nearly all foster youth who go on to complete college had a high school degree.  Whenever possible, Walden’s Teen Services Coordinators encourage young adults to obtain a high school degree rather than a GED. 

Employment

Walden believes that young adults leaving foster care can achieve economic success in today’s complex world. However, like all young adults they need opportunities, preparation and support.  Walden’s Teen Services Coordinators focus on teaching young adults five areas related to successful employment: punctuality, appropriate dress, ethical behavior, productivityand a positive attitude. Additionally, the Teen Services Coordinators assist the young adults with locating employment that fits their skills and interests.

Health

Walden believes that medical, mental health and dental services are of the utmost importance for transition age foster youth, given their related documented issues.

Research has demonstrated that foster youth have disproportionately higher rates of physical and mental health problems and require easy access to health care throughout their transition period in order to follow through with receiving services. Upon aging out of the foster care system, nearly 50% of foster youth cope with chronic health issues that are likely the consequence of early abuse and/or neglect inflicted upon them prior to being placed in foster care (The California Wellness Foundation, 2007).

Mental health is a critical area of concern with regard to former foster youth because it is an area that they often show signs of struggle.  The national evaluator of the Comprehensive Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families, ORC Macro, identified one of the five most prevalent diagnoses of children referred by foster care is depression.  Additionally,a study by Casey Family Programs found that the 12-month occurrence of panic disorder among former foster youth was three times that of the general population; drug dependence was seven times more prevalent among former foster youth and alcohol dependence was twice as high.  In addition, the most stunning finding was the diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being five times higher than that of the general population, which exceeds the levels of PTSD experienced by war veterans (The California Wellness Foundation, 2007).

Current statute in California allows youth in foster care to receive healthcare through Medi-Cal services until they turn 21. The 2005 study by the Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Conditions of Youth Preparing to Leave State Care in Chicago, found that one-fifth of the young adults interviewed reported that they had not received medical care in the last year due to not having insurance. In addition, only 39 percent of the youth interviewed had dental insurance.

Walden’s Teen Services Coordinators assist program participants in accessing medical, dental and mental health services as necessary, minimally on an annual basis.  In addition, assistance will include transportation, guidance and financial assistance if necessary.

Permanent Connections

As part of Walden’s mission to “support the lives of children and families through lasting relationships,” Walden promotes importance of permanent connections. Research shows that everyone needs at least one person in their life who supports them unconditionally in order to be successful.  The Independent Futures program strives to help each participant identify that special person and maintain this important relationship.

The permanent connections component of the Independent Futures Program enables emancipated young adults to remain with their current foster parents. Once a young adult reaches the age of 18, county services and/or financial stipends for themselves and their foster parents abruptly end, putting a huge financial burden on foster families. Through the Independent Futures Program, Walden is able to provide foster families the financial assistance and support they desperately need. As a result, young adults are provided with a safety net to practice their independent living skills, make mistakes and experience the natural consequences of their choices. Foster parents are also provided with education and support services from the Teen Services Coordinators to aid them in guiding their young adults through their many starts and stops while sharpening their skills.

In addition to encouraging and assisting young adults to remain with their foster parents after emancipation, the Independent Futures program supports young adults through the “fantasy” of returning home following emancipation from foster care.  Should the reunification fail, the Coordinators are there to support the young adult through the disappointment and assist them with focusing on “Plan B”.  

Finally, the Independent Futures program supports the youth in seeking out potential permanent connections with others such as, family, neighbors, foster parents, bosses and/or teachers.

Financial Literacy

Financial responsibility poses an enormous problem for emancipated foster youth. “They either have too little of it, manage what they have poorly or try to get it too easily” (Shirk, Stangler, 2004). Within a few years after leaving foster care, less than one in five emancipated foster youth is completely self-supporting (Shirk, Stangler, 2004). Without a safety net, these young adults too often face the consequences of poor financial choices and are unable to resort to family or friends for financial assistance which all too often leads to them engaging in illegal and/or illicit activities as a means to obtain “easy” money. The Teen Services Coordinators provide training and support, and obtain outside business and community resources to provide instruction and guidance regarding financial topics such as: how to open and balance a checkbook, money management and the pro’s and con’s of credit.

Housing

Finding a safe and stable home is one of the biggest challenges faced by emancipating young adults. Studies have shown that, three out of ten of the nation’s homeless are former foster youth (Casey Family Programs National Center for Resource Family Support). One of the most significant transitions young adults in foster care make is in assuming the responsibility for their housing needs (Sheehy et al., 2000). One of the goals of the Independent Futures Program is for young adults to have safe, stable and long-term housing when they leave the foster care system. Young adults are provided many options for housing in preparation for their exit. Often they are able to remain in their current foster home, move into a transitional living facility, move in with a friend or birth family member, or live in their own apartment. Walden’s Teen Service Coordinators assist them with such things as: developing a housing budget, completing paperwork, acquiring utilities, and obtaining necessary furnishings.

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