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Keep former foster care youth from experiencing homelessness

Keep former foster care youth from experiencing homelessness

Have an idea for this challenge? If you haven't already, be sure to join the site (upper right hand corner) and post up your thoughts below!

How can Dekalb County Child Advocacy Center (in the Atlanta area) reduce the percentage of youth who age-out of (leave) the foster care system from experiencing homelessness within the first year? Please post ideas, comment to engage other contributors, share resources and ask friends to sign up at http://www.ChangeAgentsUnite.com!


CHALLENGE DETAILS: It is estimated that 20% of former foster care youth experience homelessness within the first year of leaving foster care. How do we unite a community to see these youth as a commodity, a population to invest in and a future foundation of the workforce and leaders. How do we provide a system, network and safety net that will support their transition, train and prepare these youth to survive and THRIVE beyond their first year as "independent" adults.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW: The DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center, a premiere legal advocacy agency in the metro Atlanta area, providing representation for approximately 1000 foster children annual would like to issue the challenge to increase the percentage of transitioning youth who are independent and thriving one year after leaving foster care. Each year, hundreds of children reach the age of majority and transition out of foster care. Within the first six months, many are homeless. Within the first year, many more have no job, income, stable adult support AND have become involved in the criminal justice system in order to survive.

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PRIZE SPONSOR: FMYI - a leading provider of private social networks and collaboration software (http://www.fmyi.com).
PRIZE RECIPIENT DETAILS: Dekalb County Child Advocacy Center will reward one winner whose idea helped the most.
CHALLENGE END DATE: 12pm PT on June 22, 2012

PRIZE YOU CAN WIN: The winner will be credited with $1800 FMYI bucks to use towards a collaboration site of your liking. FMYI will provide assistance to make sure that you are set up with the best site that fits your organization and will help you achieve your goals.

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Latest activity

  1. Courtney Timm

    Congratulations to the winner! Posted by: Courtney Timm

    • On Aug 1, 2012, 11:40:31 AM Central Daylight Time
    • Topics: (None)

    Congratulations to Adrian Down! Your idea has been selected as a winner by the Dekalb County Child Advocacy Center for the "Keep former foster care youth from experiencing homelessness" challenge and you will be rewarded. As the challenge sponsor, FMYI, we will be in touch with you to sort out the details on getting the prize in your hands.

    Thank you for being a Change Agent!

  2. Sarah Bartlett

    Keep young foster adults connected Posted by: Sarah Bartlett

    • On Apr 2, 2012, 7:20:01 PM Central Daylight Time
    • Topics: (None)

    Ideally, it would be great if we could extend the "age out" age to 21 for kids enrolled in secondary schools, community colleges, apprenticeships, or any kind of technical or work training. These additional years of support could make all the difference.

    Apart from that, if some kind of life coaching or sponsorship could be provided similar to big brothers/big sisters but for young adults trying to find a place for themselves in the world, maybe we could keep the kids connected in a way that would make their success more likely. This could be their foster parents, community volunteers, or anyone who has something to share and doesn't mind being leaned on and has time to keep tabs on a young person to help them keep on track. I see others have suggested similar mentoring services and I think it's key. All kids at this age need support, but especially those with no real family to lean on.

  3. Robbie Raaf

    options Posted by: Robbie Raaf

    • On Feb 18, 2012, 4:33:12 PM Central Standard Time
    • Topics: (None)

    Help them by providing a job placement service. Many companies will pay a fee to find qualified workers. This fee can be used to offset the cost of providing the job placement service.

    It may be helpful to provide a the with an after-system support network where they can seek input and advise from others who have already experienced these types of situations.

    Utilize people who have been through foster care and who have become successful. Ask for their support to provide support in the way of training, temporary housing and even jobs.

  4. Benjamin Brink

    preventing homelessness after growing out of foster care.. Posted by: Benjamin Brink

    • On Jan 17, 2012, 12:07:29 AM Central Standard Time
    • Topics: (None)

    This is tough. I doubt any single program will be fully successful.

    How many have ever been out of the Atlanta area? Organized career development, mentoring, encouraging social networking via subsidized memberships/access (and transportation) to expos, club outings, college campuses etc is useful for any city trying to engage maturing youth in activities that interest or inspire them.

  5. Adrian Skinner

    Foster Care Posted by: Adrian Skinner

    • On Dec 19, 2011, 1:51:44 PM Central Standard Time
    • Topics: (None)

    I do not have a good understanding of how Atlanta's system works. I am making the assumption there is little to nothing in place now and the school system is similar to the rest of the nation.

    I think two mentors for children starting in their late teens (a year or two before they age out). One should be someone who successfully transitioned from foster care to adult life. This shows the kid yes you can be successful from my spot and I am not alone. The second should be someone who is willing to mentor them into college or the military or some sort of job training. This would be based on the child's interests. Starting a few years before aging out will allow them to put a plan into place. It should be mandatory and if the children are in a home the foster parents should be encouraged to participate to help the transition.

    Another part are life lesson classes. There are no high school classes that teach how to balance a checking account, how and where to grocery shop, how to interview for a job, where to look for jobs, how to find an apartment, where to go if they do start to have problems i.e. assistance such as food stamps or health care. After 8 years in the Navy mentoring "kids" I learned that most people do not understand how important it is to pay their bills first and how to write a check. These were mostly people from homes who had their parents to teach them. Children in foster care do not always have a role model or consistency in their home life. Making sure they are taught basic life skills consistently I believe will help them transition better and function better in their new place in life.

  6. Sally Bell

    Community Asset Mapping Posted by: Sally Bell

    • On Oct 27, 2011, 3:45:34 PM Central Daylight Time
    • Topics: (None)

    So, my question is how do we see this problem more accurately? Finding solutions for these young adults in transition can start with understanding what assets already exist within the community. It would be great to start mapping out the cultural landscape, the built environment and existing allies for the foster community.

    1. Graeme Byrd

      Graeme Byrd on Nov 21, 2011, 9:32:19 AM Central Standard Time

      I agree Sally. It can be helpful to map out the landscape. The "map" can help the organizations support each other.

  7. Adrian Down

    Apprenticeships Posted by: Adrian Down

    • On Nov 4, 2011, 3:14:54 PM Central Daylight Time
    • Topics: (None)

    Afraid I cannot speak particularly eloquently on this subject or profess to any great knowledge, however as someone who left formal education at 15 I do know the challenges that can face you with a lack of academic qualification especially when the employment market gets tough.
    Over here in the UK we have a system whereby young people can apply to an apprenticeship scheme. They then spend 80% of their time within a workplace and 20% in education linked to their chosen career.
    I now work in healthcare (I know, who would have thought it of a 15 year old dropout) and have recently taken on 2 young apprentices to work in my surgery. Both are fantastically eager to work quick to learn and bring fresh new ideas to the challenges we face. They will have a 2 year apprenticeship with me that will conclude with solid career related qualifications. At the end of that period they can choose to stay with me or use their qualifications and experience to forge ahead into new careers.
    As an employer it is extremely rewarding to see young people blossom and learn and at the same time add real value to my organisation.
    I think the start of this is to encourage employers of the value young people have within their organisation. I pay them a salary that allows them to have a higher standard of living than they would if they were claiming benefits but less than I would expect to pay an experience colleague.
    Start with employers, get them involved with the story of the young people and allow the young people to feel valuable by adding to the workplace.