Statewide Quality Assurance Report

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Florida Department of Children and FamiliesCase Management Services - 2009-2010 Quality Assurance ReportIV.Youth Voice: Empowering Youth to ImproveChild Welfare PracticeIn 2010, as part of the Quality Assurance reviewprocess, eight Youth Perspective Roundtableswere facilitated across the state. The purpose ofthe Youth Perspective Roundtable was to learnfrom youth in foster care and empower them totalk about their challenges, needs, feedback,and recommendations that could improve childwelfare practice and the quality of the fostercare system. The Youth PerspectiveRoundtables consisted of a series of discussionswith youth in foster care, ranging in age from 13years to 22 years. A youth who was still in fostercare led each group in a 90 minute discussionthat focused on six areas: placement,education, transportation, services,independent living, and community resources.Within each area the youth:1) identified “important people” in theirlives and defined their characteristics;my mother, father, pastor, caseworker,etc.2) described their feelings about being “incare” and “out of care” and the processof (or expectations for) transitioning toadulthood, and3) brainstormed ways in which theirexperience foster care might be“changed,” with a focus on ways ofstrengthening relationships.Taran’s Story – A Struggle from BirthI entered foster care for the first time as a newbornand I was in and out of shelter and foster care forthe next 18 years. My behavior was not alwaysgood. I was angry. I had a failed adoption and 35different foster home placements; I was in fourgroup home placements and I was incarcerated in 3different commitment programs. At 17 after my lastcommitment program in secure detention, I wasadvised by my Independent Living Coordinator thatit’s time to change, time to grow up, you changenow before it is too late. And I did.Having supportive adults in my life helped me beginto believe I could achieve success and knowing therewere people who cared about me inspired me totake the steps I needed to start being successful.My supports/mentors listened to me and never gaveup. They often gave constructive advice, even if I didnot take their advice at that time it influenced mydecisions later in life when the words would comeback to me. Words like “stay focused”, “staydetermined” “you are a good person” you CAN DOIT”.I have made every effort to take advantage of theopportunities offered to me during my experience infoster care. Programs like the Independent Livingprogram and AMI Kids (formerly Escambia BayMarine Institute) helped me learn to set goals and tomake a real plan to achieve those goals. Eventhough it seemed like I was always in trouble, I lovedschool and finally realized I had all the help I couldneed if I only used it. Asking for help was a hardthing to learn to do.I graduated from high school, earned an AA degreein Pre-law and I am now attending a four yearUniversity.If I could talk to every kid in foster care I would tellthem to make those important connections withsupportive adults. I would encourage foster childrento learn to see life from other perspectives-to ask forhelp, to have faith and to trust enough to reach outto the community.I have been asked to speak at conferences andtraining seminars. I put my message out there toeveryone: My message is to believe that life can belived as you want and not lived how you haveOffice of Family Safety | Page 35
Florida Department of Children and FamiliesCase Management Services - 2009-2010 Quality Assurance ReportChildren in foster care are particularly vulnerable as they often come into state caretraumatized due to their exposure to maltreatment, family instability, and a number of otherrisk factors that compromise their healthy development. Children in care may be witnesses to,and victims of, family violence, or may have been subjected to inadequate and impaired caregiving that result from a variety of parental issues, such as substance abuse, mental illness, anddevelopmental disabilities. Moreover, these children are predominantly from impoverishedbackgrounds, a situation that intensifies the risk factors they experience.Youth and young adults who are either currently in foster care, or who have recently agedout of foster care, must be empowered to have a voice in the child welfare system. This sectionprovides a summary of the perspectives, ideas, experiences, knowledge, and actions of youngpeople. Every time a statute, administrative code, policy or law is implemented or changed, wehear, “Did you ask the youth? What do they think?” The youth voice is essential to any type ofthese changes. The more information the Department receives from youth, the better ourability to improve the delivery of quality services.An interesting dynamic developed in one area where there was a sibling group of four youthwho were 17-24 years of age. All four children grew up in foster care. One youth, age 24, andanother who was 20, talked about all the supports, guidance, and resources they did not have ascompared to their younger siblings; who felt they were receiving these supports and resources.The youth acknowledged how much progress Florida has made in helping youth prepare to liveindependently. The results of the youth perspective about the child welfare system aresummarized below. This information should be used at the local level to improve practice.1. There is generally a lack of discussion between the youth and the case worker about placementoptions.2. Youth understood that they could not always be placed with a sibling. Their concern was thefailure of foster parents or case workers to help them keep connected with a sibling who wasalso in foster care, through visits and telephone calls.3. Youth struggle to stay caught up in school because many times they are moved and mustchange schools. Although recognizing some placement moves were due to their acting outbehavior, school was a safe place that offered stability in their life. The loss of school, teachers,and friends made them feel unsafe again. Youth who turn 18 while in high school are fearfulabout losing their foster care placement prior to graduation.Office of Family Safety | Page 36
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