ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Allegheny County

ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Allegheny County DHS Programs for Transition Aged Youth January 29, 2016

The Independent Living Initiative (ILI) Began in March of 2006 Located within the DHS Executive Office Fifteen full-time staff üIndependent Living Program Manager üFive DHS Caseworker 3’s üSix Educational Liaisons üYouth Outreach Supervisor üTransition Program Manager üInterns who have experienced foster care after the age of 16

The Independent Living Initiative (ILI) Population served through PA Independent Living Grant: • Youth aged 16 -21 who have been adjudicated dependent and are placed out-of-home by CYF • In 2014 -2015, 921 youth and young adults served Additional Young Adults served through other funding: • Youth aged 21 -24 who qualified above • 2014 -2015, 125 served • With the opening of the 412 Youth Zone, we will expand our service population to homeless young adults aged 18 -24

The Independent Living Initiative (ILI) Services: • Needs Assessment/Case Planning • Life Skills • Education • Employment • Prevention • Support Services • Housing • Parenting Services are provided by DHS staff (Independent Living Initiative) and by provider agencies

The Independent Living Initiative Educational Liaisons Assist youth aged 16 -24 • High School retention and Post-Secondary planning • SAT/ACT preparation/ fee waivers • College Tours • Applications to colleges, universities, trade schools • Referrals for tutoring & remediation • Completion of financial aid forms & scholarship applications • Assistance with career planning • Connections to additional DHS and community resources

The Independent Living Initiative Educational Liaisons • 2005: . 4% of all aging out youth ( 8 out of about 240) went to college • 2006 and 2007: (Pre-Educational Liaisons), college entry was about 12% • 2007 -2010: entry rate hovered between 41 -45% • 2010 -2014: an average of 54% entered post secondary

The Independent Living Initiative Educational Liaisons As of May, 2015: • 18% of college/post-secondary entrants have finished some type of post secondary program • 25 % of all entrants (regardless of age 18 -24) are still attending school. Class of 2014: 54% completed their first year.

The Independent Living Initiative Educational Liaisons Post Secondary students residing on campus receive: • A daily stipend • Reimbursement for books and supplies • A complete dorm kit including bedding, suitcase, dishes, lamp, etc. • A backpack containing school supplies • Assistance with housing during breaks and vacations

The Independent Living Initiative Housing Partners and Providers Action Housing • Single apartments for youth exiting foster care (HUD funded) Community Human Services • Fully subsidized apartments for campus students during term breaks and summer vacations, and non college youth who remain active with CYF Family Links Downtown Outreach Center and Shelter (DOCS) • DHS contracts for beds for homeless former CYF youth who require stabilization services or are requesting re-opening of their CYF case

The Independent Living Initiative Housing Independence Ahead Mobile Transition Aged Youth (M-TAY) • An initiative of our Office of Behavioral Health • Provides mobile treatment teams and housing to youth with behavioral health needs who can live independently with supports Community Human Services • Rent subsidy program

The Independent Living Initiative Employment Learn and Earn Summer Employment Program, 2015 • Partnership between Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to provide youth with summer employment • 1926 youth were employed through this program BNY Mellon • BNY Mellon grantees Family Links and Auberle provided enhanced employment opportunities for transition aged youth Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board • Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board awarded Auberle a contract to provide additional workforce and employment services to out-of-school youth at the 412 Youth Zone

Youth Engagement/Youth Leadership Youth Support Partners • Young adults with lived experience who serve as peer mentors, advocates and coaches for younger youth still involved with DHS services Foster Club All-Stars • Seven week internship in Seaside, Oregon • Youth are trained and present/speak to various stakeholders, including legislators and child welfare professionals System Transformation Through Youth (SITY) • DHS Young Adult Advisory Board • Provides DHS and partners with feedback on practice and policy

The Independent Living Initiative The 412 Youth Zone-Auberle A comprehensive one stop service center for youth aged 16 -24 involved in Independent Living services and for homeless youth aged 18 -24 Engaging and innovative activities based on youth input will include: • Classes and groups in life skills, health and wellness, employment, parenting, education • Arts/crafts/ fitness • Industrial kitchen • Medical treatment rooms • Showers, lockers and laundry facilities

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Allegheny County was selected as a site in 2014 The Initiative has provided technical assistance in the following areas: • Youth Engagement/Youth Advocacy • Community Partnerships • Semi-annual survey of youth well being • National site convening and meetings provide the opportunity to network with other jurisdictions Implementation of the Opportunity Passport™ Keys to Your Financial Future (financial literacy curriculum) and matched savings program

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™ A one to one match, up to $3000. 00 is provided to youth who complete modules 1 -3 of Keys to your Financial Future Participants also receive financial incentives for module completion ($ 350. 00 total to complete all 7 modules) Since December, 2014: • 146 youth have completed at least one module of Keys to your Financial Future • 17 participants have made 26 matches for vehicles, housing, education, investments and credit repair • 71 young adults have completed three required modules and are eligible to match savings

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™ • Our first participant match occurred in March, 2015 • Total amount of match provided to young adults through the Opportunity Passport ™: $27, 632. 01 • Assets purchased by youth total: $100, 333. 77 • Stipends (Module Completion/Youth Co-Facilitators): $21, 645. 00

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™ Program Costs: March, 2014 to March, 2016 Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative contribution: $205, 000. 00 • Opportunity Passport Coordinator • Stipends for module completion • Match • Stipends for youth Co-Facilitators • Youth Engagement events • Action Housing (Admin/pass through/technical assistance) Allegheny County DHS contribution: $20, 000. 00 (match) Allegheny County DHS in-Kind Other in-kind: $1184. 00

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™ Our Goals for 2016 Continue to receive technical assistance from The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative in the following areas: • Self Evaluation • Youth engagement • Development of A Youth-Adult Partnership Board in conjunction with the 412 Youth Zone • Increase the number of Opportunity Passport Participants who are eligible for match to 175!