DCF Initiatives to Prevent and Intervene in Youth

DCF Initiatives to Prevent and Intervene in Youth Homelessness Jessica Trombetta, LCSW Executive Director of Adolescent Services Jessica. Trombetta@dcf. state. nj. us 1 -609 -888 -7100 March 29, 2017

Four Major Operating Divisions New Jersey Department of Children and Families Commissioner Division of Child Protection & Permanency Children’s System of Care Division of Family & Community Partnerships Division on Women 2

Additional DCF Offices • • Adolescent Services Advocacy Child Welfare Training Academy Education Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit Licensing Policy, Legal, and Regulatory Development • Performance Management and Accountability • Strategic Development 3

Office of Adolescent Services The mission of the DCF Office of Adolescent Services (OAS) is to support adolescents in their transition to adulthood to achieve economic self- sufficiency, interdependence, and engage in healthy lifestyles.

Office of Adolescent Services § Ensuring that services provided through the Department of Children and Families are coordinated, effective, meet best practice standards, are youth driven, and adapt to the needs of families and communities § Developing linkages with other service providers in order to create a more equitable and seamless service system, and § Providing leadership and policy development in the field of adolescent services.

OAS Domains of Priority • • Housing Education and Employment Physical and Mental Health General Transition Support Youth Engagement Permanence and Familial Support Criminal Justice/Legal Services General/Cross Systems 6

v Personal resilience v Social connections v Knowledge of youth development v Concrete supports in time of need v Social, emotional, behavioral, intellectual and moral competence in youth 7

DCF-OAS Youth Housing Continuum Outreach/ Crisis Beds Supervised/ Transitional Living Programs • Street outreach, short-term youth shelter beds (up to age 18), and some beds in one 18+ shelter • Approx. 300 beds through Supervised / Transitional Living Programs (ages 16 up to 21) • Approx. 100 units Permanent Supportive Housing (18 to 21) Permanent Supportive Housing • NEW: 100 Project Based Section 8

Housing Program Access Supervised/ Transitional Living Programs Approx. 300 Beds Permanent Supportive Housing Approx. 100 Beds Adolescent Housing Hub: 1 -877 -652 -7624 New Jersey Youth Resource Spot: www. njyrs. org 9

Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH) Develop and implement a model intervention that will achieve four outcomes: Stable Housing Permanent Connections Education/Employment Social-Emotional Well-Being 10

YARH Background • On 9/29/13, the Children’s Bureau awarded two-year planning grants to 18 grantees across the country. Grant period 2013 -2015. • In 8/29/15, six implementation grantees were awarded a three year implementation cooperative agreement. Grant period 2015 -2018. 11

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***Three prong service intervention strategy to prevent and address homelessness for youth in foster care ages 14 -21*** 1. Connect to Family and Connect to Well-Being (permanency and life skills services) (targeted for youth 14 -21) 2. Connect to Achievement and Connect to Mentoring (educational advocates and near peer and professional mentors) (targeted for youth 14 -21) 3. Connect to Home-housing screening and assessment and supportive housing (target for youth 18 -21) 13

Pilot Local CP&P Offices • Burlington – East – West • Mercer – North – South • Union – Central – East – West

Connect to Home • DCF and federal service funding and DCA housing vouchers used to support long term, stable housing and voluntary supportive services for youth current or previously involved with foster care. • 60 vouchers allocated to the (YARH) Federal Project-Burlington, Mercer, and Union (20 vouchers each county, targeted for high need youth with experience in foster care, 18 -21) • • Youth must be between 18 age 20 prior to entering the program. Trauma-informed, evidence-supported services must be components of model

Additional OAS Youth Housing and Homeless Prevention/Intervention Initiatives 1. Partnership with NJ Department of Community Affairs-Youth Supportive Housing for Aging Out Youth Ø Expectant and Parenting Youth Supportive Housing Ø Youth Supportive Housing for Aging Out Youth 2. Statewide Homeless Youth Committee (summer 2017) 3. Partnership/Data Sharing with NJ Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency 16

ON THE WEB!!! Ø NJ Youth Resource Spot www. njyrs. org Ø OAS Staff Directory http: //nj. gov/dcf/adolescent/services/ Ø OAS Strategic Plan and Report http: //nj. gov/dcf/adolescent/services/ Ø Youth At-Risk of Homelessness NJ website http: //nj. gov/dcf/adolescent/yarh. html Ø CSSP’s Youth Thrive Framework http: //www. cssp. org/reform/child-welfare/youththrive 17