Transformation Efforts
Transition Supports Transformative Efforts
As we imagine a new set of transition supports we must push for true transformation of the system and a re-orientation to a child and family well-being system. A transformed set of transition supports can only happen within a transformed system that operates in a completely different orientation than the current child welfare system. Most of the efforts below have never been attempted or have not been fully implemented by the current child welfare systems across the country.
Transformative Efforts Needed for Transition Supports Rooted in Justice:
Provide extended Foster Care for any young person who has had contact with the child welfare system. The support offered in the extended foster care system should be open to all youth, in every state and U.S territory, who have had any experience with the child welfare system (in-home services, kinship care, foster care, guardianship, or adoption). Eligibility should not be tied to education, employment, programs that reduce barriers to employment, or disability; and all requirements related to immigration and citizenship status should be removed to be eligible for federal IV-E funding. The program should also offer the foster care maintenance payment directly to youth in the form of cash assistance and should be designed in partnership with young people to ensure it is offered in a way that meets the needs of young people of various ages and needs.
Fully fund the Chafee program with the permanent flexibilities offered during COVID-19. This should include an increased federal investment that allows for all young people who have had contact with the child welfare system (in-home services, kinship care, foster care, guardianship, or adoption) to access the full benefits of the program, including, but not limited to, financial assistance and housing support. The program should permanently include many of the flexibilities provided during the pandemic, such as increasing the age of eligibility through a young person’s 26th year. In addition, the program should be improved to ensure that effective practices, such as providing direct financial assistance, are core elements of the program.
Make federal, state, local, and private investments in neighborhood and community-based organizations led by Black, Brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQ folks. These investments must include support to the organizations to accept and operate the funding streams and give the organizations the flexibility to design and implement supports at the levels, lengths of times, and amount of times that can support youth in making safe mistakes while retaining their housing.
Support for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQ communities to govern the systems that operate the supports. This must include representation on boards and in leadership positions, and it must include a new way of governing the systems that defuse the decision-making power across a broader range of community stakeholders to ensure that no one set of leaders holds the power within these systems.
Federally funded universal health care benefits that allow for all youth and young adults access to comprehensive coverage to physical, mental health, and substance use service providers and financially incentives providers to offer services within marginalized communities by practitioners from marginalized communities. Services should also work to shift the culture and normalize access and utilization of mental health services and self-care.
A federal living wage that is adjusted according to the cost of living within an area, ensuring that youth and young adults entering the job market for the first time can earn enough to allow for less than 30% of their income to go to housing costs.
Universal basic income ensures that youth who do not have access to the job market, are unemployed, or pursuing higher education have access to a basic income that allows less than 30% of their income to go to housing costs. This should be coupled with comprehensive employment services to assist youth in entering or reentering the job market and returning to a living wage.
Federal savings program connected to housing that assists youth, who choose to participate, in saving a portion of their rental income and/or mortgage payment into a federally backed savings and match program until the age of 30.
Fully supported education and career pathways connected to housing, food, and other basic human needs for all youth and young adults that includes: national free college tuition and student loan debt forgiveness; free tuition to complete trade schooling and job training programs; and robust, fully funded, pathways to high school graduation that include adult learning strategies for older youth. And financial support to pursue entrepreneurship ideas and careers of a young person's choice.
Investments that support digital equity. This includes access to free broadband and digital devices that enable young people to participate in the economy and pursue educational activities.
Support young people in building social capital, including investing in programs and strategies that engage and support a young person’s community. These include family, social, cultural, and faith connections, in order to build social connections that can assist with employment opportunities, social-emotional well-being, and access to financial support.