FOSTERING STUDENT
SUCCESS
Successful Interagency Collaborations to Improve
Educational Outcomes for Children in Foster Care
November 4, 2011
Debbie Winters, Dependency Court Liaison
School Board of Broward County
Broward County Public Schools
 6th largest school district in the nation
 Over 257,000 Pre-K-12 students from 163
countries, speaking 55 languages
 45,000 ESE students
 38% Black, 30% White, 26% Hispanic
 298 schools, including 68 charter schools
Broward County Child Welfare
 1,000 CPS investigations a month
 10-12% result in out-of-home care
 2700 children under supervision, with
about 900 residing in licensed care
 61% Black, 30% White, 7% Hispanic
 580 foster care students enrolled in Pre-K
through adult education
Foster Care Population
• Retained at 3x that of the general population
• 20% were proficient in reading in 2002, increased to 45% in 2011
• 87% in school on first day in 2002, increased to 96% in 2011
• 73% on Free Meals in 2002, increased to 98% in 2010
• 25% are ESE upon entry into care
• 45% of given population is ESE (over 3x the general population)
Collaboration
January 1998- Dialogues begin between community advocates,
child welfare and school district regarding potential class action
lawsuit related to unmet mental health needs of youth in foster care.
Were ESE services also being compromised?
Evolution
1999-2000
 SB staff co-located at CW intake center
 Transportation services initiated
 FC designees appointed at every school
 FC information form completed at registration
2000-2001
 Court liaison staff added
 Independent evaluation of agreement
2001-2002
 Cross agency training/manuals
2002-2003
 Community-Based Care services initiated
The Evolution Continues…
2003-2004
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Privatization process of all CW services completed
FS 39.0016 “Education of abused, neglected and
abandoned children” implemented
2004-05
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“Getting to Know You”
CBC develops full-time Education Specialist position
2005-2006
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Local WorkForce Development agency added as partner
Revised research protocol to address student outcomes
Automated information exchange
2006-07
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Research study initiated
Automated transportation request system
Streamlined Free and Reduced meal processes
The Evolution Continues…
2007-2008
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Enhanced district database for intervention coding for use
by Foster Care Designees
2008-09
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Released findings from our local research study of the
academic performance of students in foster care
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Added foster care “flag” to web-based ESE program
management system
2009-2010
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Added a Guidance Counselor position to assist with youth
transitioning to adulthood
2010-11
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Added Department of Juvenile Justice and Agency for
Persons with Disabilities to the agreement
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Developed mechanisms to address categorical eligibility for
free meals
Interagency Agreement Components
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Philosophical Perspective
Dedicated Personnel
Sharing of Information
Professional Development
Educational Stability/Transportation
Parental Involvement/Surrogate Parents
Early Intervention
Transition Planning
Evaluation
Dependency Court Liaison
 Linkage between school system, ChildNet and the
dependency court
 Attends shelter hearings/judicial reviews providing
educational reports as requested
 Tracks missing or incomplete information forms
 Processes special transportation requests
 Tracks/monitors court ordered educational actions,
including psycho-educational testing
 school district champion for the cause
Foster Care Designees
• Serves as the primary contact at school for the caseworker
• Reviews student’s records and documents interventions
• Collaborates with other school personnel (data processor, psychologist,
ESE specialist, school social worker, etc.)
• Communicates with ChildNet/agency staff, parent and caregiver
• Communicates with other designees to facilitate transitions
• Maintains a confidential folder on foster care students
• Consults with district staff as needed
Educational Services Specialist
Consults with caseworkers, foster parents and providers re:
educational concerns
Participates in school-based conferences, IEP meetings etc., as
needed
Facilitates training on educational and school related issues
Develops and promotes collaboration between child welfare and
educational personnel
Professional Development
 All training is done as a partnership, both BCPS and ChildNet
 Detailed manuals for cross-system training
 2-hour “intro to education” orientation training for new
caseworkers (Topics: effects of abuse/neglect on education, NCLB,
state standards/testing, ESE overview, parent involvement)
incorporating components of Casey’s Endless Dreams curriculum
 2-hour education “processes and procedures” pre-service
training for both new caseworkers and school foster care designees
(Topics: interagency relationship, student records, information
sharing, transportation, early intervention, transition)
Professional Development
(cont’d)
 Annual Resource Fair for CW staff showcasing various BCPS
departments and programs
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Annual update trainings for all CW staff, school-based
personnel, GAL staff/volunteers, state’s legal services,
shelter/group homes, and other system of care personnel
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Bi-annual (minimum) full-day education workshops for foster
parents
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All BCPS parenting workshop information provided to CW staff
Transportation
» ChildNet shall attempt to place students in foster care
homes within or closest to their home school
boundaries
» The School System will make every effort to provide
transportation
» Automated transportation request system-forwards
requests on the upcoming hour
» Matrix for transportation feasibility provided
Information Sharing
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FC information form provided to school at time of registration and for
any changes of information
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Weekly list of active and exiting foster care children provided to BCPS
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Hidden “flag” placed on student record to assist with student services
and categorical eligibility for free meals
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Weekly student demographic data sent to ChildNet
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Identifier codes for foster care designees’ direct service to FC
population for purpose of accountability/research.
Educational & Case
Planning
Educational summary on all children the day they are sheltered
Confidential folder maintained by school’s foster care designee
Specially developed referral process/tracking for Child Find referrals
Detailed educational review with recommendations on all 13 year olds
Collaboration on Transition IEP and FC Independent Living Case Plan
Court Liaison attends shelter and judicial review hearings to facilitate stability/services
and provide educational summary for case planning
Debbie Winters, Dependency Court Liaison
debbie.winters@browardschools.com
754-321-2122
Fax 754-321-2129
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/STUDENTSUPPORT/SSD/html/dd.h
tm