Ohio CASA Older Youth Initiative
Introduction
Youth aging out of foster care are among the largest group of individuals at risk for not reaching their potential
as healthy, educated, productive members of society. The only population separated unwillingly from their
parent(s) by governmental intervention these older youth are, more often than not, ill-prepared to face the
challenges of post-adolescent life and are more likely than youth with intact homes to experience catastrophic
setbacks in their attempts to transition out of foster care and into independent living.
According to the Youthwork Intervention Brief sponsored by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services
(ODJFS) and prepared by Judith O. Wagner and Michael E. Wonacott, upwards of 20,000 youth age out of
foster care each year. In Ohio alone, Wagner and Wonacott estimate that 1,000 youth age out annually. What
is known definitively is that these youth nationwide share the following characteristics:
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84.8 percent do not have a high school diploma or GED.
22 percent are homeless.
16.8 percent are on public assistance.
33.2 percent are below the poverty level.
25 percent are involved in crime.
54.4 percent have behavioral and emotional problems, school problems, and mental and physical
health issues.
50 percent experience early pregnancy.
90 percent have had sexual intercourse.
Only 20 percent complete any college.
Only 33 percent have health insurance.
Only 48 percent are employed full time.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative reports that “The differences in outcomes results in welfare and
Medicaid costs, the cost of incarceration, lost wages and other significant costs to individuals and to society. We
estimate that the outcome differences between youth aging out of foster and the general population is nearly
$5,700,000,000 for each annual cohort of youth leaving care.”
Now consider the development of the adolescent brain in general. According to a report published by the
National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD), Dianna Walters, et al, wrote, “Spinks (2002)
reported on the works of the National Institute of Mental Health’s Dr. Jay Giedd, which used imaging technology
to study adolescent brain activity. The findings showed that developmentally, adolescence is as critical as the
first few years of life.”
In the same report, researchers noted a 2006 study performed by K. Minden which concluded, “In order to
transition successfully to adulthood, young people most need a ‘circle of caring adults’ that will surround them
with structure and mentoring, and help them build confidence as they develop their own decision-making
abilities.”
Transitioning out of foster care is a process, not an event. Because of this, Ohio CASA wants to intervene
earlier starting with youth ten and older and add new practices that can have an impact on the outcome for
these youth, including reducing and ultimately preventing youth from aging out without a permanent family and
the basic independent living skills. Current practices are not enough.
Ohio CASA’s Older Youth Initiative Phase I
Ohio CASA’s Older Youth Training will provide information, tools and strategies to enhance advocacy for youth
ages ten and above aimed at preventing youth from aging out of the system without a permanent family. A
critical component of establishing the tools and strategies for this initiative is partnering with and listening to the
youth. Over the past four years, Ohio CASA’s relationship and partnership with the Ohio Youth Advisory Board
(YAB) and the Ohio Foster Care Alumni Association (OFCAA) has provided the foundation for this project.
Recently a Youth Liaison was hired who will work with local YABs and facilitate 8 regional foster youth forums.
The forums will include strategic sharing training for the youth and will gather input on a variety of policy and
practice areas such as educational well-being, youth participation in case planning and court hearings, as well
as their concerns regarding psychotropic drugs. The input gathered from these forums will inform Ohio CASA’s
practices with older youth, be reported to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) with
recommendations and may result in legislative action.
The youth’s voices informing an initial set of Ohio CASA policy and practice enhancements include their desire
to:
• understand the system that makes decisions about their life;
• have real input into decisions including attending and in some cases participating in case planning and
review, and court hearings; and
• be kept informed.
CASA/GAL volunteers will be trained to educate the youth about the system, to advocate for the youth to
participate in case planning, case reviews and court hearings when appropriate. Additionally, the CASA/GAL
will prepare the youth for this participation. Training will include how to utilize a youth driven approach for
gathering best interest factors.
The Ohio YAB system provides youth with the opportunity to experience belonging, acceptance and
empowerment. CASA volunteers will educate and link each youth to regional and state-level YABs.
Ohio CASA has developed materials for the volunteer to use to educate and discuss the role of the CASA/GAL,
attorney GAL and youth’s attorney and the basics of the family/juvenile court system. Additionally, more indepth training on the court process and mock hearings will be provided on a regional basis for youth.
Research on the impact of quality casework visits on positive outcomes for youth is the foundation for the new
policies and practices for CASA volunteer and youth visits. A checklist will be used which was established by
youth to be completed by or with the youth. The check list will guide information gathering, discussion, and
agreed upon follow-up on issues and case activities.
Phase II of this initiative will include new practices regarding youth educational well-being, enhanced
participation in court hearings, addressing youth’s concerns regarding psychotropic drugs and other issues
identified through continued listening to the youth’s voices and as identified through the CASA volunteer youth
relationship.