School Site
Professional Development
Workshop
Educational Needs of
Dependent Youth
Prepared by
Sponsored by
Dependency
The Puzzle Comes Together
Learning Objectives
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Increased awareness of the foster care
system
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Increased understanding of your role relative
to youth in foster care
Dependency
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A generic term for children living in “out-ofhome” care
Youth living in foster homes, group homes,
relative care, institutions, or with their birth
families under supervision
Overseen by the government; may be
contracted out
Youth usually have history of child abuse,
neglect or abandonment
Undocumented youth may also be in the
dependency system
Basic Facts
about Foster Care
Number of children
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520,000 in the United States
30,000 in Florida
5000 in Miami-Dade County
Average length of stay
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3 years for all youth in foster care
6 years for youth who turn 18 while in care
- Casey Family Programs
Abuse Report -> Child Taken into Custody
Shelter Hearing
Sounding
Adjudicatory
Hearing
Case Planning
Conference
Disposition
Judicial Review
Child Returned
To Parent
Alternative LongTerm Placement
Termination of
Parental Rights
Endless Dreams
Primary Concern
The educational needs of the
nearly half million youth in
foster care have largely gone
unrecognized
- United States Department of
Health and Human Services
Educational Challenges

Enrollment in school

Identification of youth
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Assessment of educational needs
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Delivery of services
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Monitoring of academic progress
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Collaboration among entities
Expressed Youth Needs
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Uncertainty of living arrangements
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Concerns about biological families
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Peer Relationships
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Adult Support
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Academic assistance
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Attendance issues
Negative Outcomes
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50-60% do not graduate from high school.
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25% of prison population were in foster youth.
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25% of youth who “age out” of foster care are homeless
within 12-18 months.

34% end up on welfare.
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20% of females give birth shortly after leaving care.
- Connect for Kids
“How would I have gotten help with school if my counselor hadn’t
had seen my potential and helped me with each step of getting into
college? “
-Melissa, 19, University of Florida, Foster youth
Real Lives
“If someone wouldn’t have cared so much about me going to
school, I never would have had the motivation to start.”
-Jeffrey, 20, Miami Dade College, Foster Youth
Bringing the Pieces Together
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Circle of support
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Permanency
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Stable home
Stable school setting
Youth involvement
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Positive peer relationships
Caring adult supports who respect youth’s privacy
Clubs
Sports
Positive youth development
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Responsibilities
Leadership building activities
Self-advocacy
- National Foster Youth Advisory Council
Building Rapport
FRAGILE
Compassion
Availability
Trust
Where is the Time?
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Who Can Help?
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Juvenile Court Contacts (i.e. You)
Teachers
Guardians or Foster Parents
Group home staff
Relatives
Case managers
Coaches
Mentors
Other school staff
Local Resources
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JJSO District Court Liaisons
Juvenile Court Contacts
Guardians Ad Litem (< 18 years old)
Take Stock in Children
Transitioning Youth Project (> 18 years old)
Mentoring Programs
 Big Brothers / Big Sisters (< 16 years old)
 Educate Tomorrow (> 15 years old)
Why Are You Vital?
The Story of Melissa Fan Fan
Educational Opportunities
for Dependent Youth
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State: Road To Independence Program
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Tuition Waivers
Monthly Stipend
Transitional Independent Living Funds
Federal and National educational funding
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Grants
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Pell
Scholarships
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Orphan Foundation
Florida Independent College Fund
Famous Foster Children
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Alonzo Mourning / NBA
Cher / Singer & Actress
Daunte Culpepper / NFL
Eddie Murphy / Actor & Comedienne
Ice-T / Singer & Actor
Marilyn Monroe / Actress
Tommy Davidson / Actor & Comedienne
Victoria Rowell / Dancer & Model