THP-Plus News
Expanding Housing Options for Youth In Transition

Welcome to THP-Plus News, a quarterly newsletter that allows our partners to access up-to-date information about THP-Plus, California's only housing program targeting former foster youth.

What's New in THP-Plus

THP-Plus Budget Developments
There are two important budget developments that are important to counties, nonprofit providers, and others interested in THP-Plus.

AB 845: Expanding THP-Plus in the Current Fiscal Year
The first important budget development is Assembly Bill 845, which would increase funding for THP-Plus in the current fiscal year (FY 06-07) from $4.8 million to $15.5 million.
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The Governor's May Revise: THP-Plus Holds Steady
The second important THP-Plus budget development is the "May Revise," released by Governor Schwarzenegger's office on Monday, May 14th.
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Youth Perspective

Effective Case Management is Essential, According to THP-Plus Participant
In this issue, one THP-Plus participant shares her experience with Project Independence in Alameda County.
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Practitioner's Corner

Your Turn

AB 845 was unanimously approved by the Assembly Human Services Committee on April 24^th and the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 9^th. After a vote from the full Assembly, it will be heard by Senate Committees, followed by a vote of the full Senate and would be signed by the Governor prior to the end of the fiscal year, June 30.

According to Graham Knaus, Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst at the California Welfare Director's Association, the THP-Plus augmentation has a strong base of support: "The THP-Plus augmentation bill is sponsored by the Governor, has Democratic and Republican authors, and widespread support from counties, advocates and providers. The bill is now moving swiftly through the legislative process to ensure funds are available in the current fiscal year."

In anticipation of the passage of AB 845, the California Department of Social Services issued an All County Information Notice (ACIN No. I-07-07) on March 1^st, informing counties of their THP-Plus allocation. Counties implementing THP-Plus programs may claim the augmented funds retroactively to January 1, 2007. Of the 46 counties that were allocated THP-Plus funds in the March ACIN, approximately 15 have started claiming them, based on the bipartisan support of the bill and the ACIN issued by CDSS.

Santa Clara County is one such county, according to Frank Motta of the Santa Clara Social Services Agency. "From the time the proposed mid year budget allocation was announced, Santa Clara County has planned for full implementation of THP-Plus by June. The timing will be perfect! Just as funding becomes available with the passage of AB 845 we will have 80 young adults housed and receiving services. We will lose no time in having the resources in place for our program start-up."

Regular updates about AB 845 will be sent through informational alerts and you may also contact Michele Byrnes at (415) 693-1323 for more information.

Governor's May Revise
The purpose of the May Revise is to update the Governor's proposed FY 07-08 budget based on new developments and updated revenue forecasts.

The amount budgeted in the Governor's proposed budget for THP-Plus is FY 07-08 was $15.5 million. In the May Revise, this figure has held steady at $15.5 million. According to Michele Byrnes, Project Manager of the THP-Plus Statewide Implementation Project, additional funds are needed to fully fund counties with approved plans: "The interest in THP-Plus has built across the state, resulting in a outpouring of demand for the program at the county level," said Byrnes. "This level of funding is an increase from last year, but will only fund about 650 of the 1,200 planned units of THP-Plus. We will advocate for more funding to close the gap."

The THP-Plus budget figure will not be finalized until the legislature votes on the complete state budget. This is required by law to occur by June 15, but has historically extended past the legally required deadline. Once the final budget is passed, CDSS will issue an ACIN notifying counties of their THP-Plus allocation. According to representatives from CDSS, there is no specified deadline for notifying counties of their allocation. However, a good estimate is 60 days after passage of the final budget.
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Since the ACIN has been issued, the guidelines for how start-up funds may be used have been clarified, according to Lynette Stueve, Program Analyst from CDSS. According to the clarification, the start-up funds awarded to counties may be used on any expenses associated with the start-up of their THP-Plus program as they relate to the four categories outlined in the ACIN, including staffing. County agencies have the discretion to approve the funding based on their local knowledge of THP-Plus implementation in their county.

According to Stueve, CDSS wants to be as flexible as possible in an effort to support THP-Plus programs in their early implementation.

Start-up funds must be claimed by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2007. To meet this time frame, a number of THP-Plus programs are pre-purchasing furniture, moving services and apartment supplies for future use.

That is the strategy in Alameda County, according to Sam Cobbs, Executive Director of First Place for Youth, a THP-Plus housing provider for former foster youth from Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco Counties: "Having the ability to secure needed resources for young people at program genesis is crucial for a successful start when implementing THP-Plus-funded housing. First Place uses start-up funding to pre-purchase furniture for youth, create accounts with moving companies, and pre-purchase gift cards to Wal-Mart and Target to help youth with buying basic household items. We also secure apartments for youth, paying the deposits as well as any up-front costs associated with new leases. With the new flexibility provided by CDSS, First Place plans on using start up costs to hire staff as quickly as possible. Having new hires in place quickly is a huge help in getting a program up and running in as short a time as possible."

For more information or ideas about how to utilize THP-Plus start-up funds, please contact Michele Byrnes at michele@johnburtonfoundation.org or at (415)693-1323.

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The THP-Plus Institute is designed to share effective practices in providing housing and supportive services to former foster and probation youth. "The THP-Plus Institute is a unique opportunity to learn about how to create and fund a housing program for transition age foster youth from soup to nuts," according to Deanne Pearn of First Place for Youth." It's a great opportunity to learn best practices from providers throughout the state, get an inside track on how to access funding, and build a learning network that can support you at various stages of your program's development and implementation."

The Institute is designed for ILP Coordinators, county THP-Plus representatives, THP-Plus service providers, housing providers and advocates who are seeking information about effective practices for serving former foster and probation youth. Workshop topics include Fair Housing and Property Management; THP-Plus Administration; Effective Youth and Adult Partnerships in Housing; and Harm Reduction. Space is limited, so register early. Click here for registration and travel information or visit www.johnburtonfoundation.org/THP-Plus_Institute.htm.

For more information please contact Michele Byrnes at michele@johnburtonfoundation.org.

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I'm going to school full time and I have a small grant that I've been living on for the past two years. Most of that goes to cosmetology school, which I attend full-time. On the side, I also do hair. I don't have a huge clientele yet because I'm still in school. The little money I do make goes to things I need.

Other teenagers will go out to the club, and I can't afford to do that because I'm in school full-time. That's why I'm really thankful for PI. They understand my situation, that I'm in school full-time, and they work with me. As long as I'm in school, they really understand, which is great.

Project Independence is different than foster care. You really get a chance to take care of yourself. Before I was in a foster home, I was in group homes. There are a lot of foster homes and group homes that don't care. They don't take the time to teach youth about how to handle certain situations. It was a blessing that I was finally able to find someone who cared about me. She showed me how to take care of myself.

PI is there after foster youth get emancipated and they give you a place to go. There are a lot of people waiting to get in.

At PI, I was able to meet with my roommate and see the apartment before I moved in. Not everyone is a good match as roommates; because of the situations that we grow up in, everybody has their guards up. There are issues my roommate and I need to work on. Maybe it's something about keeping the kitchen clean, or whatever. We have a case manager who will sit down with both of us and help us work things out.

My favorite part of the program is that I live in a safe place. I have my privacy. I have my own room, and there is no one knocking on my door every day, or someone barging into my apartment, or going into my room without me being there.

The rent is subsidized, so it's affordable. My roommate and I are responsible for paying our PG&E bill.

I meet with my case manager once a week and I show her that I can be independent and work with other people. That's what I like most. She sits down with me and understands my situation. She provides me with resources and she'll talk to me about whatever issues I'm having that week. If I need help figuring anything out, she helps me come to a decision. Being in school full-time is very stressful, so we talk about school a lot. She motivates me to stay in school and make sure my grades are up.

The staff motivates you, one, and two, they help you fill out your papers and whatever else you need to get into school. If you need someone to go there with you, help you with financial aid, they'll do that. They help find resources for you.

It's also great that Project Independence gives out food boxes for people with little or no income. I have no income right now, because I'm in school full-time, so it's hard to buy food. They bring food boxes to the apartment. If you're being a good participant, they also send you Target or Wal-Mart gift cards.

My advice for other providers is to have good case workers who understand the clients and be sure the housing is in a place where youth can get around on their own. Help youth find a job, make sure they have income coming in. A good caseworker is understanding, knows where youth are coming from, understands their situation, and really listens to what they've been through and what they're going through.

It's important to provide support, even when youth are 21. Sometimes people look at me and think that I should know certain things because of my age (21). But I didn't learn a lot of these things when I was younger.

I really appreciate Project Independence.

Snow is a participant in Project Independence, a THP-Plus program of Tri-City Homeless Coalition in Alameda County
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Interview with Nenita Dean, MSW, Manager at the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency, Child and Family Services Division
Can you give us a brief overview of the host family model?

The host family model allows a former foster youth to live in the home of a lifelong connection. For 24 months, the youth receives comprehensive supportive services and the adult receives a monthly rental subsidy.

StanislausCounty is the first county to implement the host family model in THP-Plus. Why did Stanislaus County decide to implement this model?

We believe in supporting a lifelong connection. This model is consistent with our county permanency practices, which develop and maintain permanent connections for youth in foster care. This model allows youth to remain stable in the home of a caring adult. Youth will continue to benefit from the love, guidance, and support of a significant connection, which will assist them in their journey toward adulthood. Because the youth and the adult have a previous connection, the adult is more committed to assisting the youth in the journey toward self-sufficiency.

How do you select host families and youth to participate in the program?

The host family model is a very youth-driven process. It starts when the youth expresses interest in living in the home of a lifelong connection---an adult with whom he or she has a strong, existing connection. This person can be a relative, a previous foster caregiver, or any adult who has fulfilled the role of an emotional supporter. With the support of the THP-Plus case manager, the youth approaches the lifelong connection, who then completes a screening and assessment process.

What is the screening and assessment process?

We interview the lifelong connection to get a sense of their commitment to the youth, their willingness to provide ongoing support, and to provide them with more information about THP-Plus. When we say "lifelong connection," we mean that this relationship already exists, and will continue for years to come. We assess their level of experience working with foster youth and their need for formal training. We also talk to them about their ability to provide stable housing. We assess the family composition: are their children in the home? Is the lifelong connection a foster parent? We try to determine how the addition of a young adult will affect everyone involved. We evaluate the living environment, such as the sleeping arrangements, the level of privacy the youth participant will have, and check for the presence of smoke detectors and appropriate fire clearance. We have an Aftercare Social Worker designated as the THP-Plus Case Manager, who conducts background checks for all adults in the household. When this process is complete, we certify the host family.

What type of training do the youth and the host family receive?

The case manager works with the family and the youth participant to develop a shared set of responsibilities and expectations. These agreements are captured in our Shared Housing Agreement and our Team Responsibilities Guidelines. The lifelong connection makes a commitment to provide love and support to help the youth make a successful transition.

We also develop a budget sheet together, which includes how much money the lifelong connection will receive and how much the youth will contribute.

We tailor our trainings to the needs of the participants. If the lifelong connection is an experienced foster parent and has teenagers of their own, we are not going to spend a lot of time talking about the foster care system. If the lifelong connection is new to foster care, we ensure that they have an understanding of how the youth participant may be affected by his or her foster care history. With all of our host families, we ensure that they understand the differences between being a foster parent and providing housing and support to a young adult.

After the program starts, the case manager meets regularly with the lifelong connection and the THP-Plus participant to talk about any issues that may arise, and to develop strategies to address them.

How much money does the host family receive?

The host family receives $500 a month. For the first few months, the Community Services Agency pays the full amount to the host family. Over time, the youth pays an increasing portion of the "rent." By the end of the program, the youth participant is fully responsible for paying $500 to the host family.

THP-Plus requires that 15 supportive services be provided to the young adult participants. Can you give us some examples of how these services are provided?

Case management is an essential part of our program. The case manager meets with participants as often as necessary; in some cases, it may be daily contact. In others, it may be twice a week.

Our educational support program is offered through a partnership with Work Alliance Net and Modesto Junior College made available to us through the Connected by 25 Initiative. The Bridge Program is a college preparatory program that academically prepares youth to enter into community college classes. Bridge is a full-time program that includes English, contextualized English, reading, math, college study skills, career development, student educational planning, and orientation to college life. Youth also have access to a Bridge support counselor and to the EOPS program.

We are starting an Individual Development Account (IDA) program in June, which will be available to host family participants. This is an asset building program that provides economic literacy training and matched savings accounts to youth participants. Savings can be used to pay for education, to start a business, or to acquire other assets.

We contract with an youth employment services provider to provide job search and job readiness training, internships, job placement and job retention services.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Transitioning foster youth need a safety net. I'd like to thank the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation's Family to Family Initiative, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, the Stuart Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for funding the Connected by 25 Initiative, which has developed an integrated system of services for transitioning foster youth.

If you would like further information about the Stanislaus County host family model or would like to contact Nenita Dean directly, she can be reached at (209) 558-2348 or Deanne@co.stanislaus.ca.us.

The Host Family Model was featured in our April 4 Web Seminar, The Host Family Model in THP-Plus. For a copy of the Power Point presentation, click here.
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