Extended Foster Care Gives Washington’s Foster Youth Hope

Jon Brumbach CCF Board Member

For many graduating high school seniors the month of June is a time of excitement and achievement. Their hard work will be rewarded with a diploma and near endless possibilities. However, not too long ago, a young person in foster care who was lucky enough to graduate from high school faced very different possibilities.

For many years, a foster youth’s 18th birthday or high school graduation meant the state no longer had any responsibility to care for them. Foster parent maintenance payments ceased, and foster youth would be left with a garbage bag full of their belongings and a bus ticket. Instead of the possibilities of college, a career and independence, former foster youth faced homelessness, jail and continued dependence on state services. They aged-out of the system, but at an age few are ready to be on their own. Our youth in foster care deserve better.

When we have failed to reunite these youth with their families or find them loving adoptive families, we must ensure that they enter adulthood safe, stable and supported.

Since 2006, Washington state has endeavored to help these young people by extending foster care to age 21. It began with a pilot, allowing 50 young people per year to remain in care to pursue their post-secondary education.

The benefits were clear, not only did the youth achieve greater outcomes, but it provided a positive return-on-investment for tax payers.

Congressman Jim McDermott saw these benefits and sought to elevate the model to the federal level. He drafted the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, allowing states to receive federal support for extending foster care to age 21.

Since the bill passed in 2008, Washington state has incrementally gone from a pilot program to the Extended Foster Care program. Starting 2011, the legislature has approved the following populations of foster youth to enroll in Extended Foster Care:

• 2011: Youth pursuing their high school diploma or GED

• 2012: Youth pursuing their post-secondary education (college or vocational/technical)

• 2013: Youth participating in programs that reduce barriers to employment

• 2014: Youth working 80 hours per month or more (to go into effect March 2015).

These expansions have come despite some of the most difficult budget environments our state has ever faced.

Now, over 330 foster youth are celebrating the possibilities of higher education and a career from the safety and stability of home.

But our work is not done yet, there are still youth who are unable to participate, and they are our most vulnerable. Those with documented medical conditions that make them unable to work or go to school are not eligible for the program.

Children’s Campaign Fund is working hard to ensure our elected leaders are champions for this issue so every foster youth can celebrate their 18th birthday and the possibilities to come.

Background Checks for All Gun Sales

Mercedes Elizalde CCF Political Strategy Committee Chair

YES on I-594!

A couple months ago, I was in Olympia with a group of affordable housing and homeless prevention advocates meeting with their legislator to discuss more comprehensive funding. While we were there, I recall seeing a lot of people. And I mean A LOT of people. The housing and homelessness advocates were nearly outnumbered by people who came to speak in support (and against) additional background checks for gun safety.

Currently, Washington state law requires people who are purchasing guns from licensed dealers to complete a background check. The requirement is very clear. People with a history of violent crime or severe mental illness are not able to buy a gun. Makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the loophole you could drive a semi-truck though. If someone, who for example has a history of domestic violence, decides they wants gun they only need to find someone else–anyone else including online sellers and dealers at gun shows–to sell them a gun. No background check required.

I-594 legislates what the majority of Washingtonians (and Americans in general) believe. This loophole is costing lives and it’s time to institute a background check for all gun sales.

The Children’s Campaign Fund endorses I-594. The Board believe this simple step will save lives and protect children from violence.

Children across Washington experience gun violence directly as victims. They are also exposed to long-lasting trauma when family members are victims of gun violence.

From 2007-11 in Washington, 2,903 people died from gun violence (source). Firearm deaths now outpace vehicular deaths (source). Just as we have worked to make cars safer, we must make our communities safe from gun violence.

We know background checks work. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has stopped over 2 million gun sales to people who are prohibited from possessing guns (source). Presently, those prohibited because of the NICS system are able to go online or to a gun show and get the weapon they are seeking.

But with I-594, we can close these loopholes.

Check out the facts and vote smart this November.

YES on I-594! And NO on I-591.

• Yes on I-594 “This measure would apply the currently used criminal and public safety background checks by licensed dealers to all firearm sales and transfers, including gun show and online sales, with specific exceptions.” – Source: I-594 website

• No on I-591 “An act relating to protecting gun and other firearm rights.” – Source: I-595

Salaam Garage Foster Care Exhibition

Rene T. Murry CCF Chair

On May 1, I had the opportunity to go to the opening night of “The Long Road Home: Aging Out of Foster Care,” an exhibition organized by Salaam Garage.

With chapters in New York and Seattle, Salaam Garage is a digital storytelling organization that unites journalists, writers, photographers and videographers and with international NGOs and local non-profits to create and share projects to create positive social change. Amanda Koster, the Seattle chapter founder and executive producer, also happens to live in my neighborhood. Working side-by-side on another issue, we found that we are both foster care advocates.

The exhibition and event were inspiring and one reason was that the usual suspects weren’t in the room. Many of us who work in foster care advocacy have been around for years. However, this event was full of new faces—people from all walks of life—who were new to the issues surrounding what it is like for a teenager to age of the foster care system.

Washington state is making gains in the area of providing for our young adults who age out foster youth at 18. We now have extended foster care programs that enable 18- to 21-year olds to remain in the system under certain conditions. It is better than it was, but we can still make improvements.

My hope is that the best is yet to come.

I was proud to be there with Jon Brumbach, board member of the Children’s Campaign Fund and employee of the Mockingbird Society and Laurie Lippold from Partners for our Children. We had a chance to speak to others in the room about the importance of their involvement in continuing to advocate for the children in the welfare system.

Two of the adults profiled in one of the media projects also stood up to speak. Their willingness to share their stories with a room full of strangers was impressive.

The exhibition will be on display at the Art Institute of Seattle until June 18. And it is free!

Salaam Garage creates these media projects to share with others. If you have a place that you feel it could be displayed, go to the exhibition and then contact Salaam Garage. I know Amanda will be excited to talk to you.

You can read more about Salaam Garage on their website. Go take a look at the project. I am glad I did.