Fostering Hope

Fostering Hope aims to create awareness around youth who age-out of the foster care system in New York City. The transition from foster care is often abrupt; foster youth are cut loose overnight without resources and too often without having acquired the necessary skills to live on their own. Through Fostering Hope, we hope to contribute to this on-going dialogue and provide meaningful support and resources to youth aging out of the system as well as advocates and allies. Reach us at [email protected]

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Having an ID is one of the keys to success. Learn how to apply for a birth certificate, Social Security card, and non-driver State ID. Go to www.nyc.gov/GetYourID .

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Interview with a New York city Youth who has aged out

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HELPING CHILDREN AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE PREPARE FOR INDEPENDENCE

On any day, there are about 500,000 children and youth in the foster care system – through no fault of their own. They have been removed from their parents because they have been abused, abandoned, neglected, or exploited. These traumatized, emotionally fragile children are in dire need of sanctuary, stability, and security. Instead, kids in foster care change families, schools, and communities with appalling frequency. Two-thirds move seven or more times while in foster care. Siblings are often separated. Vital records are often lost or misplaced. Education is almost always delayed and disrupted. Life on the move – without parents to provide continuity and a sense of connection – leaves these kids particularly ill-equipped for the transition to adulthood. Every year, about 20,000 young people exit or “age out” of the foster care system, typically at age 1

Click to see entire resource

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Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: Identifying Strategies and Best Practices

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The Chafee Bill: Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP)

The Foster Care Independence Act, which renamed the Independent Living Program, the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, expanded eligibility for independent living services to youth and doubled the funding available to states to provide these services. The CFCIP offers assistance to help current and former foster youth achieve self-sufficiency. Funding is offered to states that submit a plan to assist youth. Under this program, states can use federal funding and matching state dollars to pro- vide support for youth transitioning from foster care to inde- pendent living.11

Program Overview:

-Expands eligibility for independent living services to youth ages 18-21

-Provides $140 million in annual funding to states for provid- ing independent living services programs.12

-States are required to contribute 20 percent in matching funds. zMany states and localities choose to supplement CFCIP funds with their own dollars, or private funds.

-To receive funds, states must provide written transitional in- dependent living plans based on the needs of each youth.

-Gives states flexibility to decide what services they will provide with the funds they receive.

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The Orphan Foundation of America (OFA)



OFA helps parentless teens as they transition from foster care to young adulthood, with particular emphasis on helping these young men and women attend college and vocational school. OFA focuses on scholarships, ETVs, and mentoring. 

Contact Eileen McCaffrey, Executive Director, Orphan Foundation of America, 571/203-0270, www.orphan.org/aboutofa.html.

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New York City, Section 8 Priority Code



The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the Office of Housing Policy and Development (HPAD), in cooperation with the New York City Housing Authority, has a Section 8 Priority Code for young people aging out of the foster care system. This program provides Section 8 vouchers or public housing units to qualified current and former ACS Independent Living clients. As of December 2002, more than 1,700 youth had utilized this program. 

ACS and HPAD, in conjunction with other private not-for-profit housing developers, continue to support the development of supportive housing for young people aging out of the system. Currently, at least 25 ACS Independent Living clients reside in a permanent supportive housing program by using their Section 8 vouchers, accessed through the Independent Living Priority Code Program. In February 2003, five units of permanent supportive housing were made available to former Independent Living clients with mental health needs. 

Contact Nancy Martinez, Director, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Development, New York State Office of Children and Family Services,518/473-1776, [email protected].

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Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) 


Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) is a membership association - a community of alumni, allies, and organizations that join together in order to serve as a source of support and information, and a network of people with a shared culture and experience. FCAA works to transform foster care practice and policy by working with it's allies to change the stigmas associated with foster care, to identify and address challenges in the foster care system, and to identify the best things about foster care and make sure those things happen more often. FCAA provides opportunities for it's members to participate in the national community through it's events, chapters, leadership institute, affinity groups, advocacy efforts, and a community art project. 

Contact [phone], [email protected], www.fostercarealumni.org

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FosterClub

FosterClub is the national network for young people in foster care.

Foster Club



Foster Club is an online community providing youth a safe place to obtain facts about foster care, read inspirational stories, and find support from their peers. Foster Club produces a website, FYI3.com, designed specifically for older youth in foster care, which inspires young people to become involved in their case plans, informs them about their rights in foster care, and prepares them for independence after they age out of the system. In addition to providing online communities, Foster Club coordinates conferences for teens in care, runs the Foster Club All Stars youth leadership program, develops youth-friendly publications, and infuses youth voices into the child welfare system. 

Contact Celeste Bodner, Executive Director, 503/717-1552, [email protected], www.fosterclub.com.

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UPS School-to-Career Partnerships



The United Parcel Service (UPS) School-to-Career Partnership for youth is a community-based initiative engaging disadvantaged young adults in a work and learning experience at UPS, Marriott, Bank of America, and other employers to expand their opportunities for career and academic success. Recent efforts have been to recruit youth transitioning from the foster care system. The UPS Partnership is a collaborative effort involving the facilitator and funders, employers, referral agencies, and transportation providers. 

Through UPS, colleges and nonprofit agencies collaborate to create programs tailored to the unique educational and employment needs of each community. Some programs work with four-year colleges, while others work with community colleges and technical assistance and trade schools. 

The long-term goal of the UPS Partnership is to establish a best-practices workforce development system that will be expanded in the current service area and replicated with committed employers in other communities nationwide. Progress toward this goal has already begun. The Maryland Partnership serves as the model for UPS School-to-Career Partnerships in Hartford, Connecticut; New York, New York; Oakland, California; Portland, Maine; Providence, Rhode Island; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California. 

Contact Mark Giuffre, 502/329-3060, www.community.ups.com/education/school.html.

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Check out this amazing website! So many resources out there!! 

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The Next Generation Center is a one-stop center designed to support young people, ages 14-24, as they prepare for and transition to adulthood and independence.

NGC is a community-based center in the Morrisania section of the Bronx (Community District 3) with a service delivery and program approach designed to support the needs of youth in foster care and those who have aged out of foster care as well as those involved in the Juvenile Justice System.

They offer job readiness training and subsidized internships, educational guidance and advocacy, legal counseling, housing assistance, and life skills, creative and visual arts, multimedia, fitness and recreational programming.

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Getting Food Stamps

Food Bank's Community Kitchen  252 W. 116 St. New York, NY 10026 212-665-9082  www.foodbanknyc.org  Addresses food, hunger, nutrition, and income support issues in New York City. Provides direct services such as food stamps, free tax assistance for low-income New Yorkers including meals, and advocates for improved government policies and programs.

You can find food stamp centers citywide and here

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A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals

ADDRESSING the EDUCATIONAL NEEDS of CHILDREN in FOSTER CARE

NEW YORK STATE PERMANENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION ON JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN

A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals

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The Fostering Connection is a nonprofit organization that provides FREE mental health services to young adults affected by foster care. The Fostering Connection has many private practice therapists who volunteer their services. They are carefully screened and The Fostering Connection will match a therapist with any young person who is or has been in foster care at any time. This therapist will work with the young person for as long as the relationship is needed or wanted—all at no charge. If you are currently in foster care (or have aged out), and would like to find a therapist through The Fostering Connections, contact the Clinical Director at 212-255-8895. 

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Sports and Recreation

If you are still in foster care, your agency should cover any fees or expenses associated with recreational activities at up to $400 per year. Starting to exercise before you leave care will make it easier for you to continue once you are on your own. If you have identified a class you would like to take, talk to your caseworker to find out your agency’s procedure for paying for it. If your caseworker is not being helpful, you may have to call your law guardian.

If you have already left the foster care system, there are still free or low-cost ways to exercise. Youth Sucess NYC have offer some suggestions for how to exercise in the city. You can access them here