RESPONSE TO Identification of a Policy

Project:  Group Wiki Part 2: Identification of a Policy

As an astute social worker and professional policy advocate, once you have selected a social problem, you begin the process of creating and implementing a policy that addresses that social problem.

In Part 2 of your ongoing Wiki assignment, you identify a policy created and implemented to address the problem you described in Part 1 of your Group Wiki. Part 1 of the Group Wiki is below under “Current Wiki Page data below.” The topic is teenagers aging out of the foster care system.

Complete Part 2 of your Group Wiki.

Address the following questions for the Wiki page for Part 2. Answer each question individually. Should be in APA format and include references and in text citations for each question.:

· Is the policy identified by your group dictated by local, state, or federal statute—or a combination thereof?

· What are the different aspects of the policy?

· How long has the current policy been in place?

· Who supports and who opposes the policy?

· What changes/amendments have been made to the policy?

Current Wiki Page data below:

Introduction:

Today there are a lot of social problems that social workers can attend to. Social workers can tend to the problem of lack of health care, homelessness in major cities, lack of livable wages and more. However, the social problem I would like to focus on is the aging out foster care population. There are approximately 23,000 young adults that will age out of the foster care system each year (NFYIADMIN, 2017). Out of these children that age will run in a lot of issues that I will briefly go over. Then I will go over how has this social problem has been handled in the past. Lastly, I will go over how the concerns affected the social issues of foster young adults aging out of the system.

Social Issue:

In the U.S., adoption of infants has slightly increased since 2014 with the increase of children in care (Editorial Team, n.d.). However, there is a lack of concern when children are becoming young teens and adults that are in the foster care system. With the calculation of 23,000 foster children aging out of the foster care system, statistically, less than 3% earn a college degree, 20% becoming instantly become homeless at 18, 25% will display the effects of PTSD, and more (NFYIADMIN, 2017).

This group is congruent to the social worker ethics and values to assist. This group needs service that will educate them on the many resources that are allocated for their needs. In addition, assisting this population will serve social changes in getting this group tools that will give them the boost to avoid homelessness, poverty, health failure and more (NASW, n.d.).

History of Solutions:

There are measures that are put in action to help this population. In 2008, the Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act was put in action to improve the outcomes for children at risk that spent time in foster. The goal of Fostering Connection is aimed to assist older youth in foster care that needs more assists. In 2010, Title IV-E was put in action to extend the funds of foster care to adoption personals and guardians till the foster youth is 21. This title is activated when the youth meets the education, training, or employment requirements. Next, states are mandated to develop a transitional plan that addresses housing, health insurance, education, employment, and workforce support, 90 days before the youths 18th birthday. Plus, through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, vouchers for Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) is extended by law. This voucher pays out $5,000 per year per eligible youth for secondary education and training (Torrico, 2010).

Result of Solutions

These programs are able to help foster youths when they meet the requirements. There are plenty of success stories that these measures have contributed; however, many education agencies are not educated on the laws that assist foster youths. States that are implementing these laws need to have a clear communication and understanding between child welfare and education agencies (Legal Center for Foster Care and Education, 2018).  Between 2011-2012, there is a recording of 1853 foster care youth students that received Title IV-E benefits. In addition, universities are more attuned with Title IV-E and more students are having a higher chance of quality training and education. There have been closing of some schools due to lack of funding, state and federal communication, and continuing changes in leadership; however, states are making an effort to update their communication and funding to accommodate foster youths.

Reference:

Editorial Team. (n.d.). News Brief: Domestic Adoptions Rise Slightly, Despite Overall Decrease in Adoption. Adoptive Families. Received at: https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/resources/adoption-news/domestic-adoptions-statistics-slight-increase-in-2014/

Legal Center for Foster Care and Education. (2018). How Child Welfare Agencies Can Use Title IV-E Dollars to Support School

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