In partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), CSR’s Youth Permanency Connections (YPC) works to identify a family connection to a child who has grown up in the child welfare system without any significant family ties. Child welfare agencies have increasingly been concerned about the well-being of youth who age out of the foster care system without having developed at least one tie to a family member who can provide lifelong support.
A significant percentage of homeless youth were previously in foster care. Research indicates that “aging out” of foster care without ties to a family member leaves children and teenagers without the necessary resources and support to effectively transition to adulthood.
The Approach
- Uses several strategies to develop lifelong family relationships for adolescents in the foster care system – all components are youth-driven, strengths-based and culturally competent
Community Care Review
- Identifies, locates and explores all potential individuals willing and able to make a commitment to a teenage youth
Specialized Adolescent Recruitment
- Develops potential permanent placement and/or lifelong family ties for youth who do not have permanent connections within their own community-of-care network
Youth Consultation Team
- Youth-centered, family-focused permanency planning team process that includes the youth, family members, significant adults and social service providers
Family Bound
- Provides a group experience that helps prepare adolescents as they work to develop lifelong family connections
Parents as Tender Healers (PATH)
- Adult training to assist in supporting and developing relationships and understanding adolescents’ needs
Specialized Post-Placement Services
- Ongoing contact to identify supports, strategize and problem-solving relationship issues and maintain a strengths-based focus
YPC’s effectiveness is founded on the collaboration between CSR and DCF, and the commitment to a youth-driven process. Training, support and ongoing supervision are essential and provided regularly.
YPC is coordinated out of our Northampton Office. For more information, please call 413-586-2303.