Creating a "Picture of a Life" for Transitioning Youth with DD in Foster Care

2013

The Sonoran UCEDD was asked by the AZ Department of Economic Security/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to partner with DDD on a project to improve outcomes for foster youth with developmental disabilities (DD). The DDD then met with the Arizona DD Planning Council about collaborating on the project. The Arizona DD Planning Council has funded the UCEDD to carry out the project, Creating a "Picture of a Life" for Transitioning Youth with DD in Foster Care. Our vision is that young people with developmental disabilities in foster care moving to adult living will be knowledgeable about the full range of choices available to them for successful adult living and will be able to exercise that choice as part of a person-centered planning process incorporating informal support and community networks as well as paid service providers. Currently, in Arizona there are 405 children in Child Protective Services (CPS) custody eligible for services from DDD. Youth with developmental disabilities in Arizona aging out of foster care do not have the support networks other youth have and often no special planning is available to prepare the youth for adult life. In the past, typically youth remained in the same funded group home or foster home setting in which they had lived while in foster care. There has been no organized emphasis on transition planning for this vulnerable population; and with current funding issues, many of these youth may no longer have housing or other supports once they turn 21. Creating a "Picture of a Life" will focus on training experienced person-centered planning facilitators in using "Essential Lifestyle Planning" (ELP) and "Picture of a Life" (POL) tools to develop life plans with community involvement and PCP implementation for 20 foster youth with DD ages 16 - 17 to plan and mobilize services to meet their individual needs. The goal of the project is to prepare youth with DD who are about to exit foster care to exercise choice, promote the use of informal and community supports and to make knowledgeable decisions on community living and work. In doing so, the project intends to improve transition outcomes for these youth, which include the following desired outcomes: a safe and stable home, self-determination and self-advocacy, framing a vision for their future, a support system to help with decision making, an ongoing circle of natural/informal support, and employment exploration and opportunities. Ultimately, the project will help to improve services for individuals with DD exiting foster care in Arizona by offering a mechanism for youth to exercise meaningful choice about their living arrangements, work life, social networks and services.

Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Specific Groups

State

N/A