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Groups Issue Comments On Foster Care/Juvenile Justice In Education Law
CWLA and a number of groups (we are one of the groups) have signed onto letters to the US Department of Education urging them to take several actions to implement changes enacted through the recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The law now referred to as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) made a number of improvements and provisions in terms of the rights of children in foster care and youth in juvenile justice as it relates to their educational rights. Several of the changes adopted in the ESEA are similar to the requirements that were passed originally in 2008 under the Fostering Connections to Success Act (PL 110-351).
The child welfare letter urges the U.S. Department of Education to provide needed regulatory guidance to State Education Agencies (SEA’s) and definitions in a number of areas. The Fostering Connections to Success Act, through amendments to child welfare law, requires state child welfare agencies to assure that children stay in the same school even if they are placed outside of the district as long as it is in the child’s best interest. It also directs immediate enrollment in a new school if in the child’s best interest.
The challenge since 2008 has always been that the changes were mandated through child welfare law only and it was not a requirement or condition of federal education law and funding. That created a greater challenge for child welfare agencies to get education agencies at the table for discussion.
The letter calls for regulations and definitions by the Department around “school of origin,” “child in foster care”, and requirements for state Title I (ESEA) plans. The new ESEA directs State Education Agencies (SEAs) to identify someone to serve as a point of contact to oversee the foster care requirements. There are also directives to SEAs to work with child welfare agencies in the implementation of the law.
Addressing another challenge since the 2008 child welfare law, the letter asks the US Education Department to issue regulations in regard to the local transportation funding and plans. One of the great challenges over the years has been if a child has to travel to his or her old school district which entity is responsible for and how can you pay for transportation costs. The new education law directs collaboration and there are various options both through education and child welfare to help address some of those transportation costs.
A different set of groups, including CWLA also sent a letter to the Department of Education in regard to provisions in the ESEA as they apply to juvenile justice students.
The child welfare letter urges the U.S. Department of Education to provide needed regulatory guidance to State Education Agencies (SEA’s) and definitions in a number of areas. The Fostering Connections to Success Act, through amendments to child welfare law, requires state child welfare agencies to assure that children stay in the same school even if they are placed outside of the district as long as it is in the child’s best interest. It also directs immediate enrollment in a new school if in the child’s best interest.
The challenge since 2008 has always been that the changes were mandated through child welfare law only and it was not a requirement or condition of federal education law and funding. That created a greater challenge for child welfare agencies to get education agencies at the table for discussion.
The letter calls for regulations and definitions by the Department around “school of origin,” “child in foster care”, and requirements for state Title I (ESEA) plans. The new ESEA directs State Education Agencies (SEAs) to identify someone to serve as a point of contact to oversee the foster care requirements. There are also directives to SEAs to work with child welfare agencies in the implementation of the law.
Addressing another challenge since the 2008 child welfare law, the letter asks the US Education Department to issue regulations in regard to the local transportation funding and plans. One of the great challenges over the years has been if a child has to travel to his or her old school district which entity is responsible for and how can you pay for transportation costs. The new education law directs collaboration and there are various options both through education and child welfare to help address some of those transportation costs.
A different set of groups, including CWLA also sent a letter to the Department of Education in regard to provisions in the ESEA as they apply to juvenile justice students.
Experts: Michigan's Foster Children Vulnerable to ID Theft
PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE • MARY KUHLMAN
PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE • MARY KUHLMAN
October 19, 2015
LANSING, Mich. – Identity thieves don't discriminate when it comes to the age of their victims, and experts say foster children are a prime target for fraud.
Angelique Day, who works with former foster youths at Wayne State University, says as foster children make their way through the child welfare system, many people have access to their personal information. She says ID theft can be a roadblock on the path to adulthood."Young people who are transitioning from foster care to college were struggling to be able to obtain a rental housing agreement because of this identity theft and had restrictions on their financial aid because of poor credit," she explains.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY • CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO VERSION
LANSING, Mich. – Identity thieves don't discriminate when it comes to the age of their victims, and experts say foster children are a prime target for fraud.
Angelique Day, who works with former foster youths at Wayne State University, says as foster children make their way through the child welfare system, many people have access to their personal information. She says ID theft can be a roadblock on the path to adulthood."Young people who are transitioning from foster care to college were struggling to be able to obtain a rental housing agreement because of this identity theft and had restrictions on their financial aid because of poor credit," she explains.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY • CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO VERSION
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For Foster Kids, Bus Tickets Don't Solve Transportation Woes
STATE OF OPPORTUNITY • BRITTANY BARTKOWIAK AUGUST 14, 2015 Transportation isn’t just an issue in rural areas of the state like Berrien County, where Alex was 20 miles away from everything. It can be a huge barrier for folks who live in the city, too - like Amber Thomas. I met Thomas at the Wayne County KidSpeak Event in Detroit. The event provides young people the opportunity to address local, state, and federal decision makers and share what they would like to see done differently for kids in Michigan’s foster care system. When Thomas took the stand, she was wearing professional clothes - black dress pants and a bright red, striped sweater - and was prepared with notes to speak. She took no time at all to describe what she has consistently struggled with since leaving foster care: finding safe, reliable transportation.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY |
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Research Group Shopping Plan to Evaluate Impact of Federal College Grants to Foster Youths
THE CHRONICLE OF SOCIAL CHANGE • JOHN KELLY JULY 31, 2014 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL ARTICLE |
A group of researchers has put together a plan to gauge the impact of federal college grants to current and former foster youth, and is currently seeking funding and research partners in multiple states. The group – which includes Wayne State social work professor Angelique Day, Amy Dworsky of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Amy Salazar at the University of Washington – already has eight states on board to participate, and that they are geographically diverse enough to proceed if no other state expresses interest...
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Foster Youth Share Experiences, Ideas for System Reform with Policymakers
Today @ Wayne August 12, 2013 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL ARTICLE |
Youth aging out of Michigan’s foster care system gathered on Wayne State’s campus last week to give raw, emotional testimony to state policymakers eager to hear suggestions for reform... The youth spoke at a KidSpeak® listening panel held on Aug. 12 in the WSU Law School’s
Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium. The panel was co-sponsored by Wayne Law, the School of
Social Work, Voices for Michigan’s Children and Foster Care Alumni of America – Michigan
Chapter. Taking turns at the microphone, foster youth told state legislators, state department
heads, academics and nonprofit leaders about the difficulties they experienced due to unstable
placements, separation from siblings, and the abrupt, unforecasted termination of benefits that
left many struggling to find food and shelter. But many also expressed gratitude for footholds
they gained along the way, such as a helpful mentor, a loving foster parent, or an academic or
sports scholarship...
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As of December 2011, the State of Michigan was overseeing the care of 13,893 children in out-ofhome care, the seventh highest foster care population in the United States. A critical area of concern for those who work with this population is supporting youth who age out of foster care, a group that typically struggles to attend and graduate from college. A new program at Wayne State University (WSU) aims to improve higher education retention and graduation rates for transitioning youth...
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Spotlight on National Foster Care Month Higher Education Aids Transition to Independence
The Children's Bureau Express May, 2013 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL ARTICLE |
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Street Beat: Wayne State TIP
CW50: WKBD-TV MAY 9, 2014 Megan Pennefather, the Campus Coach for the Transition to Independence Program (TIP) at Wayne State University and Kevin Riedel, a student in the program, explain how TIP helps young adult foster children make the transition to college. |
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Wayne State University’s Transition to Independence Program (TIP), an initiative developed by the School of Social Work to help students aging out of foster care thrive in their studies, will be featured during Foster Care Awareness Month in a publication of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The May issue of Children’s Bureau Express, which is read by nearly 23,000 child welfare professionals nationwide, will profile the program as part of what School of Social Work Assistant Professor and TIP Director Angelique Day calls Wayne State’s “institutional reaction” to the serious educational challenges faced by Wayne County’s foster youth population, which is by far the state’s largest...
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Federal Agency Shines National Spotlight on Wayne State University Foster Youth Retention Program
PRWEB April 26, 2013 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE |
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Seeking Change in the Foster Care System SEEKING CHANGE WITH CHRISTINA SHOCKLEY • MICHIGAN RADIO OCTOBER 22, 2012 This week on Seeking Change, Christina Shockley talks with Angelique Day about the foster care system. Day grew up in foster care. She now focuses her work on researching and helping children in foster care in the state. Day teaches Social Work at Wayne State University. She also works with Vista Maria, a non-profit treatment agency in Dearborn Heights for neglected and abused children. The organization offers a range of services for foster kids. It has a residential school for girls, and it serves as a support network for young adults as they age out of the foster care system.
Story by Christina Shockley & Emily Fox CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE STORY |
https://www.michiganradio.org/post/seeking-change-foster-care-sytstem
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WSU Offers Foster Care Support
THE SOUTH END October 22, 2012 |
The Michigan Department of Human Services has partnered with Wayne State through a three-year contract that will provide WSU with $340,197 to create a hub of support by providing foster youth with assistance for a successful transition to college. Angelique Day, assistant professor of social work at WSU, foster alumna and one of two program leads, said, “Wayne County has the highest population of young people aging out of foster care in the state,” which means that WSU is a prime university to have an assistance program like this in place...
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE |
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WSU Receives Contract To Help Foster Kids In College
THE CRAIG FAHLE SHOW • WDET OCTOBER 16, 2012 The Wayne State University School of Social Work has received a three-year, $340,197 contract from the Michigan Department of Human Services(DHS) to provide youth transitioning out of foster care with the educational, material and social resources they need to thrive as WSU students. Craig speaks with Dr. Angelique Day, Assistant Professor in the WSU School of Social Work, and Ronald Williford, WSU Student and part of the Wayne County foster system, about what this contract will do for foster kids looking to attend WSU.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE STORY |
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Wayne State University receives DHS contract to help foster youth thrive in college
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY PUBLIC RELATIONS October 2, 2012 |
The Wayne State University School of Social Work has received a three-year, $340,197 contract from the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide youth transitioning out of foster care with the educational, material and social resources they need to thrive as WSU students...
“Wayne County provides child welfare services to nearly half of all foster care youth in the state,” Day said. “We have a duty here at WSU to ensure that these young people have the option to attend college with support.” |
