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National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk
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NDTAC Issue Brief: The Importance of Literacy for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System (PDF)
Youth who have low literacy skills generally face significant barriers to economic and social success and are more likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system. In addition, if these youth are incarcerated and literacy skills are not improved, outcomes tend to be negative. This issue brief illustrates the correlation between low literacy and involvement in the juvenile justice system and explores the impact of reading interventions on youth during and after incarceration.
National Foster Care Month
National Foster Care Month is a call to action for foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers, and others on behalf of the children and youth in the foster care system. Learn more about the history of this National effort and how you can get involved.
State Legislation Impacting the Education of Children and Youth in Foster Care
Children and youth in the foster care system face many challenges not encountered by the general population. Recent statutes have been enacted at the State level to improve the quality of education services made available to children and youth while they are in the foster care system. Learn more about what some States are doing to improve the education of these youth.
Library Categories
- Strategies, Models, and Innovations
- Legal Requirements & Legislation
- Events & Presentations
- Tools
- Further Reading
- Other Resources
View another topic in NDTAC's library:
Strategies, Models, and Innovations
Improving Conditions for Learning for Youth Who Are Neglected or Delinquent
Learning is not just a cognitive process; research shows that powerful social and emotional factors affect learning. By providing students with support that addresses their social and emotional needs and by building positive social and emotional conditions for learning, staff in facilities and schools can help improve learning outcomes that cannot be addressed through academic remediation alone.
Foster Care Youth ePassport
The Benton Foundation's Connect For Kids site features an article that highlights a new system of record transferal that is being developed in California. This portable, Internet-based tracking system helps identifies health and educational needs and background of children in foster care.
The Opportunity Passport for Youth in Transition From Foster Care (PDF)
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative has developed a pilot project that will test a “personal empowerment and asset-building tool,” called an “Opportunity Passport.” The Passport has three distinct components, a personal debit account, a matched savings account/ Individual Development Account, and “Door Openers,” which are opportunities given by local employers, educational institutions and more.
Further Reading
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
View an array of sources regarding funding and grant information.
National Foster Care Month
Learn more about the history of this National effort and how you can get involved.
School to Career and Postsecondary Education for Foster Care Youth; Workforce Strategy Center, 2001 (PDF)
A guide for policymakers and practitioners, this report examines innovative practices for preparing foster youth for career opportunities and economic self-sufficiency.
Policies, Procedures, and Practices Affecting the Education of Children Residing in Group Homes
This study provided the California Department of Education with information regarding the number of children residing in group homes and their educational placements.
The Casey National Alumni Study, Casey Family Programs
Findings from the study of current adult outcomes for former foster children show that education is a primary component of successful outcomes.
What Counts: Defining and Improving High School Graduation Rates (PDF)
This report strives to bring some clarity to the issue of graduation rates and outlines key policy recommendations for improving graduation rate calculations and outcomes.
Educational Experiences of Children in Out-of-Home Care (PDF)
This study by the University of Chicago's Chapin Hill Center for Children examines the educational performance of abused and neglected children placed in out-of-home care.
The Educational Status of Foster Children
This study by the Chapin Hill Center for Children at the University of Chicago examines the educational status of foster children.
Things Teachers Can Do to Support Good Educational Outcomes for Students in Out-of-Home Care (PDF)
As part of National Foster Care Month, the Hunter College School of Social Work, along with its partners, published a guide for teachers that illustrates how to better connect with children in out-of-home care.
Other Resources
School-to-Career Partnership (PDF)
This partnership was launched by Annie Casey and United Parcel Service to build a “well-prepared, stable workforce” and to help youth launch successful careers. The Partnership helps kids learn how to interview with UPS and other companies that result in jobs with the respective company.
Legal Requirements & Legislation
The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999
The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 became law on December 14, 1999. It expanded the provisions in terms of Independent Living Programs by increasing funding allotment for these programs as provided for under Title IV-E. It also added flexibility in terms of providing independence-oriented services and a number of other areas, like the extension of Medicaid services for youth up to the age of 21.
John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
This program helps to ensure that young people involved in the foster care system receive key resources for daily living. They may have opportunities for additional education or training, housing assistance, counseling and other services.
Foster Care Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
The National Foster Care Awareness Project (NFCAP), the Children's Defense Fund, Child Welfare League of America and the National Association of Child Advocates prepared these FAQ's, with support from the American Public Human Services Association and The Casey Family Program.
State Legislation Impacting the Education of Children and Youth in Foster Care
Recent statutes have been enacted at the State level to improve the quality of education services made available to children and youth while they are in the foster care system. Learn more about what some States are doing to improve the education of these youth.
For more information, see Policy & Legislation
Events & Presentations
Every Child Can Learn
In a presentation for NDTAC's Fourth Regional Transition Conference, Dr. David Osher discussed the prevalence of emotional disorders and learning disabilities among children in N or D institutions and how they can often become barriers to learning and transition.
Children in Neglect Institutions and Their Critical Needs for Transition Services
Joan Reeves outlines the special needs of children in the child welfare system, standards and performance outcomes currently in place for care providers, and introduces the Family Centered Practice reform model being used by the Child Welfare system.
Academic Preparation and Readiness for Independence
At NDTAC's First Regional Transition Conference, Zelma Cooper outlined the Neglect program in the Los Angeles Unified School District, identifying the biggest barriers to education and transition.
Check out the Events page for more from NDTAC's Regional Transition Conferences.
Tools
Partnerships for After-School Success Toolkits
The toolkits offer research supporting the need for school-CBO partnerships; successful strategies for creating and sustaining partnerships; and checklists and tools.
A Family's Guide to the Child Welfare System (PDF)
This handbook is designed to answer questions about the child welfare system for parents and additional family members.
Casey Life Skills Web Site
View the online, easy-to-use tool for youth to assess their strengths in life skills such as money management, work and study habits, self-care, and independent living.