Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults

The Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults, Kinship Caregiver Support Services, and the Pregnant & Parenting Youth Support Services Add-On Services are intended to augment what is already outlined in the T3C Foster Family Care Primary Settings. Child, youth, and young adults receiving the Short-Term Assessment Support Services Package (due to the duration and intent of this package) in a foster family home, and any Service Package offered under the General Residential Operation Tier I & Tier II Service Packages are not eligible for Add-On Services.

The Child Placing Agency must become Credentialed to provide a primary Service Package as well as the Add-On Service of Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults to be eligible for the daily rate associated with this Add-On Service described below.

Add-On Service Summary

Add-On Service Description

In addition to the youth or young adult's primary Service Package, this is a trauma-informed foster home with enhanced training and skill in caring for, coordinating services, assisting in completion of forms/referrals, and supporting experiential learning opportunities for youth and young adults ages 14–22 years old. The Transitional Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service is intended to support the youth and young adult's transition to independence and adulthood.

Add-On Service Expectations

In addition to, and/or consistent with Statutory and Minimum Standards Requirements:

• Child Placing Agency and Foster Family Home Caregivers have expertise in the Preparation for Adult Living Program, including the state and federal benefits that youth and young adults are eligible for while in, and after they transition out of, the foster care system (including any programs or supports offered by STAR Health). This expertise includes understanding the timing for and process required to complete and submit applications or other necessary documentation to obtain benefits.

• The Child Placing Agency's approach and delivery of the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Service Add-On must consider the youth and young adult's custom needs, and be adaptable to supporting transition based on age, individual developmental needs, and in conjunction with the primary Service Package being offered by the Child Placing Agency and Foster Family Home Caregivers.

• The Child Placing Agency should have policy, procedures, and a training plan specific to the program and delivery of the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service. The operation's approach to delivery of the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service must align with the operation's Evidence-informed Treatment Model. Youth and young adults must be aware of, and all staff and Caregivers must be trained in, practice, and remain current on policy, procedures, and expectations of the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service program the operation has adopted.

• The Child Placing Agency must maintain a current Logic Model specific to the provision of the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service, which is modified over time based on the Child Placing Agency's Continuous Quality Improvement process.

• In collaboration with SSCC and DFPS Preparation for Adult Living staff, the Child Placing Agency, and Foster Family Home Caregivers, offer logistical support, transportation, coordination, and documentation/record keeping of services, specific to the population including, but not limited to, ensuring the youth and young adult:

  • Completes the Casey Life Skills Assessments
  • Attends regularly scheduled Preparation for Adult Living program events
  • Completes Preparation for Adult Living Life Skills Training
  • Participates in after school and extracurricular activities as directed by the youth and young adult (if appropriate)
  • Participates (if interested) in Youth Leadership Council activities
  • Attends and participates in Circles of Support or other permanency and/or transition planning meetings
  • Visits local Texas Workforce Solutions office(s) and Transition Center(s) (if available in the area), and understands opportunities offered to transitioning youth and young adults through these offices/centers
  • Reviews and is aware of the Extended Foster Care, Transitional Living, and Supervised Independent Living programs. This includes the Child Placing Agency and the Foster Family Home Caregivers offering support in navigating entry into these programs.

• The Child Placing Agency's Service Plan for a youth and young adult receiving the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service should be informed and directed by the youth or young adult and should include (at a minimum) the following:

  • Status of any applications for state and/or federal benefits or guardianship for which the youth is eligible.
  • Thorough Plan for building and maintaining connections to those important to the youth and young adult including a plan for sibling contact and visits during and after transition from care.
  • Approach and individualized plan for obtaining behavioral health, medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy services during and after transition from care.
  • Plan for continued education, vocational training, and/or employment while in foster care, and during and after transition from care.
  • Plan for obtaining a driver's license (including needed driver's education training and auto insurance) or state ID card (if appropriate) and as directed by the youth or young adult.
  • Opportunities to support Normalcy (as directed by youth and young adult and based on their individual areas of interest.) Examples may include having a part-time job, driving, participating in a fine arts program or sports team, volunteering, participating in clubs, organizations, or faith communities, communicating with family and peers via a cell phone, etc. Funding to support the listed Normalcy activities has been included in the daily rate for this Add-On Service.

Staffing Requirements

• Child Placing Agency must have dedicated Transitional Support/Mentor staff and infrastructure to support youth and young adults while receiving the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service.
• Child Placing Agency Aftercare Transitional Support/Mentor Staff.

Generally Appropriate Staff to Youth or Young Adult Ratio

• 1 Child Placing Agency Transitional Support/Mentor staff for every 20 youth and young adults receiving the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service.
• 1 Child Placing Agency Aftercare Transitional Support/Mentor Staff for every 20 youth and young adults receiving the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service.

Staff to youth and young adult ratio may vary based on operation's Transition Support program and dependent on the complexity of the caseload.

Desired Individual Outcome

• Child Placing Agency must have clearly articulated youth and young adult-level outcome expectations that tie directly to the operation's program for delivering the Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service, and support the following at a minimum:
  • Safety
  • Permanency Goal
  • Improved Well-Being
• Child Placing Agency must have infrastructure in place to collect, track, and evaluate/analyze youth, and young adult outcomes (while in program and as a part of Aftercare Services), including being able to analyze outcomes based on individual foster family homes and by Transitional Support/Mentor staff.

Aftercare Services

• The Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults Add-On Service requires the planning and provision of Aftercare Services, once the youth or young adult leaves the care of the Child Placing Agency.

• Funding to support the Aftercare Services has been built into the Child Placing Agency's daily Add-On Service rate while the child is in care, the Child Placing Agency will not receive a separate payment for the provision of the required Aftercare Services.

• Upon discharge (both successful and unsuccessful), the Child Placing Agency, in collaboration with the SSCC or DFPS Preparation for Adult Living caseworker, the Foster Family Home Caregivers and informed by the youth or young adult, will develop, and produce a robust Aftercare Services plan (which may be incorporated as a part of the Service Plan) that includes referrals for continued services, benefits, and supports, and will include initial appointments set (if transition is needed). The plan should be customized around the youth or young adult's planned living arrangement and include contact information for the DFPS or SSCC Preparation for Adult Living caseworker, and the Child Placing Agency Transitional Support/Mentor Staff person assigned to the youth or young adult upon discharge.

• The Transitional Support/Mentor Staff must work with the youth or young adult to develop a plan with times and dates set for weekly, then transitioning to twice a month, follow-up calls and/or meetings for a period of 6 months following discharge. Additional in-person or virtual ad-hoc meetings/staffings, as well as referrals for new or additional services, may be required during the 6-month aftercare period.

• As part of the Aftercare program, the Child Placing Agency must provide information to youth and young adults receiving Transitional Support Add-On Services to all known foster care alumni organizations, associations, or groups for youth with lived experience in the community. Information on the organizations, associations, and groups should be included in the Aftercare Services plan provided at the time of discharge.

• The Child Placing Agency must maintain written documentation of all contacts or attempted contacts, referrals, and other case management support provided during the Aftercare Service period in the Child Placing Agency's case record for the child. A copy of the documentation should be provided to the SSCC or DFPS caseworker at the end of each month during the Aftercare Service period.