July 2005 Foster Care and Homeless Youth Speak out Across the Nation Volume V,,, Issue 7 Visit Us Online at Or Call 206-323-5437 (KIDS)
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Building a world class foster care system while serving our neighborhood youth July 2005 Foster Care and Homeless Youth Speak out Across the Nation Volume V,,, Issue 7 Visit us online at www.mockingbirdsociety.org or call 206-323-5437 (KIDS) III N THIS ISSUE Mockingbird’s Foster Care Model Set for Replication with each home serving one to four youth, and respite care and opportunities for allowing up to 40 youth to be supported in the involvement with the rest of the constellation Letter to the Editor same “constellation” or “ community. Page 2 MISTY LOU network. In the middle of So, even if your sister Every effort is COOK this neighborhood Shaunalee doesnít live with made to place siblings network is a Hub Home your foster family, if she lives with or near each other that is operated by in the Constellation Project, and keep families Passages 2005 licensed foster parents. together through the THE MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY MODEL, The Hub Home she does live down the street Mockingbird Family Celebrates New formerly known as The Mockingbird Foster coordinates special or next door to you.” Model. Through the Beginnings Family Constellation Project (MFFCP), has events and activities for Constellation Network, Jamica Henderson recently been blessed with the great fortune the youth and parents so that the constellation a child can still be connected with their siblings, Page 2 of receiving a very significant donation. Thanks can become a strong and interconnected cousins and extended family even if they don’t to the generosity and commitment of an community. The Hub Home also acts as an share the same household! So, even if your individual who wishes to remain anonymous, emotional resource to both foster youth and sister Shaunalee doesn’t live with your foster we are replicating the Mockingbird Family foster parents in the constellation. One of the family, if she lives in the Constellation Project, Model in 2006 and distributing this new and she does live down the street or next door to Billie Holiday's Life Billie Holiday's Life evolutionary foster care model throughout The Mockingbird you. That is what the Constellation Project is Still Inspires Today King County in five different sites. The all about: building community and strong Franisa Johnson Mockingbird Times is excited about this great Family Model families. The Mockingbird Family Model does Page 3 opportunity. We are proud of Jim for doing its best to connect foster children with families work on behalf of children and families in the that are culturally relevant and support the foster care system and for having dreamed people who support these children. The and implemented this extraordinary foster philosophy of the Mockingbird Family Model care model. is that foster youth who grow up around siblings Farewell Mockingbird The Mockingbird Family Model is based or extended family are far more likely to feel Jasmine Caldwell upon the philosophy that “unconditional and safe, secure and happy about their Page 3 community based care” will lead to fewer placements. These positive feelings allow the foster care placements. The main goal of the individuals to survive and thrive in a lively and Mockingbird Family Model is to “implement a connected community. foster care service delivery model that is The outcomes of the Mockingbird Family practical, replicable and increases stability for Mockingbird Models have spoken for themselves, and they children, youth and caregivers.” In other have spoken loud and proud. An evaluation of Graduates Fly High words, the key goals of the Mockingbird Family the Mockingbird Family Models was conducted Jamica Henderson, Jasmine Model are to decrease the amount of times a by the Northwest Children’s Institute of the Caldwell and Ashley Grant child in the foster care system has to be moved University of Washington and had excellent Page 3 and placed with a new family and increase the results! Results came out on December 31, likelihood of this child staying with a loving, main reasons for having a Hub Home is to 2004, stating that the project was a complete caring, nurturing and healthy family. reduce the feeling of isolation so commonly success! The Children’s Institute, with its The Mockingbird Family Model gathers felt by foster families by giving them consistent four to ten foster families in a neighborhood, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Runaway's Reality support, access to various resources, planned Raquel Granath Individual Development Accounts for Foster Youth Page 4 this population. According to HB 1408 “foster piece because it is the foundation that must be youth” means a person who is fifteen years of in place before a person can achieve other age, but not more than twenty-three years of things with their life. Often Medicaid coverage COURTNEY Summer Events in age, who was a dependent of the Department is lost as foster youth age out of the system KONIETZKO of Social and Health Services for at least and health care options are limited or non- Seattle twenty-four months after attaining thirteen existent. HB 1408 will hopefully help foster youth Courtney Konietzko years of age. become healthy so they can accomplish goals. Page 4 The IDA account is an especially important Some important things to know about IDA THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT tool for foster youth who do not qualify for ETV accounts for foster youth: ACCOUNT (IDA) PROGRAM is a matching or Chaffee dollars. The foster youth have • There is no income cap on what foster funds program through United Way, similar to unmet needs like the money needed for the youth can make to be eligible for the IDA Creative Corner::: a savings account. The difference is the state move in fee on their first apartment and first dollars; there is an income cap for adults. matches the funds put in by the individual for month’s rent. IDA money can cover this need. • A person with an IDA account can make a Message to the goals like owning a home, furthering your This is not true for adult IDA accounts. There partial withdrawal for an allowable use but Youth education, and starting a business. An are differences between how IDA funds can United Way has to approve it first which can Raquel Granath individual with low-income has a greater be used for adults and what they can cover for take up to 6 months; there is a small clause Page 4 chance of reaching their goals faster with this foster youth. For adults money can be used Page 4 where foster youth can pull the money out for program. for furthering education, starting a business, emergencies like a medical situation or The IDA program is open to all people with and/or owning a home. For foster youth money Creative Corner::: eviction. low-income regardless of age but the program can be used for these things, moving into your Calling out the Ages was going to end in July and there would be no first apartment, warding off an eviction, • People can work towards accomplishing Courtney Konietzko more matching funds. Fortunately, there has healthcare, and pre-assets like a computer or their assets if their pre-assets are met. Page 4 been legislation introduced to keep this a vehicle. Pre-assets are things that make • One requirement of getting an IDA is important program alive. accomplishing assets possible. An example of going through a financial education class – the Check out Our Exciting Creative Corner::: We House bill (HB) 1408 was introduced which this would be: a person needs to make more Fremont Public Association offers an excellent Bonus Articles Section Are Not Druggies means that the IDA program is still going to money in order to become a home owner, but one. Their number is (206) 694-6864. receive fundsOnline and at will be able to help people in order to take a higher paying job for the Sarah McCurry In order for the IDA account program to with low-incomemockingbirdsociety.org reach their goals. Also there house payment, they need reliable Page 4 be a success, it is important for agencies who is a new piece written into HB 1408 which transportation instead of 4 hours on the bus serve foster youth to work together. focuses on foster youth and needs specific to each day. Healthcare is an especially important Page 2 Mockingbird Times, July 2005 Letter from the Editor Passages 2005 Celebrates Mockingbird Society is proud to family model is one that is familiar to announce that a private philanthropist many racial, ethnic and religious cultures has made a substantial donation to including working class families who have New Beginnings facilitate the replication of the survived and thrived over time because enough to start off with. Once you finish Mockingbird Family Model (MFM) of the inherent strengths, resources and there all you’ll need is a television, (formally the Mockingbird Foster Family commitment contained within the family. JAMICA mattress and what ever else you want to Constellation Project). While we continue The first 18 months of the UJIMA model get. When you’re starting out, it’s hard to operate the original model in continue to demonstrate excellent results, HENDERSON when you have to get everything on your partnership with UJIMA Community including stabilizing and reducing the own. So this event is a big help to those Services we will expand into five new sites number of “placements” (homes) that who are aging out. within the Seattle/King County area. The children experience, allowing siblings to JUNE 2, 2005 WAS A DAY OF Before this day came, our case University of Washington’s Northwest remain together and providing safe and CELEBRATION for teens who aged out workers informed us to go to Institute for Children and Families will accessible respite.