Tracking Transitions: Efficient Data Monitoring for Foster Youth and Alumni (Yr 2 of 2) - TRC FY/20

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) has been established by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to track data derived from independent living (IL) services provided to young people by state governments. ACF will then use the data to assess the performance of the various state agencies and programs. The Federal government funds State IL programs that are intended to assist young people in transition from foster care to self-sufficiency, via the John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, which mandates ACF to penalize any state that fails to report data to NYTD. The University will collaborate with the Cabinet to implement a process to purchase gift cards to be used as incentives for youth who complete the survey at 17, 19, and 21 years of age. The gift cards will be tracked and distributed by the Department of Community Based Services. The tracking process will be available to UK as needed for their auditing purposes as required by their policy. The John Chafee Independence Program is a federally funded program designed to teach children and youth in out of home care (OOHC) and youth formerly in OOHC the skills that will enable them to be self-sufficient after they are released from OOHC. The Chafee Independence Program mandates that all children twelve (12) and over in OOHC receive independent living services, regardless of the permanency goal. Youth Sixteen (16) years and older are eligible for formal life skills classes. The curriculum includes instruction on employment, money management, community resources, housing and education. The University will collaborate with the Cabinet to implement a process to purchase gift cards for youth sixteen and older in out of home care who complete the formal life skills curriculum. The gift cards will be tracked and distributed by the Department of Community Based Services. The tracking process will be available to UK as needed for their auditing purposes as required by their policy. Youth who age out of foster care with the Department of Community Based Services are eligible to request to remain on extended commitment to the Cabinet. Part of the requirements of being on extended commitment is to comply with the terms of the transitional living support agreement. Youth in compliance with their extension of commitment and are meeting milestones as outlined by their placement agency will be eligible for incentives. The University will collaborate with the Cabinet to implement a process to purchase gift cards for youth meeting targeted milestones while on extended commitment.