Improving Stability for Youth Exiting Systems of Care
Summary
The Office of Homeless Youth in the Washington State Department of Commerce submits "Improving Stability for Youth Exiting Systems of Care", a report to the Legislature pursuant to RCW 43.330.720, dated January 2020. It states that the 2018 Legislature enacted RCW 43.330.720 (SSB 6560), directing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Office of Homeless Youth to develop a plan so that publicly funded systems of care discharge youth into safe and stable housing. It reports that in 2015, 7,096 young people exited criminal justice, child welfare and behavioral health systems, and that 26% (1,824) were unstably housed 12 months after exit. Its priority recommendations are effective transitions from care, community connections, and housing.
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Cite this document
“Improving Stability for Youth Exiting Systems of Care.”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2020-youth-exiting-systems-of-care-129e0702-d541-427c-be92-093024052a7f/
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Improving Stability for
Youth Exiting Systems of
Care
Pursuant to RCW 43.330.720
January 2020
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
Lisa Brown, Director
Acknowledgments
The Office of Homeless Youth extends its sincere appreciation to all the people who have contributed to the
completion of the RCW 43.330.720 report and plan. Special recognition goes out to the young people who talked
to us about their experiences and helped design their ideal system. Thank you for sharing, creating and teaching
us to approach this work with an open mind and heart.
Core team
Amanda Lewis, Division of Behavioral Health Recovery - Health Care Authority
Sherrie Flores, Child Welfare - Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Brooke Powell, Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators
Jedd Pelander, Juvenile Rehabilitation - Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Chanita Jackson, Office of Homeless Youth
Cole Ketcherside, Office of Homeless Youth
Theresa Slusher, Interagency Work Group on Youth Homelessness
Patrick Woods, Interagency Work Group on Youth Homelessness
Community partners
Thank you for supporting us with space, outreach to young people, and feedback on our work.
Mockingbird Society
Center for Children Youth Justice
Cocoon House | YMCA | Community Passageways | Volunteers of America | Team Child | Oasis Youth
Center | Janus Youth | YNHS | Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project Y4Y Board | Passion to
Action
Department of Social and Health Services
Jim Mayfield, Research and Data Analytics
Taylor Danielson, Research and Data Analytics
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 1
Special thanks to:
Jasmine Whittaker, youth advisor, for helping us improve the format and run many of the co-design
sessions
Laura Porter for sharing her knowledge and expertise
Charley Hayley, Adam Fletcher and Meg Pannkuk for the support with research and co-design
Gina Samuels, Chapin Hall
Matt Morten, Chapin Hall
Collaborators:
Jess Lewis, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Sarah Veele, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Washington State Department of Commerce
KIM JUSTICE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REGINA MCDOUGALL, COMMERCE SPECIALIST
SHREE LAKSHMI RAO, FOSTER AMERICA FELLOW
Office of Homeless Youth
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available
on request in other formats. To submit a request,
please call 360.725.4000 (TTY 360.586.0772)
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 2
Table of Contents
Executive Summary........................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 12
Report............................................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix A: Recommendation Summary Table ................................................................................ 32
Appendix B: Definitions ................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix C: Systems of Care .......................................................................................................... 38
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 3
Executive Summary
Overview
The 2018 Legislature enacted RCW 43.330.720 (SSB 6560),
directing the Department of Children, Youth, and Families
(DCYF) and the Department of Commerce's Office of Each year about
Homeless Youth (OHY) to develop a plan to ensure that
publicly funded systems of care discharge youth into safe and
1,800 young people
stable housing. are unstably housed
When young persons (12-24 years) are not discharged into within 12 months of
safe and stable housing, they are more likely to experience
chronic stress and trauma. Youth and young adult (YYA)
their exit from a
homelessness correlates to numerous adverse implications publicly funded
for brain development and mental and physical health1 that
can have a long-term impact on the individual's life and system.
wellbeing. Data showed that 17%2 of young people exiting a
publicly funded system of care experienced unstable housing
within the first six months of their exit in 2015, and 26% of YYA exiting state systems of care
experienced housing instability within 12 months. These data points show the need for holistic
strategies that create supports and pathways for long-term stable housing for the YYA population at a
critical time in their development.
Highlights
In some systems, transition planning does not occur in a timely or thorough manner, causing YYA
to exit into homelessness or become unstably housed shortly after exiting state systems of care.
Where transition planning occurs, it is infrequent, happens too late, families (bio or chosen) are
not engaged, and the process is not youth-centered. Important critical conditions3 such as self-
esteem, mental and physical health, healthy peer and adult relationships, community and cultural
connections, job readiness, and education, are not considered during transition planning or
supported immediately after discharge into the community.
1 Edidin, et al, "The mental and physical health of homeless youth: a literature review," (2012),
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22120422
2 Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division (DSHS RDA), "Housing Status of Youth Exiting
Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems," (2017),
https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/rda/documents/research-11-240.pdf
This data does not include county court-involved youth, and foster youth have experienced failed adoption or guardianship.
Additionally, these counts do not have information of all people younger than 18, as it was collected prior to Chapter 15, Laws
of 2018 (HB 1630).
3 Samuels, et al, "Voice of Youth Count (VoYC) In-Depth Interviews: Technical Report," Chapin Hall, (May 2019),
https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/Voices-of-Youth-Count-Component-Report-FINAL-May-28.pdf
The report identified personal and inter-personal conditions that support housing stability.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 4
Young people exit systems without adulting skills, such as financial and conflict management,
rental experience, goal setting, cooking, and other basic skills that enable them to thrive in their
community.
Partnerships across state agencies, tribes, counties and community-based providers are needed
to coordinate trauma-informed and culturally responsive services for young people and their
natural supports to facilitate housing stability.
A one-size-fits-all approach to housing will not address the diversity of housing and service
needs of this population.
Summary of Priority Recommendations
The following recommendations address the most critical gaps and make improvements that have the
potential for the highest impact.
1. Effective Transitions from Care
Phase 1
Fund and implement a new transition planning process for young people in child welfare and Juvenile
Rehabilitation institutions including improvements to programs designed to promote independence
post exit.
Phase 2
Fund and implement a new transition planning process for young people exiting inpatient behavioral
health treatment.
2. Community Connections
Fund grants to five communities with the highest prevalence of exits to homelessness to assess,
connect and serve young people who have transitioned out of public systems. Select and support a
mobile application and website to show available resources.
3. Housing
Fund a transitional housing program for youth ages 16-17.
Expand funding for the Young Adult Housing Program within the Office of Homeless Youth, with a
targeted focus on serving youth and young adults exiting systems.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 5
Introduction
Background
In 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed RCW 43.330.720 (SSB 6560), which requires DCYF
and OHY to develop a plan to ensure safe and stable housing for youth who exit from the following
systems of care:
OHY shelter and housing programs
Juvenile justice (county and state)
Child welfare
Residential behavioral health institutions
RCW 43.330.720 states that:
" … it the goal of the legislature, that beginning January 1, 2021, any unaccompanied youth discharged
from a publicly funded system of care in our state will be discharged into safe and stable housing."
The statute also states that:
"The department of children, youth and families and the office of homelessness youth prevention and
protection programs must jointly develop a plan to ensure that, by December 31, 2020, no
unaccompanied youth is discharged from a publicly funded system of care into homelessness."
The Problem
Unstably housed4 YYA are at risk of significant harm, including physical and sexual assault, robbery,
and sexual and commercial victimization.5 Studies have shown that youth and young adults
experiencing homelessness face traumatic events at a higher rate than their peers who have stable
housing.6 Homelessness has long-term impacts on brain development and wellbeing and creates
barriers to education and employment.
In Washington State, about 7,096 young people7 exited foster care, criminal justice and behavioral
health institutions in 2015. Shown below is the number of young people exiting criminal justice,
behavioral health and child welfare. The criminal justice data includes releases from state Juvenile
4 Lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including sleeping in emergency shelters, on the streets, in cars,
in other unsafe or unstable places, or “couch-surfing” and “doubled-up” where a person has no legal right to stay.
5 National Network for Youth, "NN4Y Issue Brief: Consequences of Youth Homelessness," (n.d.),
https://www.nn4youth.org/wp-content/uploads/IssueBrief_Youth_Homelessness.pdf
6 Lilly, Kevin, "Youth Experiencing homelessness Face Many Challenges," Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, (last updated August 2019), https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-
resources/youth-experiencing-homelessness
7 DSHS RDA, "Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems"
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 6
Rehabilitation institutions (12-21) and the Department of Corrections (18-24). The graph below does
not include data from shelter programs and county court systems.
Figure 1 shows youth exits from systems of care in 2015. Note that future work is required to gather
updated data for all public systems.
Figure 1: Number of Young People Who Exited a System of Care, 2015
5,129
1,439
465
Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Child Welfare
Source: Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division, Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care,
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Symptoms, (June 2017), https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/rda/research-reports/housing-status-youth-
exiting-foster-care-behavioral-health-and-criminal-justice-systems
Figure 2: Status of Young People 12 Months after Discharge by System, 2015
Source: Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division, Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care,
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Symptoms, (June 2017), https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/rda/research-reports/housing-status-youth-
exiting-foster-care-behavioral-health-and-criminal-justice-systems
In 2015, 7,096 young people exited criminal justice, child welfare and behavioral health systems. In
Figure 2, "n" indicates the number of young people by system who experienced housing instability in
2015. RDA data shows that 12 months after exit from behavioral health foster care and the criminal
justice systems, 26% (1,824) of YYA were unstably housed across these systems, up from 17% (1,212)
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 7
measured six months after exiting, and 13% (895) were re-institutionalized. These findings indicate the
urgency to ensure safe and stable housing upon release from public systems to ensure longer-term
stability and safety. A separate data analysis of 2018 data from the Positive Achievement Change Tool
(PACT)8 of the 3,961 young people who are involved in the county court systems and responded to their
housing status, found that 39% stated that they had either run away or been kicked out of their homes
at the time of the assessment, indicating that an additional 1,500 young people experiencing housing
instability are currently not shown in the Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data
Analysis Division (RDA) dashboards. More data analysis will be required to understand the
demographic make-up of the court-involved youth who identify as "runaway or kicked out."
The following charts focus on the data made publicly available through the RDA dashboard titled -
Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice systems.
Figure 3: Race and Ethnicity of Youth Exiting Systems vs. Unstably Housed
Youth 12 Months After Exiting, 2015
ALL EXITERS
(7,096)
53% 17% 15% 16% 5% 4%
UNSTABLY
HOUSED
WITHIN 12 55% 13% 18% 16% 3% 4%
MONTHS
(1,824)
White, Non-Hispanic Hispanic Black Native America/ Native Alaskan Asian Native Hawaiian/ PI
Source: Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division, Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care,
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Symptoms, (June 2017), https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/rda/research-reports/housing-status-youth-
exiting-foster-care-behavioral-health-and-criminal-justice-systems
Young people of color are disproportionately represented in the different systems and the population of
young people experiencing housing instability. According to the 2016 Census Bureau estimates, Native
Americans make up 1.4% of the total state population but are over-represented in public systems.
Similarly, African Americans make up 4% of the state's population but make up 15% of the system-
involved young people.
Studies such as the "King County Youth of Color Needs Assessment"9 indicate how intergenerational
homelessness, poverty and structural racism contribute to housing instability for these young people.
8 Administrative Office of the Courts, Washington State Center for Court Research,
http://www.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.sub&org=wsccr&p=welcome&layout=2&parent=committee&tab=Welcome
PACT Data was analyzed from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
9 Lippy, et al, "King County Youth of Youth of Color Needs Assessment: The Experiences, Strengths, and Needs of Homeless
and Unstably Housed Youth of Color," The Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian, & Gay Survivors of Abuse, (2017),
https://www.nwnetwork.org/youth-of-color-needs-assessment
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 8
The study also indicates the need to understand the role that families and communities play in the lives
of young people of color to support their holistic needs.
Figure 4: Age and Gender Distribution of Unstably Housed Youth, 2015
AGE GENDER
86% 62%
38%
14%
13-17 18-24 Male Female
Source: Department of Social and Health Services Research and Data Analysis Division, Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care,
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Symptoms, (June 2017), https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/rda/research-reports/housing-status-youth-
exiting-foster-care-behavioral-health-and-criminal-justice-systems
Figure 4 shows the age and gender distribution of young people who were unstably housed within 12
months after exit from the three different systems of care (child welfare, behavioral health and criminal
justice systems). LGBTQ+ data is not currently available.
A 2015 study10 by the RDA team at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) showed that,
for youth aging out of foster care, a variety of protective factors such as high academic performance,
relative foster care placement, and fewer school moves could prevent homelessness. Studies have also
shown that when YYA are supported to develop skills in problem solving, planning and goal setting,
self-esteem11 and social support12 can not only prevent homelessness but also support wellbeing after
a period of homelessness when combined with appropriate housing intervention. These findings draw
a strong link between individual, societal and structural factors that need to be stabilized and supported
to ensure long-term stable housing and wellbeing for YYA.
Approach
Multiple approaches were used to gain an understanding of what causes young people to exit systems
into housing instability and to identify potential solutions:
10 DSHS RDA, "Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems"
11 Lightfoot, et al, "Protective Factors Associated with Fewer Multiple Problem Behaviors Among Homeless/Runaway Youth,"
(2011), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4562907/
12 Johnstone, et al, "Breaking the cycle of homelessness: Housing stability and social support as predictors of long term
wellbeing," (2015), https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02673037.2015.1092504
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 9
Hosted eight Co-Design sessions13 titled “Ending Youth Homelessness in WA State” with about
76 young people across the state14 who have experienced one or more systems and
homelessness to identify high-priority issue areas for the recommendations for RCW 43.330.720
to focus on.
Hosted nine co-design sessions with about 95 line staff in child welfare, juvenile justice (state
and county) and behavioral health. Seventy of those were staff from the six different regional
offices of DCYF's Child Welfare Department.
Hosted three brainstorm meetings per system of care that included youth advocates, system-side
stakeholders and parent advocates.
Designed and distributed a survey to a variety of stakeholders, including community-based
providers, parents and youth advocates. One hundred seventy-six people answered the survey.
Researched statewide and national literature and data to understand the underlying causes of
system involvement and youth pathways into and out of homelessness.
Collected and analyzed examples of promising programs from child welfare, juvenile justice,
housing and behavioral health system from across the country.
13 Chisholm, John, "What is Co-Design?," http://designforeurope.eu/what-co-design
14 “Ending Youth Homelessness in WA state” Co-Design Sessions happened between June to September 2019 to understand
the needs and experiences of YYA exiting systems into homelessness. Locations King (Youth of color), Pierce (LGBTQ youth),
Spokane, Yakima, Clark, Passion to Action, BoS YHDP Y4Y board, Snohomish.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 10
Image 1: Young adults identifying issues in the child welfare system at the Pierce County child welfare session.
Image 2: August 2019, juvenile justice session in Skagit and Snohomish counties, with detention managers and parole officers.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 11
Recommendations
Overview
In addition to data and exiting literature, this report uses a holistic, youth-centered approach to
identifying recommendations to ensure the needs of young people are prioritized. The principle of
human-centered design guided this approach,15 as well as inclusion and racial equity to ensure the
recommendations developed are youth-centered, affirming and inclusive of the voices and needs of the
most marginalized communities, including those with disabilities, pregnant and parenting teens and
youth of color who are disproportionately represented in systems and the homeless YYA population.
To address the issues identified through research, co-design sessions with young people, and
engagement with stakeholders, the Office of Homeless Youth and Department of Children, Youth, and
Families recommend a three-pillar approach to preventing young people from exiting public systems of
care into homelessness. This framework is used throughout the plan and technical report:
1. System modification to improve outcomes for young people through better transition planning and
support before exit.
2. Community connections and development of resources to cohesively support the needs of YYA
when they exit from systems to communities.
3. Develop and implement housing that meets the different needs of system-involved YYA that include
varying levels of supportive services.
OHY and DCYF have identified three high priority areas and other important recommendations that
span across the four different systems (child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health and shelter
programs), community and housing.
Appendix A provides additional information on each recommendation, including tables of the
recommendations, adding context around each issue area and logic model. Evidence to support each
recommendation is included at the end of each request.
15 Both, Thomas, "Human-Centered, System-Minded Design," (2018), Stanford Social Innovation Review,
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/human_centered_systems_minded_design
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 12
Three Near-Term and High-Priority
Recommendations Legend
Service Solution
1. EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS
Policy Solution
FROM SYSTEMS OF CARE
New | Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice (state) Funding Solution
Research indicates that thoughtful transition planning is necessary to ensure that when young people
are discharged or exited from a system, they have the tools, support, and skills necessary to maintain
stability and launch successfully into adulthood.16 Such planning should occur in partnership with
young people based on their individual goals.
Transition planning within systems is currently happening too little, late, or not at all. The following
approach will institute new approaches to transitions:
Phase 1: Fund and implement a new transition planning process for young people in child welfare and
Juvenile Rehabilitation institutions.
Transition processes should incorporate the following:
Ongoing assessment to evaluate service needs and risk of housing instability.
Creation of a curriculum on “adulting” skill-building to teach skills such as budgeting, obtaining
credit, cooking, household maintenance, navigating health care, car maintenance, career
development, landlord/tenant rights, conflict management, etc.
Obtaining identification necessary to work and secure housing.
Offering housing navigation.
Strengthening relationships with family and natural supports (biological, kin, or chosen).
Supporting connection to employment, job training, and education.
Connecting to public benefits and community supports.
Planning for dependent youth that includes an adolescent-specific social worker unit to convene
and facilitate a dynamic multi-disciplinary youth-centered, family-included planning for the end of
16 Dworsky, A., Gitlow, E., Horwitz, B., & Samuels, G.M., "Missed opportunities: Pathways from foster care to youth
homelessness in America," (2019), Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, https://voicesofyouthcount.org/brief/missed-
opportunities-pathways-from-foster-care-to-youth-homelessness-in-america/
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 13
care.17 Youth who experience frequent placement disruption are at greater risk of homelessness
and should be assigned a placement team.18
Planning for young people in juvenile rehabilitation includes more consistent transition planning
starting a year before release. Adding housing support supervisor to cover the Northwest region
of the state to supplement the work of the two existing housing support supervisors.19
Support those exiting juvenile rehabilitation to get certified as peer mentors, and ensure peer
mentors are an integral part of the release team meeting (RTM) in juvenile rehabilitation.20
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: DCFY/JR, DSHS/ES
Evidence The Adolescent Brain/Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, 2011, Pathways to Success
Model/Center for Policy Research Colorado, 2018
Phase 2: Fund and implement a new transition planning process for young people exiting inpatient
behavioral health treatment.
Add to the Health Care Authority a system designer/management analyst who specializes in youth and
young adult populations. This position will be required to understand the needs of YYA and families,
and develop specialized services and support program improvement for YYA and families across the
state to improve housing outcomes.21
Design and pilot innovative ideas such as respite families to support caregivers to ensure long-term
housing stability for YYA.
The process and lessons learned from transition planning in child welfare and Juvenile Rehabilitation
should be applied within the behavioral health system, including engaging family and natural supports
in the process.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: Office of Homeless Youth, HCA/Behavioral Health, and philanthropy partners
Evidence From Inpatient Treatment to Homelessness/A Way Home Washington, December 2018
17 Based on the Family Assessment and Team Planning model incorporated in Larimer County, CO,
18 DSHS RDA, "Housing Status of Youth Exiting Foster Care, Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems":
Risk factors for homelessness post exit include more than foster care placements, more than four congregate care
placements and more than four school moves in 3 years.
19 Coalition for Juvenile Justice, "Issue Brief - Youth Homelessness and Juvenile Justice: Opportunities for Collaboration and
Impact,” Volume 1, Issue 1, (June 2016),
20 Requested by residents of Green Hill School.
21 McCann, Erin Shea, "From Inpatient to Homelessness: Envisioning a Path Toward Healing and Safe Housing for Young
People in Washington State," A Way Home Washington, (December 2018)
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 14
2. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
New | Community-based organizations
Fund five grants to communities with the highest prevalence of exits to homelessness; select and
support a mobile application and website to show available resources.
When young people transition out of the care of a public system, they re-enter the community, where it
is important to have a healthy support system and connection to resources that meet ongoing needs.
Communities must have the capacity to assess, connect, and serve youth and young adults who have
transitioned out of public systems. This capacity can be built through grants issued by the Office of
Homeless Youth, which will allow communities to respond to the needs of young people who have
transitioned out of care. Community support may include housing navigation, civil legal aid, therapy,
coaching, family engagement, employment and education support, and other services that promote
stability and success.
Select and support a mobile application and a website to show available resources for YYA exiting
systems. Ensure thorough competitive analyses and processes to keep the resource list updated. Work
with application developers to add benefits that young people are eligible for. The application and
website should be accessible by parents, young people and service providers.
Anticipated biennial cost: $1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: OHY, DSHS/ESA and DCYF
Evidence: DCYF Families and Youth in Crisis, April 2019, Full Frame Initiative, Pathways to Success
Model/Center for Policy Research Colorado, 2018, Literature Review of Model Programs/OJJDP, August 2017
Critical Transition Coaching, Building Changes, 2019 Full Frame Initiative
3. HOUSING
New and expanded | Office of Homeless Youth
Young people exiting systems of care face significant barriers to securing and maintaining housing. In
many cases, young people are transitioning from very structured environments and have not had
experience living on their own. Those exiting the justice system may have criminal records that screen
them out of housing. Youth younger than age 18 have limited housing options if they are unable to
return home. Two key housing interventions would support stable housing for young people who have
exited systems:
Fund a transitional housing program for 16- to 17-year-olds
Over a year, 30% (113) of youth exit a HOPE Center into another shelter, the streets, or a temporary
living situation. Data from two counties show that in 2014, nearly 700 youth in detention had no parent
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 15
willing or able to pick them up.22 Yet there are limited housing options for minors younger than age 18.
Funding of $1 million per fiscal year to the Office of Homeless Youth would support the piloting of 15
non-time limited beds for youth ages 16-17.
Expand funding for the Young Adult Housing Program focused on serving youth exiting systems
The Office of Homeless Youth’s Young Adult Housing Program provides rental assistance and case
management to young adults ages 18-24. Sixty-eight percent of young people participating in this
housing program exit to permanent housing.23 Using master leasing through this program allows
community-based organizations to hold the lease while subleasing to young people, removing barriers
to housing such as criminal records, lack of credit, rental history, and other factors. Case management
supports young people to maintain their housing and achieve education and employment goals.
Funding of approximately $400,000 per fiscal year will support housing for 50 households.
Anticipated biennial cost: $1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: OHY
Evidence From Inpatient Treatment to Homelessness/A Way Home Washington, December 2018
Image 3: A young person in Clark
County designs a phone application
to support them in their experience
of homelessness. The application
includes support for them to find
resources such as food and location
to stay.
22 Columbia Legal Services, “Falling Through the Gaps: How a Stay in Detention Can Lead to Youth Homelessness,” (2015),
https://www.schoolhousewa.org/reports/Detention_to_Homelessness_Web_0.pdf
23 Homeless Manment Information System data, state fiscal year 2019. Includes data from King and Spokane counties, and
the Balance of State Continuums of Care.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 16
Other Important Recommendations
RELATIVE AND KINSHIP PLACEMENT
Expansion | Child Welfare
Increase services to enable thorough relative search and recruitment. Provide training and support to
relatives to meet the needs of YYA, including affirming care for LGBTQ+ YYA. Supports should be
provided to both licensed relatives and those serving in guardianship capacity. Adjust licensing
requirements to mitigate the impacts of institutional racism on family systems of care (i.e., excluding
family members or people with lived experience).
Anticipated biennial cost: $1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: DCYF and Economic Services Administration
Evidence WSIPP and UW-EBPI Updated Inventory of Evidence-Based, Research-Based,
and Promising Practices for Prevention and Intervention Services for Children and
Juveniles in the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, and Mental Health Systems, Revised
March 2019
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, TRAINING, AND RESPITE
New | Child Welfare
Creating recruitment standards for foster parents with input from foster care alumni to ensure increase
in recruitment of foster parents and foster parents of color who understand and can specialize in
serving the needs of YYA, ages 12-21 years old and LGBTQ+ YYA. Ensure foster families and
caseworkers are trained and have the resources to serve the
needs of youth of color and LGBTQ+ YYA. Create an
accountable system for identifying appropriate and
"My mom kept kicking me out of
supportive placement for youth in care.
the house and then filed an ARY
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
(At-Risk Youth) petition and
reported me as 'runaway' when I
Responsible agency: DCYF was sleeping outside on her
front porch the whole night. I
went to jail week after week
when I was 11 years. I was so
scared…. Some kids come back
like 50 times. Instead of locking
PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR NON-DEPENDENT
them up, the system can tell
YOUTH
there is some other problem;
New | DCYF, OHY, County courts
they should rehabilitate them"
-Co-Design Participant, Snohomish County
Ensure timely access to preventive services such as family
reconciliation services, response to youth who identify as
abandoned, and youth who are not retrieved by parents after a period of confinement in a juvenile
detention center. A team representing DCYF, OHY, Washington Association of Juvenile Court
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 17
Administrators (WAJCA) and Behavioral Health should develop this model to serve youth and their
families reliably across the state.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: DCYF/WAJCA/OHY/BH
Evidence Families and Youth in Crisis/DCYF, April 2019. Office of Juvenile Justice, September 2018
SCHOOL RE-ENTRY SUPPORT
Expansion | Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice State
Expand school re-entry support for youth who are enrolling in an education program after discharge
from residential behavioral health or juvenile rehabilitation facilities to support aftercare needs,
coordination of services, and academic/social assistance at school.
Anticipated biennial cost: $1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: HCA/Behavioral Health and DCYF/ JR
Evidence Literature Review of Model Programs/OJJDP, August 2017
STANDARD VULNERABILITY INDEX APPROPRIATE FOR YYA*
New | Community Network
Co-design coordinated entry criteria with young people to ensure that it takes into account the unique
vulnerabilities of youth and young adults, such as prior system involvement. Create a standard index
that equitably and accurately assesses vulnerability and ensures implementation across the state.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY and the Mockingbird Society
Evidence: * MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT REQUEST
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 18
DIVERSION FUNDS
Expand | OHY
Expand diversion funding to prevent homelessness by helping young people identify immediate
alternate housing arrangements, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them
maintain stable housing or both. Diversion funds could include support to pay first and last month
deposit, initial move-in costs or other short-term needs not covered in current housing model supports.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY
Diversion Works, Youth Way Home Montgomery County, July 2015
ALLOW MINORS TO BE IN HOPE OR CRC BEYOND 72 HOURS
New | OHY
Allow youth to remain in an out-of-home placement beyond 72 hours in situations where a parent is not
reachable or refuses to provide consent for the youth to remain in the placement, but will not allow
them back home. Allow continued out-of-home placement after 72 hours when a youth or parent files a
Child in Need of Services (CHINS) petition. Increase capacity for HOPE and crisis residential center
(CRC) staff to support youth to file a CHINS petition to authorize out-of-home placement.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY
Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) ENGAGEMENT
Expansion | Juvenile Justice State
Improve support to residents in juvenile rehabilitation residential programs with mental health needs
through the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strength (CANS) assessment and orient the case plan and
transition plan to accept WISe in the community.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: HCA/Behavioral Health/JR
Evidence Literature Review of Model Programs/OJJDP, August 2017
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 19
HOUSING STABILITY for YOUTH in COURTS (H-SYNC)
Expand | Juvenile Justice (County & State)
Expand HSYNC housing specialists in counties to support juvenile justice-involved youth who have
housing needs, particularly after a stay in detention, and serve youth exiting a juvenile rehabilitation
facility.
Anticipated biennial cost: $1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: DCYF/WAJCA, and DSHS ESA
Evidence Literature Review of Model Programs/OJJDP, August 2017
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Expansion | Juvenile Justice State
Expand the capacity of community facilities so that all YYA who have met suitability criteria have the
opportunity to reside in a community facility before release. The advantage of community facilities is
that it allows youth to return to their home communities and increases access to family supports,
education or vocational training, job placement, and coaching for adult skills.
Anticipated biennial cost: $3 million to $5 million
Responsible agency: DCYF/Juvenile Rehabilitation
HOST HOMES
Support | Community Network
Support growth and development of host home programs by expanding resources to help communities
develop host home programs and adhere to best practices.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY
Evidence Research and Recommendations on Host Home Programs/OHY, July 2017
From Inpatient Treatment to Homelessness/A Way Home Washington, December 2018
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 20
CIVIL LEGAL AID
Expand | Juvenile Justice State & Community Network
Increase capacity for civil legal aid to seal criminal records, help YYA get identification cards,
emancipation, landlord/tenant laws, and other issues that hinder YYA options for housing stability,
access and employment.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible Organization: TeamChild, Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
Evidence: Legal Services Partnership for Youth/LCYC, May 2018, Students Before and After Juvenile Court
Dispositions/WSCCR
RESPONSIBLE LIVING SKILLS PROGRAM (RLSP) IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION
Expand | Child Welfare
Expand, restructure and improve RLSP program for extended foster care youth (ages 18-21) using a
youth-centered process with input from current and previous participants to allow young people to
learn and practice adulting skills in a safe environment prior to exit. Establish quality improvement
process to ensure the program is meeting client needs and expected outcomes. Create opportunities to
revamp and update the program if outcomes are not being met. Expand "independent living skills"
program to include "adulting skills".
Anticipated biennial cost: $ 1 million to $3 million
Responsible agency: DCYF/Juvenile Rehabilitation
CONTINUITY OF SUPPORT AND TREATMENT
Expansion | Behavioral Health
Increase rehabilitation case management funding (State General Fund) to allow behavioral health
providers to bill for Substance Use Disorder Treatment pre-release planning. Standardize continuity of
appropriate assistance for families when youth move in and out of residential programs so there is no
break in support.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: HCA/Behavioral Health
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 21
ACCESS TO BENEFITS
New | OHY
Increase screening for eligible benefits as part of the intake process in shelter programs by using
Washington Connection to apply for the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Economic
Services Administration (ESA) benefits for medical, disability benefits, cash or Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) if parenting.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY grantees and DSHS/ESA
Evidence Full Frame Initiative
BASIC CASE MANAGEMENT IT SYSTEM
New | OHY
Develop technology that centralizes and stores basic intake information such as allergies and medical
information that shelter programs need to serve youth. The case management system proposed here
would be distinct from the information collected by the Homeless Management Information System.
Ensure this information is accessible across service providers, complies with the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and is secure.
Anticipated biennial cost: Less than $1 million
Responsible agency: OHY and shelter service providers
Evidence: FY 18 Data Summary HAU Annual Report
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 22
Additional Analysis
Additional analysis and collaboration are required to understand the supply and demand for different
housing types across the state.
Tailored Housing Models Analysis
An in-depth analysis of demand for different types of housing models using discharge data by system
and community is required before making decisions on housing needs and type of housing required
across the state. This analysis should include housing services such as mentor support, adult skills,
low-barrier, trauma-informed, harm reduction, education and employment support.
Research and Evaluation Capacity
Infrastructure to support continued advancements across systems need to be reliably resourced.
Development of capacity in transition practices, community response, and housing resources require
leadership within the research community. Research and Data Analysis provides ongoing data analysis
showing the intersection of young people exiting from publicly funded systems of care and housing
stability. To further inform program development and system response as mandated in SSB 6560, it is
necessary to integrate court and education data. There are current restrictions on the use of education
data that limit the ability to incorporate well-being indicators for the targeted population of young
people with prior system involvement. Data sharing agreements should be prioritized while
simultaneously increasing access without violating privacy.
Image 4: Participants at the Snohomish County Co-Design Session
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 23
Report
Overview
The recommendations follow a three-pillar strategy used throughout the narrative of the plan. Balanced
investment in all three parts is necessary to make progress on the goal set by the legislature through
SSB 6560. Systems of care require:
1. Improvements to transition planning
2. Partnerships to support YYA once discharged into communities
3. Access to supported housing or support to families to maintain housing
Figure 4: Three-Pillar Strategy Guiding Plan Recommendations
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 24
Issues and Response
1. System Modification
The system modification recommendations center around one major theme across literature, youth
and system-stakeholder conversations: effective transitions. Each system must offer a comprehensive
and transparent transition planning process that begins at entry into the system.
EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS
"I was at Comprehensive
Issue: Child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, and
Health. It didn't help me and at
shelter programs do not adequately address housing in
the end, they gave me
transition planning. Where transition planning exists, it happens
Benadryl and put me on a bus."
either too late or infrequently.
Response: Each system must offer a comprehensive and -Co-Design Participant, Snohomish County
talking about the discharge practice at the
transparent transition planning process that is youth centered residential behavioral health institution
and begins at entry into the system. Transition planning must they experienced.
include post-discharge housing stability, as well as plans to
support critical conditions that affect a young person's ability to
be stably housed, such as mental health, peer and adult relationships, cultural connections, education
and self-esteem.
ADULTING SKILLS
Issue: Many YYA are involved in systems during critical developmental periods where their peers are
learning crucial life skills in informal settings such as at home and through peers. Adulting skills
include conflict and stress management, budgeting, cooking, laundry, etc. Step-down services are rarely
available in systems for young people to apply learned adult skills in a safe environment before exiting.
Response: Systems should ensure that YYA have the opportunity to learn and practice adulting skills
through programs and hands-on learning regardless of placement in a residential program, in a step-
down facility or while receiving services in community-based home-like settings.
Image 5: YYA adds input at the LGBTQ+ Co-Design session.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 25
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Issue: Opportunities for families (biological or chosen) to be involved in the young person's treatment
or system involvement are inconsistent or not available.
Response: Engage natural and community supports (biological or chosen family, mentors and partners)
as early as possible and through treatment, incarceration or separation. Special attention should be
given to support families of youth of color and LGBTQ+ YYA to be involved with their children
(biological or chosen)
YOUTH-CENTERED SERVICES
Issue: Services and programs offered in system, such as case management, are often not centered on
the needs of young people they intend to serve. This can frequently lead to inconveniences such as
confusion on the part of the young person on services they qualify for to more dire longer term impacts
such as re-traumatization24.
Response: The process should be youth-centered and incorporate a racial equity lens and be trauma
informed to ensure that services work directly with the young person to identify their needs. Service
providers can then work to connect young people to resources such as aftercare for treatment needs,
job readiness services and educational connections; and assess for eligible benefits based on
individual needs.
2. Community Connections
Making measurable progress to ensure stability for YYA discharging from systems requires
partnerships between the state and communities. Incentivizing the development or coordination of
reliable local resources will improve access to supportive services for YYA with prior system
involvement. Only then will the "warm handoff" between systems and communities be comprehensive
and serve the needs of this population. Meeting the demand for a community network of supports that
work equally across the state requires a level of cohesion rarely realized in social service networks that
blend state and county responsibility for serving YYA at a highly vulnerable point in their lives.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Issue: When YYA are leaving a system, often there are not enough resources for young people, like
trauma-informed aftercare, mental health supports, job programs or housing options in the community.
Response: It is necessary to develop community-level coordination of resources and services to ensure
the young person receives required support in the community post-discharge. This plan calls for
partnership among system stakeholders at the state, tribal, county, municipal, community, and service
provider levels.
24 Insight gathered from synthesis of findings from the Co-Design sessions on Ending Youth Homelessness in WA state.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 26
COORDINATION OF RESOURCES
Issue: Where resources do exist in communities, often YYA with prior system involvement are unaware
of benefits they are entitled to, are excluded from programs, and have challenges learning about
resources that exist in their community.
Response: YYA who are discharged from systems need meaningful access to resources in their
communities. In communities where resources exist, accessing assistance for resources (including
food, benefits, treatment, emergency shelter and transitional housing) needs to be streamlined. In
communities where resources are inadequate to meet the demand, community partnerships are the
basis of a shared coalition to create additional resources.
CROSS-SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT
Issue: State systems are designed to work independently and are held to outcomes set by the
individual systems. These outcomes are based on mandates, policies or law. Each system works
independently and performs as designed. Currently, there is no cross-system strategy, data monitoring
or accountability set.
Response: To ensure cross-system learning and promote state-community partnerships, the
Interagency Work Group (IAWG) on Youth Homelessness will host this work. Governor Inslee's Directive
17-0125listed housing stability for YYA exiting public systems of care as a topic for the IAWG to
address.
25 http://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/17-01YouthHomelessnessWorkGroup.pdf
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 27
Image 6: Shows two innovative ideas generated by LGBTQ co-design session participants. Both indicate the need for coordination of
resources across providers to help young people. The image on the left indicates the different categories of services that young adults need
when they are experiencing homelessness. The image on the left is a comprehensive phone application that supports young people in
managing their identity (driver license, SSN) and a variety of system-related content (court fees, housing services). The solutions indicate the
resources that young people want and need and the complexity of their situation.
3. Housing
Figure 6 shows the types of housing models needed to fully support the needs of young people. These
models will vary across the state and will be designed based on exits from care.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 28
Figure 6: Supportive Housing Models for Youth Exiting Systems of Care
HOUSING RESPONSE
Issue: There is a statewide shortage of housing supports and housing stock for the YYA population.
There is a lack of variety and choice in housing options for young people based on their needs in both
urban and rural areas.
Response: Housing models need to be designed to meet the needs of young people exiting different
public systems. The addition of housing models needs to offer varying levels of support and
independence so that YYA have options to best support their needs (see figure 6).
COORDINATED ENTRY
Issue: YYA are competing with chronically homeless adults and families for resources, causing them to
rank lower on the vulnerability index (VI). YYA in systems do not qualify as "homeless," even if they
need housing and cannot access housing resources before discharge. Those who are younger than 18
do not qualify for housing through coordinated entry.
Response: In areas of our state where housing resources are inadequate to meet the need, coordinated
entry systems use a VI to prioritize housing placement. The current tools disadvantage YYA in general
and even more YYA who are system involved. The VI tools need to be recalibrated to take into
consideration needs and risks for YYA and include eligibility for YYA discharging from systems.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 29
Image 7: Photo shows a house designed by a participant in a co-design session with young people from the rural counties in Washington. The
participant designed the house to showcase within the larger solution of a tiny house village with a small garden for each family to work on
DIVERSION
Issue: Diversion is a strategy that prevents housing instability by using funds to pay for immediate
demands for utility, rental down payment, short-term support, conflict mediation for the young person,
or their biological or chosen family, all of which prevent entry into homelessness. It is currently not
uniformly available across the state.
Response: Housing should include services such as flexible funding to support costs of renting,
coaching and mentoring to support and apply adulting skills, support based on a person's need to
develop and maintain healthy relationships.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 30
Image 8: A young person from the LGBTQ+ co-design session's request to legislature to ensure "No youth is left behind" and the
need to make sure "All youth feel safe" and "All Youth Matter" speaks to racial, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability
inclusion in housing and service options.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 31
Appendix A: Recommendation Summary Table
*Key to Cost Columns
$: Less than $1 million
$$: Between $1 million and $3 million
$$$: Between $3 million and $5 million
Table 1: HIGH PRIORITY Effective Transitions from Care (Phase 1)
Recommendation |
Biennial Cost Type | Issue
Estimate *Cost System Area Logic Model
Shared Planning meetings would be held
quarterly for dependent youth, age 13 and
older. The meetings would use a multi-
System | Effective disciplinary team approach, be youth-
Early transition
$ Child transitions centered, and include a risk screener for
planning
welfare youth with multiple placements. Letter
from youth to potential placement.
Request from the Youth Leadership
Summit (2018 and 2019).
For youth age 13 and older who
experience frequent placement disruption,
additional services and support would be
Additional supports for System | Youth-
assigned to stabilize placement. The
frequent placement $ Child centered
additional supports might include housing
disruption welfare services
specialists, experienced social workers,
additional therapeutic services, and
emphasis on developing natural supports.
A simple, easy-to-use, and non-intrusive
assessment that works across systems to
Assessment across Effective
$ System | All identify youth who are at high risk for
systems transition
housing instability post-exit to help
prioritize more intense services.
YYA who are in a JR residential program
System |
have requested a program to teach life
Child
(aka adulting) skills that include tactical
Welfare & Adulting
Adulting curriculum $ self-maintenance skills and complex
Juvenile skills
interpersonal skills.
Justice
Request from YYA at Green Hill School
state
(2019).
Screen for benefit eligibility at each intake.
Effective
Access to benefits $ System This fund will develop an easy-to-use
transition
toolkit for shelter providers, work with
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 32
Recommendation |
Biennial Cost Type | Issue
Estimate *Cost System Area Logic Model
Economic Services Administration to
connect services to YYA, and allow OHY to
develop process/expectation.
Add a housing specialist to cover state
System |
and serve JR youth discharging that will
Housing specialist & Juvenile Effective
$ increase available housing options and
mentors Justice transition
add peer mentors to re-entry team
state
meetings.
Table 2: HIGH PRIORITY Effective Transitions from Care (Phase 2)
Recommendation
| Biennial Cost Type |
Estimate *Cost System Issue Area Logic Model
Adds FTE to Division of Behavioral Health
Effective Recovery (use private funding) to develop
System |
Behavioral health transition, BH strategies for transition planning in
0 Behavioral
system improvement adulting residential programs and increase access to
health
skills BH services in the community through
aftercare.
Establish and implement transition planning
System | in BH residential programs. Ensure family
Effective
BH Re-entry process $$ Behavioral services plan (support and aftercare) are
transition
health completed before discharge with an
emphasis on family engagement.
Respite homes provide relief to YYA and
System | families after a return home. This
Effective
Respite $ Behavioral recruitment, training, and support
transition
Health recommendation targets YYA with BH
needs.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 33
Table 3: HIGH PRIORITY Community Connections
Recommendation
| Biennial Cost Type |
Estimate *Cost System Issue Area Logic Model
Transition support in the community that
includes navigating housing, supporting
accessing diversion funds if needed,
Assess | Connect | Community
$$ Community aftercare and mental health resources.
Serve resource
Community grants will target communities
that show a high prevalence of youth
discharges into housing instability.
A public-facing application that is easy to
use and navigate and provides resources
that youth and providers need on the
Community landscape of resources available to youth
Resource tech $ Community
resource based on age, location and system-
involvement. Resources include information
on civil legal aid providers, housing
availability, etc.
Adds capacity to serve YYA discharging
Community from JR who have legal impediments to
Civil Legal Aid $ Community
resource being stably housed after discharge. This
estimate is based on 50-100 YYA served.
Table 4: HIGH PRIORITY Housing
Recommendation
| Biennial Cost Type |
Estimate *Cost System Issue Area Logic Model
Create a housing option for youth (initially
ages 16-17) that provides residential
Housing
Transitional housing $$ Housing placement in a supported setting that is not
response
time-limited. This report proposes a 15-bed
pilot project.
The model allows for a variety of housing
stock to exist by allowing a single agency to
own the lease and sublease to young
Young Adult Housing Housing people. The model removes known housing
$ Housing
Program response barriers for youth, such as lack of credit,
down payment or criminal records.
Request from the Youth Leadership Summit
(2019)
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 34
Table 5: Other Important Recommendations
Recommendation
| Biennial Cost Type |
Estimate *Cost System Issue Area Logic Model
Evidence that adolescents placed with
System | relatives are more likely to be stably
Relative and kinship Effective
$$ Child housed. Need to support relative and kin
placement transition
Welfare placements financially and with services to
create and maintain placement.
Effective Targeted recruitment of adolescent-specific
Recruitment, System |
transition, foster families and caseworkers to help
retention, training, $ Child
adulting specialize the workforce to serve this
respite welfare
skills special population.
Establishes a planning schedule for system
Effective
Prevention services System | partners to develop proposals to improve
transition
for non-dependent $ Child services for youth and families in crisis, not
(family
youth welfare retrieved from juvenile detention, or self-
engagement)
refer as abandon.
System |
Add support at middle or high schools to
Behavioral
target youth returning from residential care.
School re-entry health & Effective
$$ Additional support for aftercare,
support Juvenile transition
coordination of services, academic and
justice
social issues at school.
state
Co-design a vulnerability index that takes
Standard into consideration unique vulnerabilities of
System | Housing
Vulnerability Index $ YYA who are discharging from systems.
OHY response
for YYA Request from the Youth Leadership Summit
(2019)
This flexible fund can be used to support
housing for YYA or their families upon exit
from a system of care. OHY will administer
Effective
Diversion funds $ Community this fund, but it will be available to
transition
community-based providers who provide
justification after due diligence shows
need.
This provision will allow longer placement
in shelter programs when a parent refuses
Allow minors to be in to allow youth to stay but also will not allow
System | Housing
HOPE or CRC beyond 0 them to return home. Longer stays in
Housing response
72 hours shelter programs require additional
program capacity and support for CHINS
petition filing.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 35
Recommendation
| Biennial Cost Type |
Estimate *Cost System Issue Area Logic Model
Add MH services to YYA in JR residential
programs that will ensure timely Child and
System |
Adolescent Needs and Strengths
Juvenile Effective
WISe engagement $ assessment (eligibility screener for WISe),
Justice transition
MH-oriented services while in care, and
state
connection to WISe or other aftercare,
outpatient support post-discharge.
Creates housing specialists in counties to
System |
serve court-involved referrals or JR
Housing Stability for Juvenile
Effective discharges based on referrals from system
Youth in Courts $ Justice
transition case managers. Discharge data by county
(HSYNC) county &
is available to determine which counties
state
have the most significant need.
System | Increase opportunities to learn and practice
Juvenile Adulting life skills, be connected in the community,
Community facilities $$$
Justice skills maintain a job before being formally
state discharged from a facility.
This fund will support material development
and technical assistance through the Host
Housing
Host homes $ Housing Home Alliance to recruit, support, and
response
expand quality programs in communities
that have a need and homes interested.
Effective This recommendation is to expand a
System |
Responsible Living transition, program to serve YA (Extended Foster
$$ Child
Skills Program Adulting Care) in a supported housing model that
Welfare
skills teaches and supports adulting skills.
Increase rehabilitation case management
System | funding to allow outpatient providers to bill
Continuity of support Effective
$$ Behavioral for their participation in re-entry team
and treatment transition
Health planning for YYA and families before
discharge.
Design, implement and maintain a case
management system that collects intake
Basic case
Community information for YYA entering shelter
management IT $ Housing
network programs, which would save the
system
information to streamline intake to other
housing funded by OHY.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 36
Appendix B: Definitions
Stable housing - Consistent and maintained, independent or community (with roommates or parents),
and safe housing that does not vary month to month.
Homelessness - Defined as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (RCW
43.330.702). This definition includes sleeping in emergency or transitional shelters, on the streets, in
cars, or in other unsafe, unstable places. Also included are youth who are “couch-surfing” or “doubled-
up,” where a person has no legal right to stay. Housing instability, unstably housed are other terms used
in this report to refer to homelessness.
Unaccompanied youth- Individuals younger than age 18 who are experiencing homelessness and are
not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
Youth - Individuals between the ages of 12-17 years. Some systems also term this age group as
"adolescents."
Young adults - Individuals between the ages of 18-24 years.
Young people - Individuals between the ages of 12-24 years. It is used to refer to both youth and young
adults (YYA).
Critical conditions - Defined by Chapin Hall to include factors such as mental health, peer and adult
relationships, cultural connection, education, employment and self-esteem.
Systems and systems of care - Both terms refer to publicly funded government agencies highlighted in
SSB 6560. These include child welfare, juvenile justice (county and state), OHY shelter programs and
inpatient behavioral health institutions.
Adulting skills - Skills needed for the young person to thrive independently, within a community or
family. These skills include tactical self-maintenance skills (cooking, cleaning, laundry26, financial
management and budgeting27) to complex skills (conflict and stress management, and goal setting28).
Expansion - Programs or services that exist and need to be expanded in reach.
New - Programs or services that currently do not exist.
Support - Program or services that currently exist that should be supported.
26 Cooking, cleaning and laundry skills were brought up at the Pierce County co-design session and by parent advocate who
represents parents with children with severe mental illnesses.
27 Financial manment and budgeting were brought up across the state multiple times (King County, Yakima County) as a high-
need area, especially learning about credit, debit.
28 Setting realistic goals and coaching to achieve them was recognized as a good skill in one of the King County sessions
where youth advocates were present.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 37
Appendix C: Systems of Care
Overview
Each system of care has a different focus, processes and orientation. Each organization has specific
mandates and separate areas of focus, causing resources and services provided to young people and
families to be disjointed, creating gaps in services.
Shelter and Housing Programs
The Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) provides grants to community-based organizations across the
state to operate shelter and housing programs. The programs are designed differently for different age
groups (see chart below).
Juvenile Justice
"A fundamental attribute of the juvenile justice system in Washington State is the division of
responsibility between the county-run system of juvenile courts and the state-run system intended to
serve higher-risk youth and young adults who have been found responsible for more serious offending
behavior."29 These systems are interdependent, and their responsibilities are outlined below.
County — Juvenile Court
Washington State has a decentralized court system, and the juvenile courts operate under the county
superior courts, otherwise known as a court of general jurisdiction. Each county in the state has access
to a juvenile court. Washington has 35 independent, locally funded, and locally administered juvenile
courts serving Washington's 39 counties. There are mandated court processes for offenders and civil
cases.
State — Juvenile Rehabilitation
The state's Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) is a department within the Department of Children, Youth,
and Families (DCYF). Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) serves Washington's highest risk YYA, up to age 25.
JR provides residential treatment in secure facilities and community facilities. There are three
residential facilities in Washington state and eight community facilities (two on the west side of the
state and six on the east side). JR provides community supervision (parole) to limited YYA after
discharge from care.
Child Welfare
The child welfare system supports the well-being of the child by reuniting children safely with their
families, or by achieving permanency for children who cannot return home safely. Most families
become involved with the child welfare system through Child Protective Services because of a report of
29 Department of Social and Health Services, Rehabilitation Administration, Office of Juvenile Justice, "Washington State
Juvenile Justice System Improvement Project: A Statewide Strategic Plan," (2018), September 2018,
https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/JJSI-Strategic-Plan-Handout.pdf
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 38
suspected child mistreatment (this includes abuse and neglect as defined in statute). In Washington
State, adolescents can stay in state care until the age of 21.
Behavioral Health - Residential Care
The length of stay in behavioral health residential programs ranges from a few days to many months,
and youth are admitted from cities and rural areas of Washington State, as well as from other states.
Referrals come from emergency rooms, juvenile justice system providers, outpatient behavioral health
providers, and others. A total of 554 mental health/substance use disorder beds are available for
children and adolescents, and these beds discharge patients back into the community. These programs
represent a continuum of care: acute psychiatric facilities, children’s long-term inpatient program
(CLIP), and residential substance use programs.
IMPROVING STABILITY FOR YOUTH EXITING SYSTEMS OF CARE 39
File and source
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- 2020_youth-exiting-systems-of-care-129e0702-d541-427c-be92-093024052a7f.pdf
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- Original
- app.leg.wa.gov