FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2010
Contact: Darcie Gray
(206) 407-2136
Cuts in Dependent Youth Hope Center Beds Will Risk Putting Children on the Street, Increase State Budget Woes and Lead to More Costly Incarcerations
The Mockingbird Society’s 2010 Advocacy Agenda focuses on Retaining HOPE for Youth under and over 18
Olympia, Washington. — Dependent Youth will be hurt, left in need of safe housing, and ultimately, cost the state more if the Governor’s proposed budget passes.
“A history of foster care correlates with becoming homeless at an earlier age and remaining homeless for a longer period of time,” said Jim Theofelis, Executive Director, The Mockingbird Society. “In addition, older youth with street involvement are at a particularly high risk of adult homelessness and incarceration. The Hope Centers have changed that dynamic by saving lives and financial resources. The proposed 2010 budget puts those lives and cost savings in the balance.”
In 1999, The Hope Act was created by the Washington State Legislature to ensure that we protect dependent youth, and develop programs that reduce the number of teenagers on the streets. In addition, Hope Centers have provided safe, and long term living arrangements that provide stability, focus on independent living and provide the readiness to exist the foster care system.
“We recognize that the Governor has characterized her own proposed budget as ‘unwise.’ We agree. The budget ‘as-is’ would be balanced on the backs of the poor. Mockingbird advocates for a budget that looks at the hierarchy of human needs, and recognizes the state’s legal obligation as ‘parents’ to these children to provide a safe place for children to both survive and thrive,” said Theofelis.
“Further, It is counterproductive to cut programs that keep costs down,” said Theofelis. The 2010 Mockingbird Advocacy Agenda is focused on basic needs and services for our state’s dependent youth, and a series of other meaningful reforms that focus on civil rights and have low – or no fiscal impact. The following details that agenda:
LEAD PRIORITIES: Safe Housing and Support for youth in care: Save the HOPE in the HOPE Act!
Under Age 18: Passed in 1999 the HOPE Act provides 2 critical services to adolescents in the foster care system
- Retain the HOPE beds: 30-day emergency shelter for teenagers who are on the streets or on a runaway status. HOPE beds are the only beds in the State of Washington that adolescents can self-refer to. HOPE beds provide safe emergency care and reduce the length of time adolescents are on runaway status. The HOPE beds are targeted to both adolescents who are legal dependents of Washington State as well as those who are from private families. Request: Restore full funding of the HOPE Center beds
- Retain Responsible Living Skills Programs (RLSP): RLSP beds are long term programs targeting older youth in the foster care system who have experienced multiple placements and educational changes. Typically family reunification is not considered probable and the RLSP are designed to support the “readiness” of older youth to exit the foster care system. Request: Restore full funding of the Responsible Living Skills Program
Over Age 18: Approximately 465 youth exit Washington’s foster care system each year. Safe housing is crucial to their ability to achieve their educational and employment goals.
- Retain the Foster Care to 21 and Independent Youth Housing Program: Washington State has been a leader in developing safe housing for youth being discharged from the foster care system. The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act provides a 50% match to those states that offer safe housing to youth exiting foster care.
Notification of the Right to Request Counsel in Dependency Proceeding:
Current law allows youth 12 and older to request an attorney to represent them in Dependency hearings. The judge makes the final determination based on several factors including the availability of resources and attorneys. The 2010 legislative request is to require DSHS and the GAL/CASA to notify youth age 12 and older of their right to request an attorney in their Dependency Hearing and be informed of the Reinstatement law.
Adding Youth or Alumni of Foster Care To The HB 2106 Transformation Design Committee (TDC):
HB 2106 calls for major child welfare system reform and the TDC is charged with developing the plan for this system-wide reform. Currently an alumni of care sits on the TDC but legislation is required to formalize this position on the TDC and to give full voting rights to the Youth/Alumni representative. The Mockingbird Society will continue to follow closely any proposed legislation regarding HB 2106.
Supporting priorities include subsidized guardianships, expanding the sealing of juvenile records and 8-hour notification.
Founded in 2001, The Mockingbird Society is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world-class foster care system. The Mockingbird Society is building policy reform through the Mockingbird Network; and leading practice change through its Mockingbird Family Model — licensed extended families that provide respite, guidance and support for parents, foster parents, and children of the system. www.mockingbirdsociety.org.
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