November 8, 2005

County to focus on improving job placement for foster youth

By County Supervisor Jim Beall
Special to the Times

As chair of the Board of Supervisors in January 2006, I have decided to focus on the critical need for improved job placement options for emancipating foster youth.

An Annual ILP Statistical report given to the Children, Senior and Family Committee (CSFC) last year, demonstrated that Santa Clara County has failed in providing emancipating foster youth with adequate job readiness skills and job placement.

Specifically, the report indicated that of the 554 foster youth who received ILP services in the 2004 Fiscal Year, 179 were currently seeking employment. The unfortunate reality is that too many youth do not have a job at the time of their emancipation. Furthermore, different studies have concluded that a significant number of foster youth who leave the system after emancipating end up homeless or in jail within the first two years.

Approximately 18 percent or 398 foster youth of the 2,099 foster youth currently in our Child Welfare System are between the ages of 16-18. This number does not represent emancipated foster youth over the age of 18 who still access ILP services, and therefore probably significantly underestimates the total population of foster youth seeking employment.

Clearly more needs to be done to connect emancipating foster youth with quality employment opportunities.

In response, I prepared a referral that was approved by the Board of Supervisors at the Sept. 27 Board of Supervisor’s meeting. The referral directed administration to assess the effectiveness of the county’s existing job placement/job preparedness program for emancipating foster youth. It also sought to identify the necessary steps to develop a quality job placement program for emancipating and emancipated foster youth.

The information requested in this referral will allow the board greater visibility of the supportive services provided to emancipating foster youth. Administration will provide this information at the Nov. 9 Children, Seniors and Families Committee.