Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Independent Living

A“Ticket to Work” for Transitioning Youth – and Those Working With Them

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:12:55 -0600

If you work with teens with disabilities, you’ll want to know about the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work (TTW) program. Its Youth Transition portion offers funds for organizations that help students receiving Social Security disability benefits find employment. Is it right for you? Melody Goodspeed, Youth Transition Specialist for TTW answers some common questions about the funding.

Who's Doing What That Works: Readers' Choice Stories

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:27:12 -0500

October 2007—Our partner Child Advocacy 360 brings you "Readers' Choice Stories," in which readers vote with their eyes, clicks and emails on the best of Who's Doing What That Works.

National Independent Living Conference

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 13:10:35 -0600

Start: Sep 13 2006 - 9:00am

End: Sep 16 2006 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT+4

The Daniel Memorial Institute hosts "Growing Pains," the 19th annual independent living conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

Pathways to Adulthood National Independent Living/Transitional Living Conference

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:07:21 -0500

Start: May 17 2006 - 9:00am

End: May 19 2006 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT+5

The National Resource Center for Youth Services hosts this nationally recognized conference for social service professionals and youth involved in Independent Living and Transitional Living programs. Pathways to Adulthood 2006 will be held in Portland, Oregon.

Foster Children, PTSD and Mental Health

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 09:13:42 -0500

Former foster children are twice as likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as Iraq war veterans, according to the 2005 Northwest Foster Care Alumni study. More than 20 percent of adults formerly in foster care are doing well—but most, however, face major challenges in the areas of mental health, education, and employment. One-third are living at or below the poverty level, and nearly a quarter experienced homelessness some time after leaving foster care.

National Foster Care Coalition

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 08:09:24 -0600

As a coalition of national partners, we believe that supporting the positive development of children, youth, and families is the collective responsibility of the community. National Foster Care Coalition partners are committed to helping build communities where:

Concept 1 Academies

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 09:19:22 -0600

Concept 1 Academies provides independent living skills, workforce development skills training and computer/academic skills training in a residential setting to prepare older foster care teens for successful transition into independence. Preparing tomorrow's leaders, today!

Young Adult Community Development, Inc.

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 14:27:16 -0500

YACD empower emancipated youth transition from foster care to adulthood. This is accomplished with self advocacy and mentoring.

TRAC (Transition Resource Action Center)

Thu, 03 Mar 2005 13:22:42 -0600

TRAC is a one-stop center that offers access to affordable housing, liveable wage jobs and a safety net to young people, age 14-24, who are transitioning from subsitite care (CPS/JD) toward self-sufficiency.

For Homeless, No Place Like School

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 18:54:38 -0600

All American children have a right to an education—even those without stable housing, who stay in shelters, motels, or substandard apartments, or double up with friends and relatives in overcrowded houses. But it wasn�t until 2002, with the strengthening of a federal law known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, that all school districts were required to have a liaison for homeless students and to remove barriers to their full participation in school.

Forum Focus: Revisiting Risk in the 21st Century

Sun, 06 Feb 2005 22:58:11 -0600

Young people face new challenges in these stimulation-heavy, high-tech times. From rising rates of youth borrowing and credit card debt to plastic surgery pressures, even older siblings can say, "it sure wasn't like this when we were kids." This publication explores these challenges and—with sage advice from and interviews with noted experts—examines innovative ways to integrate new risks into the prevention dialogue.

Diplomas to Treasure

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:54:59 -0500

Caps and gowns, tears and celebration - for graduating high school and college students, this is a special time of year. Among those walking across the stage to receive a diploma this spring are some who have special reasons to be proud. Janis Avery, executive director of Treehouse, a Seattle agency serving children in foster care, applauds them.

Critical Connections

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:52:07 -0500

For many kids, the transition to adulthood is tumultuous. For others, it's downright dangerous - teens in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, teens with children, and those who don't finish high school. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual "Kids Count" data book looks how these kids are faring.

Understanding "Lost Boys"

Thu, 19 May 2005 10:06:25 -0500

For many U.S. children, the experiences of the ?lost boys? of Sudan, child refugees from a decades-long civil war, might seem impossibly remote. But Pauline Gordon and Natasha Santos, 15-year-old staff writers at Represent magazine in New York City, could relate�thanks to their own experiences in foster care. Here's their review of the documentary, The Lost Boys of Sudan.

The Orphan Foundation

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 08:10:11 -0600

Every year more than 25,000 kids "age out" of foster care. The goal of the Orphan Foundation is to help parentless teens as they transition from foster care to young adulthood, with particular emphasis on helping these young men and women attend college and vocational school.