Vulnerable populations and the TTA - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Vulnerable populations and the TTA

This lecture will focus on two groups considered very vulnerable

Involved in social service (physical/mental health)

Involved in justice systemSlide2

Vulnerable Populations

Considers the transition for 7 populations, distinguished by involvement in gov’t services

Mental health system

Foster care systemJuvenile justice systemCriminal justice systemSpecial educationHealth care (disabilities, chronic health)Runaway and homeless youth Slide3

Transition to adulthood for vulnerable groups

“If the transition to adulthood is slow and arduous for a large share of the general populations, how much harder must it be for young people who have spent years in the mental health or juvenile justice system, or in foster care?”

Osgood, Foster, & CourtneySlide4

Vulnerable groups

Can be described in terms of

public systems that provide services to them

Their specific challenges (disabilities, traumas)Often face multiple challenges and served by multiple system so difficult to estimate size Slide5

Diverse missions of these systems

Foster care and Juv. Justice—custodial in nature

Others—provide support but don’t take over legal parenting responsibilitySlide6

Vulnerable populations

Exceptional challenges

Finding work

Attending collegeStarting a familiesSlide7

Challenges facing Vulnerable populations

Many struggle with

Emotional or behavioral problems

Many have histories of problems in school and the communityOften families are unable or unwilling to provide financial supportCollege assistanceChildcare Many have limited capacities and struggle to acquire new skills.Slide8

Summary of challenges

Eligibility changes just as youth begin transition

Each program is designed to respond to distinct need (e.g., disability, mental illness) but problems rarely isolated

Because systems designed around these categories of eligibility, no one system is responsible for meeting the entire rangeSome are in conflictSlide9

Challenges

Many struggle to achieve financial and residential independent because of

Physical disabilities

Chronic illnessMental illnessMany carry stigma of justice and foster care systemSlide10

Challenge: Eligibility

Although many dependent on public aid, when they reach 18 or 21 eligibility abruptly ends

If eligible for further care often enter systems with much older people

Systems not designed to serve young adultsSlide11

End of eligibility

Foster care—stops between 18-21

Young people benefit from gradual not abrupt

Special edServices extend and are tailored to needsIDEA requires high schools to begin developing transitions plans when students are 14Each Sp. Ed student must have a plan with long-term goals for ed, job training, life skills and services to meet goalshttp://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/490/trends-with-benefitsSlide12

Other systems

Juvenile justice

Move to adult criminal justice system (usually at 18)

Shift from rehab to criminal punishmentSlide13

Commonalities of vulnerable groups during the Transition

Males, the poor, and youth of color are over-represented in EVERY group

Youth within each group vary widely in seriousness and type of need

Population overlapPoor outcomesFactors contributing to successSlide14

Overrepresented groups

Males

Males—specific biological factors are relevant

Autism much more commonIllegal behavior more commonDifferent reactions to externalizing Slide15

Overrepresented groups

Youth of color

AA men incarcerated at 6 times the rate of

whitesYouth with disabilities are 2 times more likely to be in jailPartially Attributed to poverty Sometimes eligibility factor/sometimes riskAffects decision re entry into system The rate of poverty is 50% higher among disabled youth, but not all vulnerable youth are poorWealthy kids get more service, push system to pay for special education. Slide16

Overrepresented groups

Poverty is implicated

Rates of crime highest in poor neighborhoods

Draw more kids into juvenile and criminal justice systemResulting victimization and family disruption raise risks forMental health problemsFamily stabilityDisabilityIn richer neighborhoods, youth with even minor transgressions can end up in special educationSlide17

Diversity of the populations

in terms of seriousness and type of problem

E.g., Special ed

Mental retardation, emotional, behavioral problemsAge at which vulnerability arisesE.g., Foster care, entry as infant vs. teenE.g., Mental health—schizophrenia onsetSlide18

Overlap in populations

Multiple systems involved

35% of emotionally disturbed youth in special education are arrested as juveniles.

Youth with reading difficulties much more likely to be incarcerated 70% of inmates!Administrative links—referrals to each otherOne systems exacerbates other problemsYouth in juv. Justice system removed from supportsYouth who are moving in and out of hospitals, foster homes, treatment facilities miss schoolSlide19

Overlap in problems

Members of vulnerable groups fare poorly at completing high school and obtaining college education

Only 54% of foster care youth complete high school within 4 years, less than 10 percent attend college

Fewer than 20% of youth incarcerated have diplomas or GEDsFewer than 15 percent of homeless youth over 18 have high school diplomasYouth with multiple physical disabilities have only a 1 in 12 chance of completing collegeCost and consequences are terrible!Slide20

Employment outcomes

Varies by problem

Only 1/3 of homeless youth are employed full time

Less than 40% with serious physical disabilities are in the labor forceConsequencesLive below povertyStruggle to pay bills and expensesDepend on public assistanceSlide21

Family outcomes

Rates of marriage not much different-low

MUCH higher rates of unplanned pregnancy

1/3 former foster½ learning disabled¼ in mental health systemSlide22

Factors contributing to success

Resilience factors

Individual skills and personality

Supportive relationshipsInvolvement in groups Success at schoolSlide23

Challenges

Many struggle to achieve financial and residential independent because of

Physical disabilities

Chronic illnessMental illnessMany carry stigma of justice and foster care system