Vol. 12, No. 2 • June 2008

On Their Way: Helping Guide Youths Toward the Future

by Nancy Carter and Trishana McKendall

To succeed in the adult world, a young person needs marketable skills. Foster youths are no exception. In fact, statistics of youths who have aged out of foster care indicate these young people need marketable skills even more than those who have families as “back up” support. Statistically and financially, it makes sense to invest in building skills in young people today rather than pay for rehabilitating them later as adults.

Fortunately, the LINKS program in North Carolina and a variety of educational and work experience options are targeting these young people and the adults working with them more than ever. Here is some basic information about programs that will help youths get on their way!

On Their Way and OnYourWay.org
On Their Way is an instructional DVD and guidebook that helps demonstrate to caregivers what they can do on a daily basis to help guide youths (of any age) to plan for their educational and career goals. On Their Way was created by Independent Living Resources with NIH funding and foster parents’ input.

The guidebook provides additional information not covered in the DVD such as discussion points for meals, family activities, and advanced understanding of adolescent development. The curriculum takes caregivers through eight topics: education, career interests, decision making, finances, getting help, staying healthy, housing, and staying connected.

These categories also correspond to a free, secure website <www.OnYourWay.org> that offers youths age 13 and older a place to store valuable information and provides self-discovery activities to help youths determine a future path. By using their own password, youths will always be able to obtain their history and other critical documentation required in the adult world.

OnYourWay.org and On Their Way work in tandem, understanding the importance of caregivers’ influence as young people move towards self-sufficiency. Adults are encouraged to help youths work the site and complete their profile before aging out of foster care. Foster parents set the price of On Their Way at $19.95. For more information, call 800/820-0001 or visit www.ilrinc.com. To find these products online at <www.ilrinc.com> search for “150B.”

State and Federal Programs
NC’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program. This program assists youth who were involved in North Carolina’s foster care system on or after their 17th birthday or were adopted at or after the age of 16 from our state’s foster care system. All candidates must have graduated high school or have received a GED and be preparing to enter a college, university, or vocational training institution. ETV can pay up to $5,000 yearly; the actual amount is based on the cost of tuition and the level of financial aid awarded to the student. ETV funding pays for school-related expenses such as tuition, books, and computers. Students apply directly on line at <www.statevoucher.org>. This website contains a wealth of information regarding other sources of aid, North Carolina colleges, community colleges, and vocational schools, and other information useful to any student. For additional information, please contact the child’s DSS social worker or LINKS coordinator.

NC Reach. The NC Legislature recently approved funding for this scholarship program for all young adults ages 18 through 25 who have either aged out of foster care in North Carolina or were adopted from foster care in North Carolina on or after their 12th birthday. This scholarship program is called NC Reach. The Orphan Foundation of America manages the program and provides case management services to all scholarship recipients.

NC Reach scholarships will pay for the remaining cost of attendance, as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, at any branch of the UNC system or at any of NC’s Community Colleges. Federal grants, including the Education Training Voucher and Pell grants, will be applied to the costs of attendance first. Legitimate student loans incurred by students after July 31, 2007 may be eligible for repayment through this program, up to the determined cost of attendance after that date.

Through NC Reach students will be eligible for up to eight semesters of assistance, so long as they make satisfactory progress toward the completion of their academic program. Students will remain eligible for assistance until their 26th birthday. To learn more visit <www.ncreach.org>.

For information about the UNC constituent universities, go to <www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/campus/campusmap.htm>.
For information about North Carolina community colleges, go to <www.ncccs.cc.nc.us/colleges_map.htm>.

NC Department of Labor Apprenticeship and Training Bureau. To provide alternatives to a four-year college degree, the Department of Labor has devised an apprenticeship program, with an arm of the program tailored to work with older adolescents. This program lists more than 1,000 “apprentice-able” occupations such as aviation safety equipment technician, cabinetmaker, floral designer, and much more. Did we mention you will be paid while working as an apprentice? Interested high school/GED graduates or students age 16 and older should speak to their school guidance counselor about the apprenticeship program and ask them to contact their local Apprenticeship Representative. To learn more go to <www.nclabor.com/appren/students.htm>.

Learn & Earn Online. Thanks to Gov. Mike Easley and the NC General Assembly, North Carolina high school students have the option of enrolling in online college-credit courses at no cost to the student or their families. Learn & Earn students can take college freshman courses while still in high school, which increases their chances of graduating from college early. In 2007 approximately 300 high schools participated in the program. To tap into this educational service, speak to your high school guidance counselor. To learn more, visit <www.ncpublicschools.org/learnandearnonline>

WIA Youth Councils. Youth Councils are a relatively new feature of the local workforce development system mandated by the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Twenty-four Youth Councils, appointed by local Workforce Development Boards across North Carolina, are working to support and promote a comprehensive and systemic approach to youth services that will enable youth to be successful in education and in the workplace. Eligible youths ages 14 – 21 years must be low income and face challenges to successful workforce entry (youths in foster care are considered a target population). Youths will engage in activities to prepare them for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. Some programs include tutoring and study skills in addition to internships, job-shadowing, occupational skills, and leadership training. All programs provide summer employment; year-round activities are left to local discretion. To learn more, go to <www.nccommerce.com/en/workforceservices>. To locate a youth council, visit <old.ncjoblink.com/centers2/centerview.asp?type=w>

Vocational & Technical Education
The NC Department of Public Instruction is the agency that prepares and plans for the vocational and technical education of students. As instructed by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, DPI must submit a four year plan designed to meet the training and workforce needs of the state and local communities of the established schools.

Every school district in North Carolina provides “hands-on” learning for students that often involve partnerships with local community colleges and businesses. Evaluations of students involved in vocational and technical education indicate decreased dropout rates and more school satisfaction. Since the goal of vocational and technical education is to meet the community workforce needs, the range of course topics vary from community to community. For instance, biomedical courses are offered in areas with large pharmaceutical companies; agricultural courses in farming communities; computer and technology courses in hi-tech, business areas, and so forth.

To learn about the vocational and technical education options in your area, visit your local school district’s website or call the coordinator of vocational and technical education at your child’s school.

Nancy Carter is the Associate Director of Independent Living Resources, Inc. Trishana McKendall is a Child Advocate with North Carolina’s Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office.

Copyright � 2008 Jordan Institute for Families