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State Spotlight

Maine: Youth Drive Policy, Develop Bill of Rights

In recent years, young people eager to share their experiences in foster care and their desire for a supportive family have been the highlight of Maine’s annual caseworker conferences. Former foster youth Dianna Walters explains, “I was in custody from age 12 to 18 and never achieved permanence. I know what it means to go through adolescence and young adulthood without permanent connections.” Hearing from youth was transformative – but it didn’t always lead to concrete reforms that will help children grow up in families, rather than foster care.

Now that’s changing. What started as ideas from youth has been turned into specific reforms. “I am extremely excited that [the permanency framework] is now formal policy,” says Walters. What she hopes to see next: noticeable increases in the rates of foster youth achieving permanence.

Listening is key

Virginia Marriner, acting director of policy and practice for the state’s Office for Children and Family Services, says the permanency reforms are an outgrowth of the department’s philosophy. “Listening to youth and families should always drive our work. They live out the results of our decisions; therefore, they must be partners in the process.”

Marriner notes the path to policy reform involved many individuals and agencies. In February 2007, a panel of 12 prominent “listeners” heard two key recommendations from youth: that youth and caseworkers participate in a summit to discuss permanence and that a bill of rights be developed for young people in foster care. The recommendations spurred the formation of two hard-charging workgroups, each involving youth formerly in foster care.

The bill of rights

The workgroup leading the development of the Youth in Care Bill of Rights included the perspectives of foster care alumni, child welfare staff, and representatives of the University of Southern Maine (USM), and took months to listen, brainstorm, and collaborate. Paula Burrows, a USM student, foster care alumna, and member of the state’s Youth Leadership Advocacy Team, organized and led the group. The result of the workgroup’s efforts: In April 2008, the Youth in Care Bill of Rights was ratified at the 11th Annual Maine Youth Summit.

A summit-inspired permanency framework

As the bill of rights workgroup pressed toward its goal, so did the workgroup planning the 2008 Youth Permanency Summit. To emphasize youth/caseworker collaboration, the workgroup devised a “10 for 10” approach. Each district was asked to send 20 attendees – 10 caseworkers or supervisors and 10 foster youth – to identify specific policy or practice changes that would dismantle barriers to permanence through a series of Plan-Do-Study-Act activities (PDSAs).

The Office of Children and Family Services used the “10 for 10” strategy, too, bringing to the summit 10 managers or program specialists and 10 youth formerly in foster care. This group’s goal: to develop relationships and, after the summit, a stand-alone policy framework that would formalize practices and guide caseworkers’ day-to-day permanency work. Walters and Crystal Castro – both USM students and foster care alumni – took the lead in researching and drafting the policy framework, which was vetted by central office staff, then shared with a variety of stakeholders.

2009 summit brings results – and change

The agency released the policy framework at the February 2009 Youth Permanency Summit. It begins, “Permanency is not just a process, plan, or foster care placement, nor is it intended to be a family relationship that lasts only until the child turns 18. Rather, permanence is about locating and supporting lifelong relationships.” The policy specifies that permanency efforts begin with initial agency intervention; it also emphasizes the importance of maintaining and supporting lifelong relationships, such as those with siblings, extended family, mentors and others. The policy notes that permanence “includes frequent and honest discussions … with youth and their families.” It spells out key permanency principles and practices and clarifies that “permanency strategies are to be employed with children and youth of all ages, as permanence is a priority for all in care.”

Next steps

The state plans to continue reform initiatives to help children grow up in families, not foster care – and to involve young people whenever possible. “It means a lot to me to have a part in attempts to change the foster care system,” says Walters. “[Improved] permanency policy is an important step in achieving permanence for more young people in foster care.”