|
|
|
|
|
KERN
COUNTY Kern started its CPYP project by identifying 18 focus youth, who were 14 and 15 year olds in group homes. They also included their siblings in the project. Each case is assigned one permanency caseworker and one placement social worker. In addition, eight interns have each been assigned one case for family finding. Kern uses Entersect as their search engine for family finding and recommends it. However, the best tool for finding connections is still talking to the youth. Kern has also hired a former foster youth to work in the CPYP project to insure that the project is youth driven and to guide a permanency youth committee. Kern's youth committee has multiple goals:
The California Youth Connection (CYC) is actively involved with this committee.
Success Story Randy (not his real name), a sixteen-year-old boy, entered care when he was eleven and spent the last three years in group homes. His mother, whom he had not seen for two to three years, was not considered a viable placement; his father passed away ten years ago. By contacting the funeral home listed on the fatherís death certificate, the case worker was able to locate Randyís fatherís companionís ex-daughter-in-law, who eventually led the worker to the fatherís companion. It turns out that Randy's father's companion lives only an hour away and Randy has a half brother and half sister he never knew about. He now visits with his half siblings regularly. The case worker also re-connected Randy to his maternal cousins who had moved out of state a couple years ago and had fallen out of contact. As of April 2007 Randy was scheduled to be placed with his maternal relatives at the conclusion of this school year. The case worker stated that Randy has ìcome out of his depression . . . and is now reaching out to friends and the community. (He) has waited a long time to find his family; even family he never knew he had.
County Documents Kern County CPYP Program Description Kern County KeYPOINT Implementation Schedule (2006 Gantt Chart) Permanency Specialist Job Description
Contact: 9/15/08 |
|
|
