Supporting the Transition to Adulthood for Youth in State Care

969 East 60th Street,Chicago IL 60637

14 October, 2022

Description

International Perspectives on Supporting the Transition to Adulthood for Youth in State CareFriday, October 14, 2022Agenda: 1:00-4:00 p.m. (CT) Program 4:00-5:00 p.m. (CT) Reception Edith Abbott Hall, Lobby 969 East 60th Street, Chicago IL 60637 In-Person at the Crown Family School. Livestream of the symposium available. This event is free and open to the public; Registration is required. 3-hours of CEU's continuing education credits (CEUs) available. Eligibility for CEUs requires indication at registration and attendance to the live in-person event. The transition to adulthood is complex and seldom easy. Research from around the globe has shown the transition to be particularly challenging for young people in state-sponsored out-of-home care due to dependency or caregiver maltreatment. Most young people transitioning to adulthood from state care (“care leavers”) come from families and communities that are marginalized due to their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or poverty. They are often unable to turn to their parents or other family members for the kinds of ongoing financial and emotional support that youth around the world rely on during the transition to adulthood. Not surprisingly, on average these youth experience relatively poor outcomes compared to those without experience in care across major domains of human development during the transition to adulthood (e.g., education, employment, economic security, social support, and family formation). Over a decade ago, in light of the needs of this population and as identified by practice and research, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the obligation of states under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to support youth during three important phases of leaving state care: Preparation and planningThe transition process from care to aftercare (including ‘consideration of children's age, gender, maturity and particular circumstances')And aftercare support (including ‘ongoing education and vocational training opportunities’ and ‘access to social, legal and health services, together with appropriate financial support’) While social welfare policy is generally seen as less generous in the United States than in most other wealthy countries, the Unites States was one of the first countries in the world that developed child welfare policy focused on care leavers. And Illinois is one of the first places in the world to extend state responsibility for supporting youth in care to young adults, making the state an important laboratory for supporting care leavers for over two decades. In collaboration with leaders of the International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care (INTRAC), the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice will host “International Perspectives on Supporting the Transition to Adulthood for Youth in State Care.” The event will bring together world researchers, developers of services for care leavers, and youth with lived experience in care. The program will have a particular focus on the Global South, discussing progress that has been made in improving policy and services for care leavers, and areas where there remains room for improvement. Moderator: Mark Courtney, Ph.D. , The Samuel Deutsch Professor at The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and PracticeSpeakers: Global Panel: Mariana Incarnato, MA (Argentina), Founder of the Latin American Network of Care Leavers, Former Executive Director of Doncel Civil Association Rawan Ibrahim, PhD (Jordan), Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work in the German Jordanian UniversityKiran Modi, PhD (India), Founder Managing Trustee, Udayan CareKwabena Frimpong-Manso, PhD (Ghana), Associate Professor at the University of Ghana Local panel: Kevin Walsh, LCSW, Education and Transition Services Administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family ServicesTracey Silas-Patterson, MPA, Vice President of the Older Adolescent Program, Lawrence Hall, Chicago, IllinoisAmy Dworsky, PhD, Senior Research Fellow at Chapin Hall at the University of ChicagoJustin Harty, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona This event is co-sponsored by: The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice: Global Programs Professional Development Program Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development CEUs: 3 CEUs available. Eligibility for CEUs requires indication at registration and attendance to the in-person event.The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice Professional Development Program is a licensed State of Illinois provider of Continuing Education for social workers (LSW/LCSW), clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors (LPC/LCPC). License #s 159.000140, 168.000115, and 268.000004.Most states have reciprocity with Illinois. It is recommended that professionals outside of Illinois review rules for their licensing board prior to participating to ensure that the content meets their renewal, and/or reciprocity, requirements.Questions about CEUs, email [email protected] Information: Free to attend but registration is required.General admission seatingLimited street parking available; the closest University parking garage is located at 6054 South Drexel Avenue Questions about the event or to request an accommodation, call (773) 702-9700 or email [email protected] This convening is Mask optional and open to all invitees who are compliant with UChicago vaccination requirements and, because of ongoing health risks, particularly to the unvaccinated, participants are expected to adopt the risk mitigation measures (masking and social distancing, etc.) appropriate to their vaccination status as advised by public health officials or to their individual vulnerabilities as advised by a medical professional. Public convening may not be safe for all and carries a risk for contracting COVID-19, particularly for those unvaccinated. Participants will not know the vaccination status of others and should follow appropriate risk mitigation measures.