FYI's Programs

FYI Center's multi-modal Life Skills Program for youth aging out of foster care was developed as a result of careful and thorough research of existing programs and the "aging out" experiences of former foster care individuals.

Founder and Executive Director, Mr. James Pekrul’s personal experiences (a former foster child and current state licensed foster parent) as well as shared experiences of other “aged out” youth who have transitioned out of the foster care system.

Research obtained from the March 2002 study Employment Outcomes for Youth Aging out of Foster Care by University of Chicago Chapin Hall Center for children.

Research obtained from the December 2000 report Self-Sufficiency of Former Foster Youth in Wisconsin: Analysis of Unemployment Insurance Wage Data and Public Assistance Data by Amy Dworsky and Mark E. Courtney for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation-U.S. Department of Health and Family Services.

Research Obtained from the May 2005 Chapin Hall Working Paper - Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Care Youth: Outcomes at age 19.

Reccomendations of the June 2000 Wisconsin DHFS-Division of Children and Family Services study Independent Living for Children-In out of Home Care/Independent Living Advisory Committee.

Literature and resources of other services providers across the country.


Program Tools & Resources

FYI Center Nationally recognized Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment, which pinpoints areas of mastery and needed improvement, 2000-2003 by Casey Family Programs and Dorthy I. Ansell.

Based upon assessment results FYI-Center works closely with the individual adolescent and referring agency to develop an in-dept Individualized Independent Living Plan that builds independent living, educational, vocational, and soft skills.

As part of their Independent Living Plan, FYI Center creates a fyi3 Binder for each youth. The Foster Club (a national network group for youth in foster care) created the concept of an fyi3 Binder. The fyi3 Binder contains personal records and other information important for youth transitioning from foster care. Documents in the fyi3 Binder will include school report cards, medical and dental records, names and addresses of health and social service care providers, lists of community resources, list of the clients support network members, and other vital records.

This tool provides a roadmap for youth to become more involved in their foster care plan and as they become more informed about opportunities, a valuable tool in their quest to become more independent, successful adults.

The FYI Center also utilizes:

Ready, Set, Fly, the Life Skills Manual, by Casey Family Programs

PAYA (Preparing Adolescents for Young Adulthood) Handbook developed by Massachusetts Department of Social Services.

Integrated Service Planning that coordinates support systems and community resources (foster care youth, foster parent, social worker, etc.)

Aging Out Videos: Aging Out was created by award winning producers and directors Roger Weisberg and Vanessa Roth, with support from the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative. The videos follow the lives of a number of youth from various cultural and geographic backgrounds as they transitioned from foster care to emancipated adulthood.

Computer Lab: FYI Center's computer lab, complete with internet access and printers, provides opportunities for youth to compose resumes, job applications, complete homework assignments and research career and education options.

Resource Library: The FYI Center maintains a library of independent living resources, community directories, medical and social service directories, opportunities for community involvement and activities for youth, their families and other social service providers.

Follow-Up/Evaluation: All program participants are monitored for 90 days following the completion of their Life Skills Practicum management servies. All programs and services are performed individually (unless otherwise stated at time of referral.)

Life Skills Practicum Management Services

Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA)
Individualized Independent Living Plan
P.A.Y.A. Curriculum
Aging Out Videos
FYI3 Binder
Vital Records Procurement
Incidental Needs
High School Diploma
Housing Assistance
Home Management Services
Employment Readiness Skills
Information and Referral

The Life Skills Practicum Management Services provides a comprehensive "holistic approach" to our Continuum of Care services and programs to emancipated youth, youth still in the foster care system and their respective families designed to increase stability in their lives with regard to housing, employment, legal, accessing community resources, education and health issues.

Services may include assistance in locating housing, budgeting, meal preparation, shopping, personal appearance, counseling and related social support services needed to meet the youth's needs and improve the youth's ability to conduct such tasks independently. Services are provided for up to six mohts. Clients are able to utilize the FYI Center for up to 24 months after discharge from the program Clients are monitored for the first 90 days after completion of program.

Services included in the Life Skills Practicum Management:

Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA)
This tool assesses all new clients and caregivers as well as referring ancey case managers/social workers. The Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA) is a scored evaluation of youth independent living skills. It consists of statements about life skills that the youth and his/her caregivers complete. The ACLSA was designed to be as free from gender, ethnic and cultural biases and is appropriate for all youths regardless of living circumstances, whether with parent(s), in foster care, in group homes or other places.

The ACLSA does not collect personal identification information and the results are kept anonymous. The scores contribute to the development of an Independent Living Plan. The Life Skill Areas assessed by this tool include career planning, communication, daily living, home life, housing and money management, self care, social relationships, work life and study skills.

Individualized Independent Living Plan
FYI Center staff along with the referring agency, the client and the client's respective family creates an Individualized Independent Living Plan. The Plan is based on the client's individual needs that specify objectives for each client. The services provided include those specified in this section. It also identifies the resources responsible for implementation of each part of the plan, which is reviewed monthly with program participants.

The following services, or adequate access to referrals, are made available to the targeted youth participating in the Life Skills Practicum Management Program: counseling services for the youth and their fammilies to ameliorate problmes contributing to homelessness or otherwise impeding the transition to independent living; educational, vocational or employment services, health care and transportation services including assisting the child to obtain a driver's license.

Additional services include money management skills training, planning for ongoing housing, social and recreational skills training, and assistance establishing and maintaining connections with the child's family and community.

FYI Center maintains records for each client that document the admission information, the independent living plan, delivery of the services required of the referring agency in the independent living plan, the client's progress toward achieving objectives, and termination summary.

In some instances, the FYI Center may assist the client with the management of personal finances. If the FYI Center manages the client's money, the client record will include written permission from the client or the client's legal guardian to provide that service and the reasons FYI Center is to manage the client's money, a complete record of the use of the client's money and reconciliation of the client's bank account.

P.A.Y.A. Curriculum
The 16 week program utilizes hands on experiential learning in individual setting to develop the skills necessary for youth to live on their own. FYI Center utilizes the Preparing Adolescences for Young Adulthood developed by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services. The P.A.Y.A curriculum is comprised of 5 training modules:

Module I. Money, Home, Food Management
Module II. Personal Care, Health, Social Skills, and Safety
Module III. Education, Job Seeking Skills, and Job Maintenance Skills
Module IV. Housing, Transportation, Community Resources, Understanding the Law, recreation
Module V. Pregnancy

Aging Out Videos
FYI staff provides program participants with the opportunity to view the Aging Out video series. The 5 part video series follows young people as they exit from foster care and become parents, battle drug addiction, face homelessness, and in one case becomes involved with the criminal justice system. Despite their struggles, the film also shows these youth using the resiliency they developed during their years “in the system.”

FYI3 Binder
FYI3 Binder presented by Foster Club with Support from the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; the tool designed for youth transitioning from foster care. It provides a roadmap for youth to become more involved in their foster care plan, as a resource as they become more informed about opportunities, a valuable tool in their quest to become more independent, successful adults. FYI Center staff assists youth and caregivers with creating their very own FYI 3 Binder.

Vital Records Procurement
FYI Center staff and volunteers work with youth to obtain copies of vital records including birth certificates, social security cards, medical records, transportation and assistance with required forms is available.

Incidental Needs
As funding allows, the FYI Center provides monetary support to cover needs such as clothing, transportation and personal hygiene to assist youth with job interviews and other appointment.

High School Diploma
Staff helps youth attain their high school diploma or its equivalent. Staff will assist youth to enroll or re-enroll in high school, explore diploma, HSED or GED options, and meet with youth and high school officials. They also help youth in applying for post-secondary education and obtaining financial aide.

Housing Assistance
Staff and Volunteers work with youth to obtain affordable housing, negotiate lease terms, acquire home furnishings and manage a household budget. Staff will advocate for the first time youth renter and negotiate, as needed, a payment plan for security deposit and first month rent.

Home Management Services
Staff assists youth with developing the necessary skills to manage a home. Skills may include identifying problems, solving problems they may face living on their own, meal preparation, and utilizing community resources, budgeting and maintaining a clean and sanitary home.

Employment Readiness Skills & Job Coaching
FYI Center staff provides job readiness training job coaching, resume development, apprenticeship referrals and assistance with applications and interviews. FYI staff monitors youth for the first 90 days of employment.

Information and Referral
Where a youth presents needs outside the expertise of the center, we assist the youth in obtaining appropriate services from a partner organization.

Other Programs
Tutoring
Mentoring
Advocacy
Community Outreach

Tutoring
Many emancipated youth lag behind their peers in school. Volunteers recruited from local colleges offer help with reading comprehension, improving mathematical and critical skills.

Mentoring
We never outgrow our need for our parents’ guidance and nurturing. Our Mentors Program matches youth and volunteers from an on-going reciprocal relationship providing support through youth’s transition into adulthood.

Advocacy
Youth exiting the foster care system have been an invisible and undeserved population. The center works to raise public awareness of their needs. It advocates for and with the youth who are aging out of the foster care system to assure that they have the necessary support to provide for their physical and emotional well being.

Community Outreach
Our GOOD NEIGHBORS volunteers outreach activities help to increase the overall capacity of the community to serve disadvantage youth. Our staff and volunteers provide educational and training workshops to community group, churches, group homes, foster parents, and to other youth service organizations. FYI Center presents AGING OUT video viewings throughout the community to help raise public awareness for youth aging out of foster care. A support group is also available for youth aging out of foster care along with their respective families.