Lutheran Social Services of Northern California

LSS a new model for supportive housing and development

July 31, 2006

LSS has a history of providing supportive housing to vulnerable individuals and

families

• Families who have been homeless• Youth leaving foster care without

resources to live independently• Women who have been abused or

homeless• Individuals who are HIV positive or

have AIDS• Services in San Francisco, Oakland,

Sacramento, and Stockton

Personal interest and passion for this program

• Worked in Alameda County Child protection as juvenile court investigator, Child Abuse Services Coordinator, initiated child death review committee

• Worked in Snedigar Cottage as intermittent, child care worker, shift supervisor, and its last director– These kids left with a paper bag of personal items– Many kids returned to visit

Experience in behavioral health in Minnesota

• Minnesota adopted California’s social rehab benefit set, rates for targeted case management was very high for child services, improved revenues in adult services

• Results of institutionalization in Adult System– Learned behaviors of half-truths– Lack of social skills– Lack of trust– Lack of education and job skills– Alcohol and drug abuse– Victimization—organic brain issues – Other disabilities

Sitting on the other side of the Plexiglas

• What went right with the system– Petition filed for out of home placement– Even though mother opposed visits with extended

family, worker insisted on it, paid for transportation– Counseling, drug treatment, public school until age 19

graduation– Strong independent living skills program, college

encouraged, supported, UCSD on full scholarship– Consistent foster parenting

Other side

• What went wrong– Mother continued to have daily access to her

daughter until mother died – Foster mother utilized caretaking role learned

taking care of her own mother– Foster mother kicked her out after first year of

college– Another large loss – No formal assessment for learning disabilities

Reflections on foster care system

• Clear developmental gaps• Need for permanence• Other foster kids are family• Testing of limits and trust• Family bonds are not easily restored• Difficulty sorting acquaintances from friends• Judgment and decision making are important to learn

after dependence in the system• Mental health issues continue/risk for chemical health

high• Misplaced loyalties can be problematic• Dating/socialization are problematic

LSS has been providing services for three years in Sacramento County in

the Adolfo program

• The Sacramento program is currently being expanded from 12 youth to 24 youth

• A similar program is underway in Stockton for an additional 28 youth

• Both programs require that youth have been in out of home placement that was publicly funded, be homeless, have a disability, legally emancipated no older than 25 years old

Adolfo Program basics

• Funding from HUD with 25% local match

• Permanent supportive housing

• Scattered site-- individual apartments

• Subsidized rent with fees to youth

• Intake assessment, individual case plan, mainstream benefits, assistance with school enrollment and/or job development and placement

Adolfo

• Life skills development– Budgeting– Daily life skills– Tenant/landlord issues– Accessing transportation– Parenting skills—pregnant girls receive

counseling and support, allowed to continue in the program

– Socialization

Adolfo

• Therapeutic services– Intensive case management– Therapeutic support– Substance abuse and co-dependency groups

offered– Referrals to mental health providers

Adolfo long term outcomes7-1-05 to 6-30-06

• 88% connected to a caring supportive adult

• 82% enrolled in and used health care services

• 70% in school, job training or enrollment• Much testing by youth during first year,

rules are broken, enforced with caring• Focus on offering alternatives not answers

to teach decision making

In August 2004, LSS received a gift of an ELCA church 2.5 acres for development of affordable housing in Concord. Current plans also include an FQHC public health clinic,

LSS administrative office, and community social services.

FQHC

Federally Qualified Health Clinics

• Medically underserved areas

• Mental health services are mandatory but often very limited

• Billing is at 125% of actual costs

• Important to link up where feasible

• Listing for CA available on the internet or ask me at the break

In January 2006, LSS negotiated a purchase agreement for this house on 1/3 acre, adjacent to the church site, contingent on state funding

which was approved in June 2006. June 2007 we anticipate opening.

Overview of new transition program for emancipated foster youth

• Permanent support services with transitional housing-LSS’s new model for former foster youth– Creating a permanent address– Place to come back to– Non-biological intentional family– Support in crises– Youth are moved to scattered site housing, if needed permanent

supportive housing– Up to 2 years of funding through THP-Plus, as opposed to HUD– Eligibility for THP-Plus requires “graduation from foster care”

Future plans

• LSS is incorporating as a housing development corporation in September 2006

• Few developers are interested in smaller sites

• Other properties are being considered in other counties for future sites where property may be donated

Lutheran Social Services of Northern California

www.LSSnorcal.org

925-825-1060

Concord administrative offices

916-453-2900

Sacramento office