Instrument 1 - Public Child Welfare Agency Survey

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Instrument 1 -- Public Child Welfare Agency Survey

Addressing the Housing Needs of Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care

(PCWA)

A team of researchers from the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD, to learn about how communities are using the Family Unification Program (FUP) to serve youth who were in foster care. We are not evaluating your agency or its programs. This information will be used to inform efforts by ACF and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve the administration of the FUP program. Participation in this information collection is voluntary. Responses will be kept private to the extent permitted by law.

As part of this project, the research team is conducting a web-based survey of public child welfare agencies (PCWAs), public housing agencies (PHAs) and Continuums of Care (CoCs) in communities that provide FUP vouchers to youth who were in foster care. One of your partnering PHA(s) and your CoC(s) have indicated that they are currently collaborating with you to provide some of their FUP vouchers to those youths.

The purpose of this survey is to learn how FUP vouchers are being used to address the housing needs of youth who were in foster care and to identify any unique benefits or challenges your PCWA has experienced serving this population in partnership with your local PHA and CoC. It includes questions about the child welfare system in your state, your implementation of FUP, your agency’s collaboration with the PHA and CoC(s), the way your agency identifies and refers FUP-eligible youth, your experiences using FUP vouchers for youth, housing options for youth who have aged out of care, and your perspectives on FUP-related policies and practices.

If your agency has contracted with separate organization to provide supportive services to youth with FUP vouchers, please note that some questions may be better addressed by that organization. You may wish to ask that organization to complete those sections (by sharing your log-in information) or provide you with the relevant information.

This survey should take about 35 minutes to complete. If you cannot complete the survey in one sitting, you may save your place in the survey and finish it at a later time. Please note, however, that the survey needs to be completed by _________________.

Thank you in advance for responding to this survey. Your responses will help the Administration for Children and Families and HUD better understand how communities are addressing the housing needs of youth who age out of care.

Please contact XXX, (XXX) XXX-XXXX or XXXX@urban.org, at the Urban Institute with any questions about the survey.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number for this information collection is 0970-0XXX and the expiration date is XX/XX/XXXX.

A. CONTACT INFORMATION AND SCREENER

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION (FOR PCWA RESPONDENT)

1. Public Child Welfare Agency (PCWA) Name:

2. So that we know who in [FILL WITH Q1] is responding to this survey, please provide your contact information:

Name

Position

Phone Number

Email

3. How long have you been employed by [FILL WITH Q1] (in any position or title)?

4. A single PCWA may partner with multiple PHAs to administer the Family Unification Program (FUP).

4a. How many PHAs does your PCWA currently partner with to administer the FUP?

NUMBER

4b. How many of these partner PHAs currently use FUP vouchers to serve youth who had been in foster care?

NUMBER

4c. [Repeat for all partner PHA’s who received awards in that year] For how long has your agency been partnering with [PHA NAME] to serve FUP-eligible youth?

• Starting in November 2018 or later

• 1-2 years

• 3-4 years

• 5 years or more

4d. [Repeat for all partner PHA’s who received awards in that year] For how long has your agency been partnering with [PHA NAME] to serve FUP-eligible families?

• Starting in November 2018 or later

• 1-2 years

• 3-4 years

• 5 years or more

4e. For the purpose of this particular survey, please focus on the PHA who you refer the most youth to. What is the name of that PHA?

5. A single PCWA may partner with multiple Continuums of Care (CoC) to administer FUP.

5a. How many CoCs does your PCWA currently partner with to administer FUP?

NUMBER

6. How many total FUP vouchers for both families and youth do you currently have?

NUMBER

CHILD WELFARE CONTEXT

The next set of questions is about the child welfare system in your state.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 extended the age of Title IV-E–eligibility from 18 to 21 years old for foster youth who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

• Enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;

• Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;

• Employed for at least 80 hours per month

• Incapable of doing any of the above due to a medical condition

1a. Does your state have an approved plan to extend Title IV-E (federal) foster care beyond age 18?

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q2a

 Don’t know SKIP TO Q2a

1b. To what age does your state extend Title IV-E (federal) foster care?

Select one only

 19^th birthday

 20^th birthday

 21^st birthday

2a. Does your state extend state-funded foster care beyond age 18?

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q5

 Don’t know SKIP TO Q5

2b. To what age does your state extend state-funded foster care?

Select one only

 19^th birthday

 20^th birthday

 21^st birthday

 22^nd birthday

 23^rd birthday

3. Under what conditions does your state extend state foster care?

Select all that apply

 Youth is completing high school

 Youth has a physical or mental disability or other special needs

 Youth is receiving treatment for a mental health or substance abuse problem

 Youth is pregnant or parenting

 Court has determined that it is in the best interest of the youth

 Other (SPECIFY)

4. Are there any circumstances under which your state allows young people who have been emancipated or discharged to independent living to re-enter foster care before their 21st birthday?

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

For the next few questions, please think specifically about the foster children and youth in [JURISDICTION (e.g., state or county) PRE-POPULATED].

5. Approximately how many children and youth in [JURISDICTION] are currently in foster care? By foster care, we mean under the care and supervision of the child welfare system as defined by your state. Please include children and youth whose out-of-home care placements do not qualify for federal reimbursement under Title IV-E. If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

6. Approximately how many youth currently in foster care in [JURISDICTION] are 16-18 years old? If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

7. Approximately how many youth currently in foster care in [JURISDICTION] are 19-21 years old? If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

8. During your state’s most recent fiscal year, approximately how many youth in [JURISDICTION] “aged out” of foster care? By “aged out,” we mean exited foster care not because they achieved permanency through reunification, adoption or legal guardianship but because they became (or were about to become) too old to remain in foster care under state law? If you don’t know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

NUMBER

9. Federal law requires that youth receive assistance with transition planning during the 90 days (3 months) prior to the date on which they will age out of foster care.

Does this transition planning typically begin more than 90 days prior to the date on which youth will age out?

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q11a

 Don’t know SKIP TO Q11a

10. How many months before a youth ages out of care does this transition planning typically begin?

Select one only

 3 to 6 months

 7 to 12 months

 13 to 18 months

 More than 18 months

 Don’t know

11a. Does your agency provide youth with Education and Training Vouchers or ETVs?

• Yes

• No SKIP TO Q12

• Don’t know SKIP TO Q12

11b. What percentage of the youth who receive ETVs use their ETVs to cover housing costs?

• Less than 25%

• 25-50%

• 51-75%

• 76-100%

• Don’t know

11c. Do youth ever combine ETVs and FUP vouchers to cover their housing costs while going to school?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

It is possible that your agency may contract, partner, or have other relaitonships with outside agencies to help provide services. We will refer to all of these outside agencies as partner agencies.

12. Which of the following types of housing search assistance does your agency, or a partner agency, provide to youth who are preparing to age out of care in [JURISDICTION]?

	YES	NO
a. Provide information about different neighborhoods	1 	0 
b. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
c. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
d. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
e. Refer youth to property managers/landlords known to accept youth	1 	0 
f. Work with landlords/property managers to help youth secure housing	1 	0 
g. Provide information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
h. Provide information about subsidized housing including eligibility requirements	1 	0 
i. Provide information about public transportation services	1 	0 
j. Help youth locate housing near school or work	1 	0 
k. OTHER Specify	1 	0 

13. Which of the following types of lease up/move‑in assistance does your agency, or a partner agency, provide to youth who are preparing to age out of care?

	YES	NO
a. Provide contact information for local utility service providers	1 	0 
b. Provide information about public transportation and retail options	1 	0 
c. Help contacting utility companies to establish service	1 	0 
d. Advice on talking to landlords and neighbors about maintenance needs or noise issues	1 	0 
e. Financial assistance with moving, security deposits, or utility hook-up fees	1 	0 
f. Financial assistance or referrals for assistance to secure furniture and other housewares	1 	0 
g. OTHER Specify	1 	0 

II. PHA/PCWA CROSS TRAINING

The next few questions are about your agency’s collaboration with [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e].

14. Does [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e] provide your staff with training on the following?

	YES	NO
FUP eligibility	1 	0 
b. FUP voucher briefings	1 	0 
c. Tracking and reporting requirements associated with the FUP	1 	0 
d. Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program eligibility	1 	0 
e. Housing search and lease-up processes within the Section 8 HCV Program	1 	0 
e. OTHER Specify	1 	0 

15. [IF ANY OF Q14a THROUGH Q14f=YES, THEN ASK] How often does this training occur?

Select one only

 Once after vouchers were awarded

 Annually

 Twice a year

 Quarterly

 More than once per quarter

 Don’t know

16. Does your staff provide [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e] with training on the following?

	YES	NO
a. Characteristics of youth who age out of foster care and their housing needs	1 	0 
b. How your agency identifies FUP-eligible youth	1 	0 
c. How your agency refers FUP-eligible youth to [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e]	1 	0 
d. Types of housing search assistance provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or a partner agency	1 	0 
e. Types of supportive services provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or a partner agency	1 	0 
f. OTHER Specify	1 	0 

17. [IF ANY OF Q16a THROUGH Q16f=YES] How often does a training occur?

Select one only

 Once after vouchers were awarded

 Annually

 Twice a year

 Quarterly

 More than once per quarter

 Don’t know

18. Does your staff provide your CoC partner(s) with training on the following?

	YES	NO
a. Characteristics of youth who age out of foster care and their housing needs	1 	0 
b. How your agency identifies FUP-eligible youth	1 	0 
c. How your agency refers FUP-eligible youth to [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e]	1 	0 
d. Types of housing search assistance provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or a partner agency	1 	0 
e. Types of supportive services provided to FUP-eligible youth by your agency or a partner agency	1 	0 
f. OTHER Specify	1 	0 

19. [IF ANY OF Q18a THROUGH Q18f=YES, THEN ASK] How often does a training occur?

Select one only

 Once after vouchers were awarded

 Annually

 Twice a year

 Quarterly

 More than once per quarter

 Don’t know

III. FUP VOUCHERS FOR FUP-ELIGIBLE YOUTH

A. FUP IDENTIFICATION, REFERRAL AND ELIGIBILITY

The next few questions are about the process your agency uses to identify FUP-eligible youth and refer them to your PHA partners.

20. How does your agency identify FUP-eligible youth?

Select all that apply

• Youth are referred by child welfare caseworkers

• Youth are referred by independent living workers

 Youth are referred by a PHA partner

 Youth are referred by another public housing agency

 Youth are referred by CoC’s

 Youth are referred by homeless shelters or other homeless service providers

 Youth are referred by youth housing programs

 Youth are referred by aftercare service providers

 Youth are referred by other state or local agencies

 Youth are referred by other community-based agencies

 Youth refer themselves

 Other (SPECIFY)

21. Which are the three most commons ways your agency identifies FUP-eligible youth. Rank order them from 1 to 3 with 1 being the most common. [SHOW ONLY SELECTED ITEMS FROM Q20]

• Youth are referred by child welfare caseworkers

• Youth are referred by independent living workers

 Youth are referred by a PHA partner

 Youth are referred by another public housing agency

 Youth are referred by one or more continuums of care

 Youth are referred by homeless shelters or other homeless service providers

 Youth are referred by youth housing programs

 Youth are referred by aftercare service providers

 Youth are referred by other state or local agencies

 Youth are referred by other community-based agencies

 Youth refer themselves

 Other (SPECIFY)

22. Does your agency refer both families and youth for FUP to your PHA partner(s)?

	YES	NO
[PHA NAME]	1 	0 
[PHA NAME – IF MULTIPLE PHA PARTNER]	1 	0 
[PHA NAME – IF MULTIPLE PHA PARTNER]	1 	0 

23. Does your agency set aside a specific number of vouchers for youth?

• Yes

• No SKIP TO Q25

• Don’t know

24. How many vouchers provided by your PHA partner(s) are set aside for youth?

[PHA NAME] NUMBER

[PHA NAME] NUMBER [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

[PHA NAME] NUMBER [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

25. Are ALL FUP-eligible youth identified by your agency referred to a PHA?

 Yes SKIP TO Q28

 No

 Don’t know

26. What percentage of the FUP-eligible youth your agency identifies are referred to a PHA?

• Less than 25%

• 25-50%

• 51-75%

• 76-100%

• Don’t know

27. Below is a list of factors that could affect the likelihood that your agency will refer a youth to a PHA for FUP. For each factor, please indicate if it would make your agency (1) more likely to refer a youth to a PHA for FUP, (2) less likely to refer a youth to a PHA for FUP, or (3) if it would have no effect.

	MORE LIKELY	LESS LIKELY	NO EFFECT
a. Youth is homeless or precariously housed	1 	2 	0 
b. Youth has ever held a job	1 	2 	0 
c. Youth is age 21 or older	1 	2 	0 
d. Youth has a mental health problem	1 	2 	0 
e. Youth has completed high school	1 	2 	0 
f. Youth identifies as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender	1 	2 	0 
g. Youth is pregnant or parenting	1 	2 	0 
h. Youth has another disability	1 	2 	0 
i. Youth is enrolled in an education or training program	1 	2 	0 
j. Youth is involved with multiple systems	1 	2 	0 
k. Youth is currently employed	1 	2 	0 
l. Youth has a criminal record	1 	2 	0 
m. Youth is no longer in foster care	1 	2 	0 

28. Does your agency pre-screen youth for Section 8/HCV voucher eligibility prior to referring them to a PHA?

 Yes

 No

 Don’t know

29. Does [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e] notify your agency once it has determined if a youth your agency referred is eligible for a FUP voucher.

 Yes

 No

30. What does your agency do if [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e] determines that a youth your agency referred is not eligible for a FUP voucher?

Select all that apply

 Notify the youth

 Refer the youth to other PHA programs

 Refer the youth to other housing options

 Inform youth about re-entry into foster care if that is an option

 Other (SPECIFY)

This next set of questions is about what happens once a PHA has determined that a youth your agency referred is eligible for a FUP voucher.

31. Before issuing a FUP voucher, the PHA must inform youth how the FUP works and what its requirements are. This meeting is called a briefing. How frequently does someone from your agency attend this briefing with the youth?

Select one only

 Almost always

 More than half of the time

 About half of the time

 Less than half of the time

 Almost never

32. Does [FILL PHA NAME from MODULE 1 Q4e] notify your agency once youth have been issued a FUP voucher?

 Yes

 No

For the next set of questions, please think about the FUP-eligible youth your agency referred to [PHA NAME] since January 1, 2019.

33. How many FUP-eligible youth did your agency refer to your partner PHA(s) since [January 1, 2019/NEW AWARD DATE]? If you do not know the exact number, your best guess is fine.

[PHA NAME] NUMBER OF REFERRALS

[PHA NAME] NUMBER OF REFERRALS [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

[PHA NAME] NUMBER OF REFERRALS [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

34. What percentage of the FUP-eligible youth referred to your partner PHA(s) since [January 1, 2019/NEW AWARD DATE] were determined to be eligible for a FUP voucher? If you do not know the exact percentage, your best guess is fine.

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

35. [IF Module A Q5d = “3-4 years” or “5 or more years”] Thinking back to the last year, what percentage of the FUP-eligible youth referred to a PHA ultimately leased up using a FUP voucher in 2018? If you do not know the exact percentage, your best guess is fine.

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

[PHA NAME] PERCENTAGE [IF MULIPLE PHA PARTNERS]

B. FUP HOUSING SEARCH AND SELECTION

The next set of questions asks about the housing search process for FUP-eligible youth who have had a voucher briefing.

36. Which of the following does your agency do to assist youth who have been issued a FUP voucher with their housing search? Please do not include assistance that is only provided by your PHA partner(s) or another organization.

	YES	NO
a. Provide information about different neighborhoods/communities	1 	0 
b. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
c. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
d. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
e. Refer youth to property managers/landlords known to accept FUP vouchers	1 	0 
f. Work with landlords/property managers to help youth secure housing	1 	0 
g. Provide information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
h. Provide information about subsidized housing including eligibility requirements	1 	0 
i. Provide information about public transportation services	1 	0 
j. Help youth locate housing near school or work	1 	0 
k. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

37. How does the amount of housing search assistance your agency provides to youth who have been issued a FUP voucher compare to the housing search assistance your agency provides to families that have been issued a FUP voucher?

Select one only

 Youth receive MORE housing search assistance

 Youth receive ABOUT THE SAME amount of housing search assistance

 Youth receive LESS housing search assistance

 Don’t know

38. Does your agency provide youth who have been issued a FUP voucher with …

	YES	NO
a. Pre-move counseling?	1 	0 
b. Post-move counseling?	1 	0 

39. [IF Q38a=1 OR Q38b=1] What does this counseling include?

	YES	NO
a. Information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	0 
b. Information about budgeting	1 	0 
c. Information about credit	1 	0 
d. Information about landlord mediation	1 	0 
e. Information about the benefits of living in a low-poverty neighborhood (low poverty areas are areas where the poverty rate is 10% or less)	1 	0 
f. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

D. TENANCY APPROVAL, LEASE-UP, AND MOVE-IN

40. Once a unit has been approved by the PHA, which of the following types of financial assistance does your agency provide to youth?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for security deposits

 Help paying for utility deposits

 Help paying for moving costs

 Help paying for furniture or housewares

 None of the above

41. How often is someone from your agency present when youth meet with the landlord to sign the lease?

Select one only

 Almost always

 More than half of the time

 About half of the time

 Less than half of the time

 Almost never

 Don’t know

E. POST-MOVE IN STATUS AND SERVICES

HUD requires PCWAs to make certain services available to youth with a FUP voucher for at least 18 months after they move into an approved housing unit. The next set of questions is about what happens during those 18 months.

42. How frequently does someone from your agency typically have contact with youth during that 18-month period.

	Select one per row
	At least once per week	Twice per month	Once per month	Once per quarter	Once per year
a. In person	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 
b. By phone, email, or text messaging	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 
c. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 

43. Which of the following services or supports are provided to youth with a FUP voucher during that 18‑month period either (1) directly by your agency or (2) by another service provider with which your agency partners?

	PCWA Provides	Partner Agency Provides	Neither Provides	DON’T KNOW
a. Help learning money management skills	1 	2	3	d 
b. Help learning how to use credit	1 	2	3	d 
c. Help learning housekeeping skills	1 	2	3	d 
d. Help learning about proper nutrition	1 	2	3	d 
e. Help learning about meal preparation	1 	2	3	d 
f. Help learning how to access physical and mental health care	1 	2	3	d 
g. Help developing other basic life skills	1 	2	3	d 
h. Information about tenant rights and responsibilities	1 	2	3	d 
i. Assistance with security or utility deposits	1 	2	3	d 
j. Job readiness training	1 	2	3	d 
k. Help finding a job	1 	2	3	d 
l. Educational services	1 	2	3	d 
m. Career counseling	1 	2	3	d 
n. Assessment of youth needs	1 	2	3	d 
o. Case planning	1 	2	3	d 
p. Help with rent arrearages	1 	2	3	d 
q. Help with utility arrearages	1 	2	3	d 
r. Other assistance to help youth live independently	1 	2	3	d 

44. How does your agency pay for the supportive services that it is required to provide to youth with a FUP voucher once they have moved into an approved housing unit?

Select all that apply

 With Chafee funds

 With state funds

 With funds from another source (SPECIFY)

45. How often does someone from your agency or a partner agency have contact with the owner/landlord/property manager of the youth’s housing unit once a youth with a FUP voucher moves in?

Select one only

 At least once a month

 Every few months

 At least once per year

 Less than once a year

 Never SKIP TO Q47

46. Under what circumstances would someone from your agency or a partner agency have contact with the owner/landlord/property manager of the youth’s housing unit?

Select all that apply

 To familiarize landlord with FUP program and PCWA role

 To respond to issues/problems identified by the youth

 To respond to issues/problems identified by a PHA

 To respond to issues/problems identified by the owner

 Other (SPECIFY)

F. [IF Q5d FROM MODULE A: Contact and Screener >= 2] EXITING FUP AFTER 36-MONTH LIMIT

The next set of questions is about the period just before and after FUP-eligible youth reach their 36‑month time limit on the receipt of housing assistance payments.

47. Does your agency (or partner agency) provide transitional counseling or other assistance to youth with a FUP voucher as they approach their 36-month time limit? Please do not include any assistance provided by your PHA partner(s)or another organization.

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q50

48. Does your agency (or partner agency) automatically provide this transitional counseling or other assistance or do youth need to request it?

Select one only

 Your agency or partner automatically provides assistance

 Youth must specifically request assistance

49. Which of the following types of transitional counseling or other assistance does your agency (or partner agency) provide to youth with a FUP voucher as they approach their 36-month time limit? Please do NOT include transitional counseling or other assistance that your PHA partner(s)provides.

	YES	NO
a. Information about other housing programs available through your agency	1 	0 
b. Information about housing programs administered by community-based agencies	1 	0 
c. Information about different neighborhoods	1 	0 
d. Take youth on neighborhood tours	1 	0 
e. Transport youth to visit housing units	1 	0 
f. Provide a listing of vacant rental units	1 	0 
g. Refer youth to property managers/landlords	1 	0 
h. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	0 

IV. OTHER HOUSING OPTIONS FOR FOSTER YOUTH AGING OUT

We are interested in learning more about housing options other than FUP that are available to youth who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION].

50. What happens when former foster youth contact or return to your agency because they are homeless or have no place to live?

Select all that apply

 Youth are referred to a homeless shelter

 Youth are referred to [PHA NAME] or another PHA.

 Youth are referred to a continuum of care

 Youth are referred to other service providers

 Youth are informed about the option to re-enter care

 Youth are referred to a housing program administered by your agency

 Youth don’t receive any assistance

 Other (SPECIFY)

 Don’t know

51. How often is your agency contacted by a homeless shelter or other homeless service

provider about a homeless youth who had aged out of foster care?

Select one only

 At least once a month

 Every few months

 At least once per year

 Less than once a year

 Never SKIP to Q53

52. What happens when your agency is contacted by a homeless shelter or other homeless service provider in [JURISDICTION] about a homeless youth who had aged out of foster care?

Select all that apply

 Youth is referred to [PHA NAME] or other PHA

 The youth are referred to a continuum of care

 Youth is referred to other service providers

 Youth is informed about the option to re-enter care

 Youth is referred to a housing program administered by your agency

 Youth doesn’t receive any assistance

 Other (SPECIFY)

 Don’t know

53. Are young people who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONGOING ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses?

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q56

 Don’t know SKIP TO Q56

54. At what age do youth become ineligible for any type of ONGOING ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses?

 21^st birthday

 22^nd birthday

 23^rd birthday

 Other (SPECIFY)

55. What type of ONGOING assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent

 Help paying for utilities

 Help paying for food

 Other (SPECIFY)

56. For how many months of ongoing assistance are they eligible?

MONTHS

57. Are young people who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] eligible for any type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses?

 Yes

 No SKIP TO Q60

 Don’t know SKIP TO Q60

58. What type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY assistance are they eligible for?

Select all that apply

 Help paying for rent

 Help paying for utilities

 Help paying for food

 Other (SPECIFY)

59. At what age do youth become ineligible for any type of ONE-TIME OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE from your agency to help them with their housing or other living expenses?

 21^st birthday

 22^nd birthday

 23^rd birthday

 Other (SPECIFY)

The next few questions are about the different types of housing available to young people who have aged out of or been emancipated from foster care in [JURISDICTION].

60. Which of the following housing options are available to youth who have aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION] through YOUR AGENCY or another organization.

	Available within the next six months		Available, but waiting list is more than six months	Not available	Don’t know
a. Scattered-site or semi-supervised apartments (Youth live alone or with a roommate in an apartment rented from a private landlord).	1 		2 	3 	d 
b. Clustered or supervised apartments (youth live alone or with a roommate in an apartment located in an agency-owned building with 24/7 supervision).	1 		2 	3 	d 
c. Shared homes (several youth live together in and take responsibility for an agency-owned or –rented house, with minimal supervision or live-in adults).	1 		2 	3 	d 
d. Adult-roommate apartments (youth share an apartment with an adult who serves as a mentor).	1 		2 	3 	d 
f. Host homes (youth rent a room and share facilities in a home that is not licensed for foster care).	1 		2 	3 	d 
g. Boarding homes (youth live in a room and share kitchen facilities with minimal supervision).	1 		2 	3 	d 
h. Subsidized housing (youth live in an apartment and the government covers part of the rent).	1 		2 	3 	d 
I Public housing	1 		2 	3 	d 
j. Other (SPECIFY)	1 		2 	3 	d 

61. Which of the following are available to youth who aged out of foster care in [JURISDICTION]? Please include any county- or statewide programs for which youth in [JURISDICTION] might be eligible.

Select all that apply

 One-time assistance with housing-related costs such as first-month’s rent, security or utility deposits, moving and storage costs

 Housing-related supportive services: e.g., advocacy and search assistance

 Other supportive services: e.g., case management, independent living skills training)

V. PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES USING FUP

The questions in this section ask about the challenges your agency has faced and the progress it has made helping youth address their housing needs using FUP vouchers.

62. Below is a list of factors that may affect your agency’s ability to serve FUP-eligible youth. Please indicate how much of a challenge each factor presents/has presented to your agency.

	Select one per row
	NOT A CHALLENGE	SOMEWHAT OF A CHALLENGE	MAJOR CHALLENGE
a. Need to provide vouchers to families	1 	2 	3 
b. Availability of affordable rental housing	1 	2 	3 
c. Availability of quality housing	1 	2 	3 
d. 36-month time limit on FUP assistance	1 	2 	3 
e. Coordination with the PHA	1 	2 	3 
f. Coordination with a continuum of care	1 	2 	3 
h. Service provision costs	1 	2 	3 
i. Staffing resources	1 	2 	3 
j. Wait list procedures and administration	1 	2 	3 
k. Relationships with landlords/property managers	1 	2 	3 
l. Duration of the voucher application process	1 	2 	3 
m. Duration of housing search process	1 	2 	3 
n. Complexity of leasing process (for initial units and unit changes)	1 	2 	3 
o. Not enough vouchers available for youth	1 	2 	3 
p. Other (SPECIFY)	1 	2 	3 

VI. PERSPECTIVES ON PRACTICE AND POLICY

63. The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood allows states to spend up to 30% of their Chafee funds on “room and board” for young people who are at least 18 but not yet [23, if Q1b=3; else 21] years old. Does this 30% cap affect your agency’s use of Chafee funds to help youth with their housing needs?

• Yes, we would like to use more of our Chafee funds to help youth with their housing needs.

• No, we have other housing resources and can use our Chafee funding for other services

• No, youth stay in care long enough to identify safe and stable housing for after they leave

64. Youth with FUP vouchers are currently limited to 36-months of housing assistance payments. What is your opinion about this time limit?

Select one only

 It should be eliminated SKIP TO Q66

 It should be extended

 It should remain the same SKIP TO Q66

 It should be reduced

 Don’t know

65. In your opinion, for how many months should FUP-eligible youth be eligible for housing assistance payments?

MONTHS

Your agency is required to provide a specific set of services to youth with a FUP voucher for 18 months during their eligibility for Housing Assistance Payments.

66. What is your opinion about requiring PCWAs to provide services for 18 months?

 Service requirement should be eliminated SKIP TO Q68

 Number of months PCWAs are required to provide services should be reduced

 Number of months PCWAs are required to provide services should not change SKIP TO Q68

 Number of months PCWAs are required to provide services should be increased

 Allow the PCWA to determine how long services should be provided SKIP TO Q68

67. In your opinion, for how many months should PCWAs be required to provide services to youth with FUP vouchers?

MONTHS

68a. What is your opinion about the list of services that PCWAs are required to provide?

Select one only

 Service requirement should be eliminated

• List of required services should be shorter

• List of required services should not be changed

• List of required services should be longer

• PCWA should determine which services youth in their jurisdiction need most.

68b. [IF Q68a = “List of required services should be shorter”] Which services would you cut from the list of required services?

Select all that apply

• Basic life skills information/counseling on money management, use of credit, housekeeping, proper nutrition/meal preparation, and access to health care

• Counseling on compliance with rental lease requirement and with HCV program participant requirements, including assistance/referrals for assistance on security deposits, utility hook-up fees, and utilities

  • Providing such assurances to owners of rental property as are reasonable and necessary to assist a FUP-eligible youth to rent a unit with a FUP voucher.

• Job preparation and attainment counseling (where to look/how to apply, dress, grooming, and relationships with supervisory personnel, etc.).

• Educational and career advancement counseling regarding attainment of general equivalency diploma (GED); attendance/financing of education at a technical school, trade school or college; including successful work ethic and attitude models.

68c. [IF Q68a = “List of required services should be longer”] Which services would you add to the list of required services?

69. Based on your experience working with this population, how far in advance should child welfare agencies be able to make a FUP referral to [PHA NAME] before youth leave care?

Select one only

 Less than 1 month before youth leave care

 Between 1 and 3 months before youth leave care

 Between 3 and 6 months before youth leave care

 Between 6 months and 9 months before youth leave care

 Between 9 months and 12 months before youth leave care

 More than a year before youth leave care

 Don’t know

END Thank you for your time. We appreciate your responses. They will help the Administration for Children and Families and HUD better understand and plan for housing services for transitioning foster youth.

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Author	Park, Yuju
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File Created	2021-03-05