History
Brief History
In 2004, the White House Task Force for Disadvantaged Youth identified youth in foster care, particularly those aging out of foster care, as one of the most needy youth populations in the country. This study prompted the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) to create five demonstration projects in five separate states to address this nationwide problem. Those states who have been awarded Foster Youth Demonstration Projects are; Michigan (Detroit), New York (New York), Illinois (Chicago), Texas (Houston) and California (Los Angeles). Demonstration projects were awarded to states based upon their respective numbers of transitional foster youth cases. The counties with the highest populations of aging-out youth were given the opportunity to run a demonstration project. Therefore, in March 2005, the Wayne County Foster Youth Demonstration Project (FYDP) started delivering services. Eventually the program name was changed so it would be more foster youth friendly. Most foster youth do not like being labeled as a “foster youth”. Thus, Creating Independence And Outcomes, or CIAO Project, was formed.
Funding for the demonstration project was slated for one year (March 2005 to March 2006). An extension has been granted through June 2007 and it is likely, according to the USDOL, that funding will continue for another two years beyond 2007. In addition, the CIAO Project has kept the sustainability of the program in the forefront of its endeavors. Two sources of funding have been identified that will allow the program to sustain if funding from USDOL were to end.
The CIAO Project decided to add a Wiki to their program so that all of the collaborative ideas can be shared. This Wiki was initiated in August of 2006.
In a recent article from the Coalition, a publication of New Detroit http://newdetroit.obscorp.com/docs/newsletters/tc_spring-2005.pdf they talked about foster youth exiting from the system and some of the safe guards that need to be in place to facilitate the transition.
Drop Out Info
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