On April 28, 2025, your UPE team met with the County regarding the update to the Policy for Extended Foster Care Placement for Non-Minor Dependents. There were minimal changes requested by your UPE team that the department agreed to.
There was a piece stating to start emancipation conferences nearing the NMD’s eighteenth (18th) birthday. UPE asked them to be more specific about what “nearing” meant. The department stated they would link the Emancipation Conferences and Ninety (90) Day Transition policy. The UPE team requested the department, throughout the policy, specify which Social Worker performs which task/s. UPE found a note without context regarding NMD’s in detention facilities, so the team requested that it be moved. Not only did the department move the note, but they also struck a sentence that had no context. There were also things that were not in the policy that your UPE team had added, such as assessing AOD as a factor when considering the NMD’s placement needs. Also, added was clarifying to the NMD, regarding Transitional Housing Placement, that they are responsible for any destruction of property they cause. The department decided to throw in that their allowable occupants should also be clarified.
The County will provide the final policy once all changes have been made.
Thank you, Sarah Singleton, Janine Garrett and Sheila Johnson, for your advocacy.
