May I Have Your Attention Please – Key Strategies for Engaging Emerging Adults in Extended Foster Care

Level: Advanced Practice – Lineworkers, Supervisors, Community Partners

Credits: 4 Hours

Intended Audience: This course is intended for Lineworkers and Supervisors and key community partners working with youth approaching the age of majority and young adults participating in Extended Foster Care (EFC)

Description of Course: This is an interactive learning environment where strategies for engaging youth and emerging adults will be encountered by the participants as we explore the dynamics of our newest population in Child Welfare. EFC participation requirements and placement options will be confirmed and dilemmas considered. PowerPoint, learning groups, creative activities, and digital stories will be utilized to enhance the learning environment and offer examples of a paradigm shift in how we think of young adult clients.

Intended Objectives:

• Identify key developmental milestones for emerging adults
• Acknowledge benefits of EFC and impacted CWS outcomes
• Discover resources available for emerging adults and capacity to match to needs
• Integrate some strategies for engaging youth drawing on typical youth dilemmas
• Commit to generalize newly discovered knowledge and skills to social work practice

Topics Include:

• Overview of CA After 18 eligibility, participation requirements, placement options
• Developmental milestones of emerging adults
• Youth engagement strategies and partnering focused interventions
• Common dilemmas of EFC