Recognizing Turning Points for Children on the success of their new program YVLifeSet, which assists youth with the transition from the foster care system to adulthood.

WHEREAS, Turning Points for Children is an organization that provides social and health services to children and families in need. Turning Points has been serving youth and families for over 175 years. In its early years, Turning Points focused primarily on the placement of children into adoption, foster care, group homes, and residential treatment. In the early 1970s with the launch of Family Support Services, Turning Points shifted its focus to providing in-home and community based services; and

WHEREAS, Turning Points, supported by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, recently launched a program to create a successful path for youth aging out of foster care and into adulthood. Young adults aging out of foster care often do not have support from family or financial resources, making the transition to adult responsibilities more difficult. Youth aging out of foster care also experience higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, mental health challenges and unemployment than youth who have not experienced the foster care system; and

WHEREAS, Turning Points has established the YVLifeSet Program in Philadelphia to address the complex issues youth face when aging out of the foster care system. YVLifeSet currently serves youth in Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Georgia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, North Carolina, and Washington. The core principles of the YVLifeSet Program ensure that social workers have a small caseload and that they engage youth through multiple weekly contacts. The program includes highly structured training and supervision of staff, youth involvement and engagement, evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, community advocacy projects, adolescent community reinforcement approaches to discuss drug and alcohol use, and motivational interviewing; and

WHEREAS, The YVLifeSet Program has already supported 55 young people in the City of Philadelphia, including Philadelphia-native Jamyra. Jamyra had her first child at 14, dropped out of high school in ninth grade, had a second child and moved constantly from foster homes to family homes and shelters. Through the YVLifeSet Program, Jamyra was assigned to specialist Lillian Penn. Because of Lillian’s small caseload, she was able to work in depth with Jamyra and really get to know her and the obstacles she faces on a daily basis. Lillian was able to support Jamyra to secure housing, employment, and a stable environment for her children. These accomplishments may not have been possible without the support of the YVLifeSet Program; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize Turning Points for Children on the success of their new program YVLifeSet, which assists youth with the transition from the foster care system to adulthood.

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