Community Pages - Florida
Initiative Co-Investment Partner: The Eckerd Family Foundation and Connected By 25, Inc.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative co-invests with the Eckerd Family Foundation to implement the core strategies that form the Theory of Change. Connected by 25 was implemented in Tampa, has expanded to Brevard County and is under consideration for expansion in other jurisdictions in Florida. The Eckerd Foundation has engaged a broad group of partners including child welfare leaders, community non-profits, and youth to implement the initiative and codify practice and policy improvements that will bring about better outcomes for foster youth and young people transitioning to adulthood.
Contact: Diane Zambito, 813-222-0099
Connected by 25
405 E. Palm Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
Contact: Jane Soltis, 727-446-2996
The Eckerd Family Foundation
3000 Bayport Drive, Suite 560
Tampa, FL 33607
Policy:
The Independent Living Services Advisory Council (ILSAC) is a statutorily authorized body that makes formal recommendations for improving services to the Department of Children and Families and the Florida legislature. The Council is chaired by the Initiative co-investment partner in Tampa (Eckerd Family Foundation) and includes membership from Cby25 Hillsborough. The Council created a matrix of policy changes and recommendations that were communicated in the Report of Independent Living Services for Florida's Foster Youth document. Subsequently, there have been several policy improvements on the state level including:
• DCF will establish clear Independent Living Services policies, procedures and standards of service as a requirement of every Community Based Care Agency or other agency contracted to provide Independent Living and Transition Services.
•The alignment of Road to Independence with the education system requires individualized and comprehensive transitional support services, including a written transitional services plan for all young people who have reached the age of 18, and have not obtained their high school diploma or GED over the next year.
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