Medicaid to 26

I just got an email about a new change that Washington has made for the new year. Starting January 1, all youth who have been in care are able to re-enroll into Medicaid for medical coverage until the age of 26. Here are the details

Medicaid To 26

Beginning January 1, 2014, former foster youth may be eligible for continued Medicaid benefits until their 26^th birthday!!!

Am I eligible?   (You must be able to answer “YES” to both of the statements below)

1.      I am currently in foster care or other eligible out-of-home placement and under age 21.

2.      On July 22, 2007, I was in foster care or other eligible out-of-home placement under the responsibility of DSHS or a federally recognized tribe within Washington State.

“Other eligible out-of-home placements” include:

ü  Licensed foster and relative care

ü  Tribal foster care

ü  ICPC foster care in Washington State

ü  Dependency Guardianships established prior to June 2010

ü   Other foster care (unlicensed, court      ordered placements)

Note: Youth in the Adoption Support program are not eligible for Medicaid under this benefit.

What else do I need to know?

§  If you turned 21 years of age before January 1, 2014, you could be eligible for Medicaid until your 26^th birthday. Contact the Foster Care Medical Team (FCMT) to see if you are eligible. DO NOT apply for medical coverage (Medicaid) through the www.healthplanfinder.gov website.

§  On your 21^st birthday, the FCMT will automatically enroll you into a Medicaid managed care plan. You may contact the FCMT if you want to change to a different plan.    

§  Ensure the Foster Care Medical Team always has your correct mailing address!!

§  This benefit is for Medicaid eligibility only.  You must apply for TANF and food assistance at your local Community Services Office.

§  KEEP your ProviderOne Services Card – you do not need a new card or ProviderOne number to be eligible for this program.

§  If your Medicaid eligibility is interrupted because you are in jail or detention, or if you are enrolled in Pregnancy Medical, contact the FCMT to see if you are still eligible for the Medicaid to 26 program.

What if I have questions or I lose my ProviderOne Services Card?

Call the Foster Care Medical Team (FCMT) using the following directions:

The phone system is very sensitive so make sure there isn’t a lot of noise around you.

1.      Dial: 1-800-562-3022  - Extension 15480 (do not dial the extension until prompted)

2.      Stay on the line.

3.      Say, “Dial” when the system asks you if you have an extension.

4.      When the system asks if you are a “client, provider, or other.”  DO NOT respond to this question; just press “3” on your phone.

5.      The system will say it is transferring you and then ask you to dial the extension number.

6.      Dial the FCMT extension number - 15480.

The FCMT uses interpreter services when needed. These instructions also apply to non-English speaking youth.

Web Wisdom

CSF 411

Here is a great newsletter from our friends at College Success Foundation. It has a lot of helpful events and resources that will be worth a look. Check it out here.

Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit

I recently received some information about the 2012 Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit. It is hosted through the Mockingbird Society. Here is the information:

The Leadership Summit will be June 25^th to 27^th 2012 on Bainbridge Island. Applications to the Leadership Summit are due on April 20^th.

The Leadership Summit is a skill-building opportunity for current and former foster youth and their allies. All travel expenses and participation costs will be paid for applicants accepted to the Leadership Summit.

Potential applicants would be foster youth age 14 or older or former foster youth age 24 or younger.

Participants at the Leadership Summit will learn how to use their voice effectively to get their needs met in and out of the system.  Participants will meet with other current and former foster youth, identify issues important to them, and express their ideas to state policy makers.

Additionally, participants will attend Transitions. This innovative, experiential eight hour training is the latest Mockingbird Society developed curriculum for youth who have experienced foster care. Participants will learn tools to help successfully navigate life’s major transitions including, but not limited to, transitioning out of foster care.

Applications for the Leadership Summit are due by 5pm on April 20^th, 2012. A link to the on-line application can be found on the Mockingbird Society website at:  www.mockingbirdsociety.org

The direct link to the application:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012summitapplication

Or you can go to the Leadership Summit page at:

http://www.mockingbirdsociety.org/the-mockingbird-network/leadership-summit/

Destination Graduation

I recently went to the 5th annual Passport Conference in Tacoma. It was a great time to connect with others that are doing good work in the community to help youth that have been apart of foster care. I met a lot of great people. One of the main things I am going to utilizing is a website resource that the College Success Foundation put together called Destination Graduation. It has a lot of great resources for youth, including housing, college contacts, and places to get tutoring. It may not all relate to you, but it has some items that could be worth your time. Check it out here.

Tutoring Resource

Here some information I got from the Pierce County Library about online tutoring. Check it out:

"Now that you’re back in class after the snow, would you like to warm up your homework skills? Pierce County Library System will help you keep on top of your school assignments with free Online Homework Help.

Work with online tutors for live, on-demand help with your homework in math, science, English, and social studies, seven days a week from 1 – 10 p.m. Professional tutors will work directly with you online, using an instant messaging communication.

To get writing help when it fits your schedule, use the secure file sharing feature to submit your papers to trained writing instructors at any time 24/7.

The service is available in English and Spanish.

Access these services on your mobile device, home computer or online anywhere for free with your Pierce County Library card. You can also access the online homework help when you visit any of 18 Pierce County Libraries.

All tutors and coaches reside in the U.S., possess four-year college degrees, undergo a rigorous selection and training process, and complete a full background and security check."

Jump Shipp

A few months ago I mentioned how Josh Shipp was launching a TV on Halogen about finding your passion by pursuing the career you love. He is a former foster kid helping others by using his own experience of overcoming challenges. I have had a chance to watch a few and they are pretty compelling. I would check them out and allow it to encourage you to pursue your dreams here at CPTC. I hope that it gives you greater conviction about what you are doing here in the classroom. Here is the show page. Enjoy

Strengths

Here is a link to an interview with Marcus Buckingham, who helped create some of the strengths materials that I have mentioned. He offers some insights into strengths for students and it made me think about the grades you may get in school. Hopefully they are good grades, and more importantly you are in a field that is exciting to you and the work you want to do. When you get an A in a subject think about why it was the case. Was it because you studied hard, was it a good teacher, was it a subject that was easy for you to comprehend? In thinking about such things you can develop some confidence when you go to look for work about the type of learner you are, and how you will excel. Check it out here.

Post Card Project

Here is a new book project that Foster Care Alumni Association is doing. They are collecting post cards written by people who have been in care to share their story. This could be a good outlet for you and a great way to express yourself. Here are the details.

"FCAA is excited to announce that we're producing a new book "Exploring the Culture of Foster Care" in conjunction with our I Am Here campaign. The book will contain a collection of postcards created by people both in and from foster care that share their observations, insights, and feelings about their experience. We hope you'll send us a postcard!

Create your postcard out of any mailable material. If you want to share two or more messages, use multiple postcards. Put your complete message and image on one side of your postcard.

Tips:
Be brief-the fewer words used the better.
Be legible-use big, clear and bold lettering.
Be creative-let the postcard be your canvas.

Mail your postcards to:
Foster Care Alumni of America
901 N. Washington Street, Suite 208
Alexandria, VA 22314

You may also submit your postcard to our project via email. Please send a high-resolution scan to admin@fostercarealumni.org.

The final deadline for postcard submissions for the book is May 31, 2011. Show us your creative side and send a postcard today!"

Contact them for any other questions you may have.

Check out a College

Here is a site that the State of Washington has put together. It is really helpful at the beginning of your college search, but since you are already attending CPTC you may want to use this for transfer options after you are complete here. The site also has good information on wages and job outlooks. Check out the site here.

Casey Family Programs

This is a non-profit organization that seeks to bring change to the foster care system. They have a lot of resources for parents as well as youth. I was looking at their youth resource page and they had some great information. They have everything from living on your own, to getting into school, to managing your money. Check it out here.

Study Tips

Here is an article I found about studying. It seems to be a bit funny but also has some information about how to plan if you know you have something at the end of the week, end of the day, or end of the hour. It will be worth a read and you may have some tools that you can apply while you are here at CPTC. Enjoy

Resume Tips

At some point in your time here at CPTC you will need to think about creating a resume. They can play a very critical role in your job search process. Hopefully, with the training you have received from CPTC your search for employment will be short, but it always helps having any advantage so your application stands out. This is why writing a strong resume is so vital. It communicates your strengths, talents, and skills that you are bringing with you to your new position. You want it to be clear, concise and effective while not overwhelming the person who is considering your application. You can work with Harry Vye in our Career Center if you want some one on one coaching or you can check out this site. It has a lot of information in it and has links to other helpful resume information. If you desire to read more about this subject just check out the Lending Library through the Solid Start program. We have "What Color is your Parachute?" The author of this book is the author of the website posted above. It has great information about how to create a resume. Check it out from the library today!

Peer Mentoring Now on Campus

The S.T.E.P. Center (Students Teaching and Empowering Peers) is CPTC’s new location for peer and professional tutoring – along with a new student success service of peer mentoring!

Peer Mentors are successful CPTC students who have been trained to connect their peers to college and community resources and guide them in the development of skills which can help them to achieve their educational goals. We can provide assistance with everything from scholarships and transportation to time-management and goal-setting

Location: Building 15 – Room 108 (the former cafeteria).

Hours: Open from 8am – 6pm, Monday - Thursday.

If you have questions - Call 253.589.5568 or email Sean Cooke at sean.cooke@cptc.edu or Althea Foster at althea.foster@cptc.edu

Youth 411

I recently came across a resource called Pierce County Youth 411. It was created by WorkSource in Pierce County and is packed with great informaiton and resources on college to housing and everything in between. They are even pocket sized so you can take it with you easily. If you want one, swing by the office and I can get you one. Enjoy!

Teen's Guide to World Domination...

Hey Everyone. We have an exciting new book that we have added to the Text Book Lending Library. The books is called The Teen's Guide to World Domination and it is by Josh Shipp. He is a former foster youth who gives advice to teens on how to overcome life's obstacles. I will be adding this book to the library shortly. I recommend that you check it out. Here is a link to his site talking about the book. Enjoy

Identification Card

One of the things that I am finding as I work with students here at CPTC who are alumni of care, is the importance of having a good piece of identification. It can be a real obstacle if you do not have a way to prove your identity. In case you are need of getting your ID here is the link so you can work on getting it.

Transitions

Recently, FosterClub partnered with the Fostering Connections Resource Center to develop what they call a "Transition Tool Kit". I was looking through it and it looks amazing. It is packed with great information and resources on how teens in care can transition to adulthood. They have worksheets, and maps that really provide a great visual to all of the "stops" on your way to adulthood. If you head over to the FosterClub you can download the kit for yourself for free. I encourage you to make the trip over there. It will be worth your while.

New Books Have Arrived

As you may know we have a Lending Library on campus for your reading enjoyment. It has books for your classes here at Clover Park and it has books that may be helpful as you grow as a person. I was able to add a few more to our Library for you to check out and they will be in the rotation shortly. Here they are:

• What Color is Your Parachute - A career counseling book specific to teens. It goes over creating a resume, doing a job search, and conducting informational interviews.


• Finding Fish - This is the story of Antwone Fisher, a former foster youth who has overcome a great deal to have success today. He tells his story in this book.


• Who Moved my Cheese? - A short book on how to handle and deal with the change that we face in our daily lives.

If you want to check out one of these books, stop by my office in 17 and I will give you the form that you will need to give to the Library so you can check on of these great books out. Enjoy!

More Housing Information

Here is an additional link I found about housing resources. This is cool because it talks about other resources than just apartments, like tips on buying your own place! Check it out here.