Targets: Reduce the Number of Young People Exiting Foster Care Without Legal Permanency
Target-setting is a powerful way to change the course for the future. Instead of staying the present course, leaders can commit to achieving better results for children and families by setting a measurable target with a specific time for accomplishment.
Questions to Consider
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What target is a fair and realistic expectation?
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What do the trend and projection data indicate is an appropriate achievable target?
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How will local targets be incorporated, if at all, into the state target? What support can the state give to local entities to set and achieve targets?
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How will the target be used?
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As inspiration for mobilizing public will and action?
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As a benchmark for measuring progress?
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As standards for performance and accountability?
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How can you prevent targets from being misused for punitive purposes or from leading to unintended consequences and poor practices?
Targets. Casey Family Programs 2020 Strategy aims to safely reduce the need for foster care by preventing child abuse and neglect and by finding permanent homes for the nearly half million children in foster care in the U.S. The 2020 Strategy is designed to support innovative efforts in:
–Safe reduction: Safely reduce the number of children in foster care by 50 percent by 2020.
–Reinvestment: Reinvest savings from reduction on strategies and practices that strengthen families and improve child welfare systems.
–Well-being and self-sufficiency: Ensure that children in foster care, and adults who grew up in foster care, have equitable access to education, employment and mental health services.