Young people transitioning out of the foster care system are significantly affected by the instability that accompanies long periods of out-of-home placement during childhood and adolescence. The experiences of these youth place them at a higher risk for unemployment, poor educational outcomes, health issues, early parenthood, long-term dependency on public assistance, increased rates of incarceration, and homelessness.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is often a tumultuous time for a young person, but it is especially difficult for vulnerable youth - those in foster care, those with health or mental health issues, and those in the juvenile justice or adult correctional systems. Their support networks of family and kin may be severely strained, or their health or mental health may create barriers to a smooth transition.

The MYTIME (Moving Youth Toward Independence and Meaningful Emancipation) Meeting, previously known as Emancipation Conference, is a facilitated youth-centered forum for both the youth and their identified support team.  The MYTIME Meeting focuses on identifying and addressing the youth’s strengths, needs, and aspirations.  Youth participation drives the development of a plan, which supports the youth’s interests and identifies the means for achievement.  The life domains or topics covered in  MY TIME Meetings include, but are not limited to:  education, housing, employment, transportation, health and well-being, circle of support, documents, immigration, and personal interests. 

MYTIME Meetings are offered to a youth throughout his or her adolescent years while in out-of-home care.  They focus on the youth's needs, as dismissal of court dependency status approaches.

It is the policy of the Department of Family and Children’s Services that a MYTIME meeting is held for all youth 16 and older who are not in a permanent plan of adoption or guardianship.  MYTIME meetings are scheduled when the youth reaches the age of 16 and annually thereafter, with a final meeting to occur within 90 days prior to dismissal of dependency.

The purpose of MYTIME Meetings is:

• To provide a strength-based, youth-centered forum for the youth and their identified support team to develop activity plans that, when implemented, will better prepare the youth for his/her transition out of foster care and into his/her future.

• To support each youth in identifying and developing significant relationships, which will not only support the youth in his or her journey toward adulthood but also be life long connections and resources.

• Honoring the youth’s community and its resources expands service options for the youth.

• Involving stakeholders such as caregivers, family, friends, mentors, CASAs, and other significant individuals in the youth’s activity planning results in greater achievements for the youth.

• Mobilizing significant persons in youth’s life to offer guidance and an emotional bond increases a youth’s resiliency and well-being.

• The ability to establish and maintain significant connections that last past emancipation and continue throughout the youth’s life, is essential to the youth’s future success. 

• Caregivers and other adults in a youth’s life must first understand the significance of their role in supporting the youth, before they can effectively commit to assisting the youth.

• Scheduling a youth’s initial MYTIME meeting, early in their adolescence, makes possible the planning of a comprehensive response to the youth’s present and future needs, as the youth prepares to transition toward adulthood.

• The assigned social worker’s participation ensures quality and consistency of social work practices.

For youth who enter the child welfare system after the age of 16, Continuing social workers make a referral to schedule a MYTIME meeting for the youth within 30 days of being assigned as the primary worker for the case.

During initial implementation and year one roll out, social workers ensure that all youth:

• Age 16 – are offered a minimum of one (1) MYTIME Meeting before age 17 and , subsequently, every 12 months until the case is dismissed.
  
  
• Age 17 – are offered a minimum of two (2) MYTIME Meetings before their 18th birthday and, subsequently, every 12 months until the case is dismissed.
  
  
• Age 18 and older – are offered a minimum of two (2) MYTIME Meetings before emancipation/case is dismissed.
  
  
• A final MYTIME Meeting is held within 90 days prior to emancipation.  The 90-day transition plan is implemented at that meeting.

Social workers and youth may request follow-up meetings sooner than 12 months, based on the youth's needs.

Social workers are responsible for completing the MYTIME meeting referral process. 

To make a referral, social workers:

Complete a MYTIME Referral (SCZ28).

• Attach the current Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP).
• Submit the referral (SCZ28 and TILP) to the Joint Decision Making (JDM) Unit.
• Drop off the SCZ28 and the TILP at the JDM Unit Referral In-Box, at SJFRC, 591 N. King Road, San Jose or
• Pony the SCZ28 and the TILP to the JDM Unit, Attention: JDM Unit Specialist or
• Email the SCZ28 and TILP to the Team Decision Making Unit at tdm@ssa.sccgov.org or
• Fax the SCZ28 and TILP at (408) 793-8809

MYTIME Meetings are held at:

• The Hub, 2248 N First Street, San Jose, CA 95131

• DFCS, 373 W Julian Street, San Jose, CA 95110

MYTIME Meetings are youth-driven and based on the youth's needs.  Before the meeting, the social worker discusses with the youth the purpose and goals of the meeting.  The youth is asked who he or she wants to invite to the meeting.  Participants may include the youth's caregivers, family, friends, mentors, Court Advocate, and other significant individuals who may support the youth in developing and achieving his or her goals.

• Goals and objectives of the meeting are explained by the meeting facilitator.
  
  
• Participants introduce themselves.
  
  
• Participants are invited to share their perceptions of the youth’s strengths.
  
  
• Goal Mapping of Life Domains
• Prior to the meeting, the youth is asked to select 3-4 life domain areas to discuss at the meeting. 
• Life domain areas include personal interests, education, housing, employment, health and well-being, circle of support, transportation, documents, immigration, or other subjects of the youth’s choice.
• The youth is asked to select one of the life domains and the goal the youth envisions for himself or herself around that domain. 
• Participants assist the youth in developing steps for achieving the goal (goal mapping exercise), including identifying needs and resources.
• The exercise continues with subsequent life domains.
• The meeting closes with a scheduled follow-up meeting.
  • The Meeting duration is approximately 1 ½ hours. 

• Melanie Ortega, JDM Specialist, 591 N King Road, San Jose, CA 95133

• Telephone: (408) 793-8841

  Email: Melanie.Oortega@ssa.sccgov.org

  Leticia Gonzalez, Social Work Supervisor Joint Decision Making (JDM) Unit

  591 N. King Road, San Jose, CA 95133

  Telephone: (408) 793-8841 and/or (408) 793-8819

  Email: Leticia.Gonzalez@ssa.sccgov.org