THE FOSTER YOUTH NETWORKED IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY

The Fresno C2C Networked Improvement Community (NIC) model is a process that combines collaborative action with improvement science, enabling us to achieve purposeful coordination and create ecosystems of care that support the success of children and families.

Networked Improvement Communities bring together people connected to a particular set of challenges, from top leadership to those working closest to children and families, to collaborate on a common problem with a shared aim.

Realizing our shared vision happens when we put the enabling conditions for improvement into action. These six elements are necessary for effective collaboration and we focus on embedding the enabling conditions as the foundation for advancing collaborative efforts. 

ENABLING CONDITIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

BUILDING TRUST

The Foster Youth NIC brings together everyone involved in the foster youth system to collaborate and achieve shared results.

SOLVING THE RIGHT PROBLEMS

Sharing data and talking about why foster youth are struggling provides collective insight.

MEASURING WHAT MATTERS

Specific aims are identified, and a measurement strategy is developed.

IDENTIFYING WHAT WORKS

The process allows for a deep look at root causes and targeted solutions.

TESTING IDEAS

Innovation and testing of solutions are woven into the work through improvement science.

ALIGNING RESOURCES

Funding is identified and directed to where it is most needed.

NUMBER OF FOSTER YOUTH STUDENTS IN THE NIC COHORT

2021-2022 83 students in 3rd through 6th grade

2024-2025 400 students in 3rd through 12th grades

(total foster youth population in Fresno County 1100)

1,400 student and system level care coordination meetings

63%of the cohort students were reading on grade level or made more than one year’s academic growth

30%COHORT STUDENTS22%23%FRESNO COUNTYSTATEWIDEscoring proficient/advanced in state tests for English Language Arts

Data shows that when foster youth change schools just one time, their high school graduation rate is cut by 50%

79% COHORT STUDENTS 60% FRESNO COUNTY remained in their school for the year

Students in the FY NIC cohort were much less likely to be absent than their peers

24% COHORT STUDENTS 27% ALL STUDENTS with chronic absenteeism

Focus of 25/26: Identifying intentional targeted reading interventions for FY reading below grade level.