The Foster Care Excellence Fund foundations funded the infrastructure needed to implement the Fair Futures model citywide, including the creation of the materials below. Those foundations include the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the New York Community Trust, the Redlich Horwitz Foundation, the Tiger Foundation, the Ira W. DeCamp Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
These materials are downloadable and will be updated every 6 months, and as major changes occur. They include a framework called “Goals & Steps,” which Coaches use to help young people create goals, based on where they are. The goals represent positive outcomes and the steps represent progress towards those goals; they also serve as a guide for Coaches on “how to” help a young person achieve that goal and not fall through the cracks.
Thank you to all who contributed to the development of these tools and resources!
The Fair Futures Manual
Training Materials
Module 1: Effective Youth Engagement & Working With Youth From A Trauma Informed Lens
Module 2: Coaching Best Practices
Module 3: Understanding The Goals & Steps Framework
Module 4: Middle & High School Education
Module 5: College & Postsecondary Pathways
Module 6: Career Development & One Degree
Module 7: Housing 101
Module 8: Pulling It Together: Applying The Goals & Steps Framework
Tools & Materials
Model Implementation Tools
Checklist for Implementation Success: Phase 1
Checklist for Implementation Success: Phase 2
Fair Futures Example Organizational Charts
Fair Futures Staff Screening & Hiring Toolkit
Download the Fair Futures Coach Job Description Template
Fair Futures Trainings
Recommended Recruitment, Intake, and Enrollment Pathways Flow Chart
Recommended/Best Practice Process For When a Young Person Does Not Engage with Their Coach
Coaching Tools
First 90 Days of Coaching
Creating a Coaching Agreement
First School Visit
How to Structure a Coaching Conversation
Recommended/Best Practice Process For When a Young Person Does Not Engage with Their Coach
The Value of Coaching and the 4 Ps
The Day in the Life of a Coach
Tips for Coaching During Stressful Times
Best Practices and Tips: Helping Young People Re-engage and/or Re-enroll in High School
Elementary School (K-5) Materials
Advocates for Children Virtual Binder (Education Resources for Foster Care Agencies)
K-12 Educational Advocacy Manual
DOE Escalations
Middle School Selection Guide
Conducting Effective School Visits
Special Education Process & Timeline
Section 504 Guide
Special Education Consent Chart
IEP Red Flags
IEP Meeting Checklist
Bullying Fact Sheet
ACS FERPA Letter (School Records Request Letter)
FERPA Form for Parent/Youth Authorization (Release of Educational Records Authorization (for youth not in care))
Middle School & High School Education Tools
K-12 Educational Advocacy Manual
Middle School Selection Guide
High School Selection Guide
Conducting Effective School Visits
Supporting Students with Promotion in Doubt (PID) Status
Best Practices and Tips: Helping Young People Re-engage and/or Re-enroll in High School
Summary of Graduation Requirement Changes Due to Covid
High School Promotion and Graduation Requirements
High School Graduation Checklist
High School Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities
High School Graduation Requirements for English Language Learners (ELLs)
Guide to Transition Services & College Planning: Helping Students with Disabilities Move from School to Adulthood
Conducting Effective School Visits
Info on the new GED
Rocking the GED
DOE Escalations
DOE Course Codes & Class Terms
Best Practices and Tips: Helping Young People Re-engage and/or Re-enroll in High School
Alternative High School Selection and Application Guide
Alternative Middle and High School Options
Rocking the GED
NYSED GED Information
Info on the new GED
DOE Pathways to Graduation (GED Programs)
Applying for ACCES-VR
Transfer Schools / YABC Flyers and Information
Transfer School Admissions Criteria & Guide
Restart Academy
Non-DOE Programs for HSE
Special Education Process & Timeline
K-12 Educational Advocacy Manual
Special Education Consent Chart
IEP Red Flags
IEP Meeting Checklist
Section 504 Guide
DOE Escalations
What to Ask During a School Visit for Students with IEPs
Guide to Transition Services & College Planning: Helping Students with Disabilities Move from School to Adulthood
AFC Virtual Binder (Downloadable PDF)
AFC Virtual Binder: School Stability and Enrollment
AFC Virtual Binder: Resources
Best Practices and Tips: Helping Young People Re-engage and/or Re-enroll in High School
Info on the new GED
ACS FERPA Letter (School Records Request Letter)
FERPA Form for Parent/Youth Authorization (Release of Educational Records Authorization (for youth not in care))
Requesting School Transfers Tool
Guide for Court-Involved Students
Bullying Factsheet
LGBTQ Student Guide
(Google Drive Folder)
College Tools
College Exposure, Planning, Enrollment and Persistence Flow Chart
College Planning for Students with Disabilities
College Planning & Preparation Timeline For High Schoolers
Guide to Transition Services & College Planning: Helping Students with Disabilities Move from School to Adulthood
Selecting a Best-Fit College
College Choice Program Summary
Applying to CUNY Tip Sheet
Applying to SUNY Tip Sheet
Placing out of Remedial Courses at CUNY
College Choice Program
Tips for Completing FAFSA and TAP
Educational and Training Vouchers
School-Based Aid and Outside Scholarships
Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) Funding
Financial Aid for Undocumented Students
New York State DREAM Act
College Persistence Checklist
College Budget Tools
College Persistence During COVID Tips | Part 1 (October 2020)
College Persistence During COVID Tips | Part 2 (November 2020)
College Persistence During COVID Looking Ahead | Part 3 (May 2021)
Tips for Getting Ready for the Fall (August 2021)
College Persistence: Preparing for the Spring Semester (January 2022)
College Persistence: The End of the Semester (April 2022)
College Persistence: Summer: The Shortest Season (June 2022)
College Persistence Series: College Choice and Starting the Semester Strong (August 2022)
College Persistence Series: Mid-Semester and College Advising (October 2022)
Pell Grant Return Calculator
Career Development Tools
Links to Our Favorite Career Exploration Tools
Career Exploration - Unique Approaches for Real Results
Online Career Test
Housing & Independent Living
Applying to and Obtaining a NYCHA apartment
Youth Consent to NYCHA Advocacy
APPLA Certification Letter
APPLA NYCHA Employment Letter
Memorandum of Attestation
Applying to and Obtaining Supportive Housing: NY/NY3
NY/NY 3 Housing Providers
Applying to and Obtaining Supportive Housing: NYC 15
NYC 15 Housing Providers
Applying to and Obtaining Supportive Permanent Housing – Harlem Dowling
McLaughlin Supportive Housing Residence
Applying Directly to Section 8 from Foster Care
Transitioning to Permanent Housing - Using a Portable Section 8 Voucher
Transitioning to Permanent Housing - NYC Affordable Housing Lottery
Transitioning to Permanent Housing - Fair Futures Manual
Transitioning to Permanent Housing - Using a Portable Section 8 Voucher
Workshop Wednesday - Breaking Barriers: Helping older youth transition into permanent housing
Home Goods Checklist
Building Independent Living Skills
Independent Living Budget Tool
Maintaining Housing Presentation | May 2022
Building Independent Living Skills | Fair Futures Manual
Mental Health Tools
