1. How many total clients are currently in the program?

There are seven (7) young adults enrolled in the Roots & Wings program. The organization has identified fourteen other young adults as candidates for the program. They will remain on the waiting list until the organization can secure funding for their support.

2. How many clients have gone through the program?

The program has assisted 23 young adults.

3. What constitutes "safe housing"?

The Roots & Wings organization has defined safe housing as apartments in low-crime,
residential neighborhoods. The apartments cannot be located near bars, nightclubs or
other establishments that are deemed inappropriate. At present a majority of the
apartments are located in Randolph and Boonton. These locations are safe and have the
added benefit of being located near the County College of Morris (CCM) where most of
our clients attend school.

4. Safe Housing Cost of $15,000....how is that paid (directly to the landlord?)

Roots & Wings leases the apartments and pays the landlords directly. Our apartments
are covered under a general liability insurance policy.

5. How are financial needs paid for (direct to the child or to the creditors)?

Roots & Wings directly pays for the apartment, utility bills, and a phone line. No funds
are directly given to the clients. The clients receive income from their employers and
minimal income from the state. Our caseworkers and mentors work with each client to
establish a budget to pay for all other expenses such as a car, car insurance, gas, food,
clothing, toiletries, school supplies, etc.

6. What exactly does a caseworker do?

The Program Director and Client Advocate (or caseworker) responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Advocate for the client.
• Meet with clients weekly at a minimum to work on life skill assignments, set
goals and discuss issues and needs.
• Administer random drug tests at a minimum of three (3) times per year, or as
deemed necessary.
• Provide transportation for work, school, medical, and financial meetings.
• Distribute food from the Interfaith Food Pantry.
• Accompany clients to court dates, ER/doctor appointments, apartment
hunting, school appointments, etc.
• Organize and plan special occasions such as birthdays and graduations.
• Maintain detailed documentation on each client.
• Monitor client progression against contract timelines and treatment plans.
Finances:
• Monitor finances against budgetary plans to include debt reduction, creation
of emergency funds, and savings for short and long term needs.
• Coordinate financial plans with client’s mentor.
• Ensure that each client applies and follows through on all available county,
state, and federal services.
• Assist clients in applying and following through on all available educational
grants and applications.
Housing:
• Maintain apartment keys in case of emergencies.
• Check apartments once per week during the first six-month period and once
per month thereafter or if there is a reason for concern.

7. Director of Program? What is that? How is that different from your Executive Director?

An Executive Director oversees the entire operations of an organization including administrative, financial (fundraising), public relations, and program direction. Currently, all Executive Director functions are performed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees.

The Program Director is solely responsible for the administrative and overall functioning of the program in which the children are enrolled. The Roots & Wings Program Director manages the delivery of the program which includes: meeting with each client weekly, client intake process, each client’s personal development plan, the caseworkers, and the mentors.

8. What about food allowance?

The clients are enrolled in the Interfaith Food Pantry program where our caseworkers pick up and distribute the groceries to each client.

9. Are these clients working? Going to school? Both?

The clients are required to both work and go to school to remain in our program. The
primary objective is for each client to obtain a post-secondary education. Funding in a large part provides housing support so they can concentrate on their education, job training and counseling without the fear and desperation of becoming homeless.

10. How do you know if someone is "drug free"?

Clients are administered a spectrum drug test at least three (3) times per year, or as
deemed necessary by the caseworkers.

11. How exactly are these clients monitored?

The clients meet with the Program Director, their caseworkers and their mentors at least once per week. Regular telephone communication also occurs due to the close personal relationships the clients have developed with their mentors and staff. Phone calls not returned within a 24-hour period result in a home visit. The Program Director and caseworkers also visit client apartments regularly and randomly unannounced.

12. What type of track record does your organization have?

Success is measured on an individual client basis. Society’s belief system in how success is measured differs from the small accomplishments we achieve with our clients. We often measure success on what does not happen. To demonstrate the plight of these children, a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin in 1998 reported that within 12 to 18 months after youths are closed out of the child welfare system:

•37% have not finished high school,
•50% are unemployed,
•27% of the males and 10% of the females are incarcerated,
•19% of the females have given birth,
•10% have been raped,
•26% of the males have been beaten or seriously injured in accidents.

We have defied the statistical odds with the clients enrolled in the program. The
majority of our clients have finished high school or are working to obtain a high school diploma, the high school graduates have entered a post-secondary course of study, are gainfully employed, have not been incarcerated, and have not given birth, been raped, or injured.

We also measure our clients against individual personal development plans. Six-month plans are put in place for each of our clients that address education, employment, financial planning, counseling, and life skills training. Our history has shown that constant attention to these individualized plans gives our clients the tools they need to become self-sufficient adults.

13. How are clients chosen for the program?

In order to be considered for the program, the potential client must:

• Have been a foster child in the welfare system
• Be 18-21 years of age
• Be drug free
• Be willing to live in Morris County (a restriction due to our large volunteer
base in Morris County)
• Agree to maintain a job and pursue a secondary education

Clients are recommended to us from various sources such as DYFS, Hope House, and children’s homes. Once a client has been referred to the program our client intake process begins.

This assessment is determined by extensive interviewing of the adult references in the candidate’s life such as DYFS workers, teachers, foster families, and therapists as well as the candidate.

14. Is there follow up after the program?

When there is willingness on behalf of the clients, their mentors remain in contact.

15. Does Roots & Wings own any of the "safe houses”?

No. Roots & Wings does not own any housing units. The purchase of a multi-family
home is an integral part of the foundation’s long term goals.

16. What type of time limit do you give them to find a job or get into school before moving them out of the program?

Obtaining employment and enrolling in a post-secondary course of study is mandatory to remain in the program. This is typically accomplished within the first three months following a client’s acceptance into the program.

17. Do the clients meet in your offices with the caseworker...or is it "in home"?

The caseworkers normally meet with their clients in the client’s apartments.