Chapter 5 : Section 35

National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)

Policy

The Department shall ensure data collection and documentation is completed per the requirements of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-169) as incorporated in the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C § 677 and amended in the Federal regulations at 45 CFR 1356.

National Youth in Transition Database requires data collection on three separate and distinct populations: the Served Population, the Baseline Population, and the Follow-up Population.

The Served Population consists of any youth receiving at least one formal or informal independent living service paid for or provided by the State agency.

The Baseline Population consists of all youth in foster care as defined by 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1355.20 any time between their 17th birthday and the 45 days following their birthday.

The Follow-up Population for Arizona includes all youth who reach their 19th or 21st birthday in a Federal Fiscal Year and who have participated in data collection as part of the baseline Population.

Procedures

NYTD Served Population

The Department shall collect and document information for youth age 14-21 regarding independent living services provided or paid for by the Department semi-annually in accordance with federal reporting guidelines. The six-month reporting periods are from October 1 to March 31 (Reporting Period A) and April 1 to September 30 (Reporting Period B).

A youth age 14-21 is in the served population if the youth received at least one independent living service paid for or provided by the Department during the reporting period. This includes formal and informal services.

An independent living service is considered provided by the Department if it is delivered by DCS staff or an agent of the State, including a foster parent, group home staff, child care institution staff or the service is provided pursuant to a contract between the DCS and a provider, agency or any other entity regardless of whether the contract includes funding for the particular service.
Independent Living Services that are not paid for or provided by the Department, such as behavioral health services or non-contracted providers, are reflected as “no” on the Served data reported to the Federal Government.

Independent Living Service categories require support and services by the assigned DCS Specialist. See NYTD Reference Guide and NYTD Services Matrix.

NYTD Outcome Survey

The Department shall ensure that the NYTD survey is administered to eligible youth in the baseline and follow-up populations. The NYTD survey will be completed for the eligible youth in care by the designated NYTD contractor. The DCS Specialist will administer or facilitate the completion of the NYTD survey for eligible youth as needed. Eligible youth are determined by cohort year as defined by 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1355.20.

Caregivers will assist in facilitating the completion of the survey between the youth and the NYTD contractor.

Collecting Information on the Baseline Population:

Arizona reports baseline population information only during the identified cohort year for all youth in the baseline population, as defined by 45 CFR 1355.20, which is limited to youth who are in foster care who turn 17 years of age during the identified cohort year.

For each youth in the baseline population, the Department must collect outcomes information during a year in which baseline data are due.

For each youth in foster care who turns age 17 in FFY 2011, the Department must collect this information within 45 days following the youth's 17th birthday, but not before that birthday.
Every third FFY thereafter, the Department must collect this information on each youth in foster care who turns age 17 during the year within 45 days following the youth's 17th birthday, but not before that birthday.
The Department must collect this information using the NYTD Survey.

Collecting Information on the Follow-Up Population:

The Department reports information on all youth in the follow-up population.

The follow-up population is comprised of youth who reach their 19th or 21st birthday and have participated in data collection as part of the baseline population. For each youth in the follow-up population, the Department must collect outcomes data during the reporting period of the youth’s 19th and 21st birthday. See NYTD Training Reference Guide.

Documentation

The assigned DCS Specialist will document the youth served by completing the Finance NYTD Services and NYTD Services tab in Guardian semi-annually in accordance with federal report period guidelines. The six month report periods are from October 1 to March 31 (Reporting Period “A”) and April 1 to September 30 (Reporting Period “B”).

Independent Living Services that are not paid for or provided by The Department shall still be documented in the electronic record, but are reflected as “no” on the served data reported to the Federal Government.

The NYTD Survey shall be maintained by the NYTD contractor or other designee as determined by the Department of Child Safety.