LINKS

The Forsyth County DSS LINKS program provides outcome-based services for adolescents ages 13-17 currently in foster care and/or young adults participating in Foster Care 18-21 Services to increase their capacity to become self-sufficient adults and achieve positive outcomes.

LINKS aims to assist young adults in eight outcomes established by North Carolina. These outcomes are:

• Outcome #1: Youth has Sufficient Economic Resources to Meet Daily Living Needs
• Outcome #2: Youth has a Safe and Stable Place to Live
• Outcome #3: Youth is Attaining or has Attained Academic or Vocational Educational Goals in Keeping with His/Her Interests or Abilities
• Outcome #4: Youth has Connections to a Positive Personal Support System
• Outcome #5: Youth is Avoiding Illegal / High-Risk Behaviors
• Outcome #6: Youth is Postponing Parenthood until Financially and Emotionally Capable of Parenting
• Outcome #7: Youth has Access to Physical, Dental, and Mental Health Services
• Outcome#8: Youth leaving the foster care system shall have regular, ongoing, opportunities to engage in age and/or developmentally appropriate activities

In achieving these outcomes, the FCDSS LINKS program also partners with trauma-informed community providers to collaborate on identifying resources and programs to achieve these goals.