The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Youth Transitioning Into Adulthood, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Former foster youth between 18 and 24 years.

Rising Tide Communities, developed by Orangewood Children's Foundation, is a transitional housing program. The program provides a range of options for former foster youth, which include housing, employment assistance, transportation assistance, ongoing training in day-to-day life skills, counseling, mentoring, and spiritual life development. Rising Tide Communities is an intermediate step between dependency on the foster care system and independent living.

• The Orangewood Children's Foundation runs the Rising Tide Communities program. The Rising Tide Communities, a transitional housing program, is one of many programs at the Orangewood Children's Foundation designed to serve the emancipating youth population (i.e., the Independent Living Program, scholarships, drop-in center, Independent Living Coaches, youth leadership opportunities, etc.)
• The Rising Tide Communities program offers low-income housing for emancipated foster youth and strives to assist each of the youth in developing the tools they need for living independently. Case managers work with each youth individually to help them develop a unique plan for their future.The pursuit of higher education is encouraged. The community (mentors, staff, and volunteers) supports the youth in their search for meaningful and livable-wage employment.
• The youth participant sets goals with a live-in case manager and meets weekly with the case manager to go over progress made on the goals. These goals include, but may not be limited to, finances, education, employment and career. Goals are re-evaluated formally on a quarterly basis.
• The youth participant is required to attend community building activities such as community groups twice a month, life skills training once a month, and retreats semi-annually.
• The youth is matched with a mentor who becomes part of the team that supports him/her in working on his/her goals.
• There is a voluntary spiritual-life component available to the youth. Community members (staff, mentors, or volunteers) plan activities for the youth that range from spending time with youth at meetings to taking them to the mountains for the day.
• This program is privately funded which allows the staff the ability to determine the length of stay for each youth.
• The Orangewood Children's Foundation owns two apartment complexes that house up to 30 emancipated youth between the two complexes.

Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Emancipating from the foster care system.

Age range: 18 – 24

Developmental Delays:

This program was not developed for children with developmental delays, and has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood was not designed with a parent/caregiver component.

Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

Twice a week contact for at least the first 3 months, then weekly contact for the duration of their stay.

Recommended Duration:

Youth reside in the transitional housing around 18 months. Contact sessions run 1-3 hours, depending on need.

Not Specified

This program does not include a homework component.

Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Housing for youth
• Office space for case managers

A combination of experience and education in the field of social work is required.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Linda Levshin
  Orangewood Children's Foundation
  llevshin@orangewoodfoundation.org
  phone: (714) 619-0239

Training is obtained:

Via phone consultation.

Number of days/hours:

Informal training/consultation is available to those who are interested.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood.

No reference materials are currently available for Rising Tide Communities - Orangewood.