Quick Facts: Vermont
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 71% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 58% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 76% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 33% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 78% of metrics met
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Systems: 72% of metrics met
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Environment: 41% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 66
State Ranking 2022: 11
2022 Score
2021 Score
66
56
Vermont Highlights
Some areas where Vermont has moved the needle relative to other states include providing unaccompanied youth opportunities to seek legal independence and protecting the rights of LGBTQ youth within key state programs.
Law & Policy
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The state allows youth in foster care to access extended foster care services to age 22 under any circumstances and allows youth who have exited the foster care system after 16 to re-enter care until age 22.
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Unaccompanied youth under 18 years of age can apply for health insurance coverage without parental consent.
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Truant youth are not classified as a status offenders or delinquents.
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The state allows shelters to take in youth experiencing homelessness with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness that contains a youth an LGBTQ+ specific strategy component.
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There is a state interagency council on homelessness.
Environment
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There is a state-level Youth Action Board of youth with lived experience of homelessness who inform state policymaking on youth homelessness.
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare and juvenile justice programs.
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The state has banned conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Green Mountain State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Enact and fund a state law similar to the federal RHYA to provide key intervention and emergency services for youth experiencing homelessness.
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The state should explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
Systems
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
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Remove barriers to obtaining a state-issued identification cards, including parental consent and proof of residency requirements.
Environment
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Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
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The state should establish protected class status based on one's sexual orientation and gender identity for runaway and homeless youth programs.