Summit Summit County County Children Children Services Services

Independent Independent Living Living

ProgramProgram

“Life on your own, but not

alone”

Independent Living Independent Living ProgramProgram

At age 16: Youth will be referred to the Independent Living Program by their worker, using current referral process

Youth will be assigned to an Independent Living Specialist according to their age

Youth will participate in one 10 week module at age 16. and one 10 week module at age 17, with the tenth week being a celebration.

Independent Living Specialist will assist assigned case workers as needed and requested with case related duties (i.e.... job search, home visits, housing applications, resume, college applications/forms, etc..)

Independent Living Program Independent Living Program continued…continued…

Group modules will be offered quarterly Group modules are mandatory for all

youth age 16 and over (unless receiving services through a paid provider)

16 youth will be scheduled to attend each module (module #1 and module #2)

Youth, foster parent, and social worker will be notified by mail letting them know when their module is scheduled to begin.

Independent Living Specialist will be responsible for maintaining accurate attendance for all modules

Youth may make up missed modules within the following two quarters to successfully complete the module

Independent Living Program Independent Living Program continued…continued…

Youth, foster parent, and social worker will be notified by mail at the conclusion of each module informing them of missed sessions which will need to be made up the following quarter.

A teaching model will be utilized including weekly homework assignments. The 16yo module will complete homework in group at the end of each session.

The 17yo group will be given the homework at each group session and the youth will be responsible for turning it in the following week.

Youth may attend monthly open group sessions (alumni support group)

Monthly bus passes will be provided to youth if needed by Independent Living Specialist

2 Independent Living Program 2 Independent Living Program SpecialistsSpecialists

Each Independent Living Specialist will conduct a home visit to discuss IL issues and complete the “my plan” during the course of the module.

Youth age 16 will be assigned to the 16 yo specialist youth age 17 will be assigned to the 17 yo specialist,

The Independent Living Specialist will complete the Independent Living screens in SACWIS once the youth completes the independent living assessment.

The ongoing social worker needs to add the service category (independent living) so the services may be linked. The IL specialist will schedule a meeting with the ongoing worker when completing the IL plan.

The Independent Living Specialist will attend all scheduled Team Decision Meetings (ETDM)

Pre-Assessments will remain a function of The Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program will provide the youth with a resource guide at the completion of module #2

Sample letter to be mailedSample letter to be mailed Date, 2010

SCCS Youth Name

123 Street

Akron, Ohio

Re:  Independent Living Program

Dear Youth:

Congratulations!

You have been selected to participate in the next Independent Living group module.  This means you will have the opportunity to learn valuable life skills that will help you transition to adulthood. You will participate by attending ten (10) weeks of group learning and activities along with completion of nine ( 9) homework assignments.  The group modules will cover a variety of skill building and self-sufficiency topics designed to prepare you for your emancipation which include but are not limited to: Interview skills, employment, budgeting, banking and decision making.  These topics will be presented by guest speakers and your Independent Living Program Specialist. 

In addition, you will receive a monetary stipend for completion of the ten (10)) group modules along with nine(9) homework assignments.  This stipend will go into an Independent Living Program savings account and will be payable to you at the completion of the group modules and upon your emancipation to be determined with your Independent Living Program Specialist.

In order to participate in the program, you should attend the initial session/group orientation.  This initial session/group orientation is scheduled for “day of the week”, “month/day/year”, at ____ p.m. and will end at ____ p.m.  The Hunsicker Room is where groups will be held on every “day of the week” from _____ p.m. to _____ p.m.  Groups will begin on “month/day/year” and run through “month/day/year”.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact ___________, Independent Living Program Specialist, at (330)__________.

Sincerely,

_______________________________

Independent Living Program Specialist

Independent Living/Teen Permanency

___/slm

cc:  foster parent

cc:  assigned social worker

Life Skills Group Life Skills Group CurriculumCurriculum OrientationEmployment/Career PlanningBudget/BankingHousingHealth Education/Risk PreventionHealth Education/Risk PreventionMedical/Risk PreventionFamily Support/Healthy RelationshipsEducation/Financial Aid

Assistance/Community ResourcesCelebration

Payment for GroupsPayment for Groups

After completing module 1, the youth will receive $250 and after completing module 2 the youth will receive $500 which totals $750..00

Youth will sign a contract at the start of each module Youth will be paid 25.00 per session or homework (if out of county) for

attending the 16 yo session and 50.00 per session or homework (if out of county) for the 17 yo session.

Funds will be deposited into an agency maintained Independent Living savings account for each youth

Each youth must develop a written plan with their Independent Living Specialist stating how their money will be spent and why it is needed prior to receiving their funds.

Allocation and disbursement of the youth’s funds will be decided on a case by case basis by their Independent Living Specialist and supervisor upon emancipation

Week 1: Week 1: Independent Living Program Independent Living Program OrientationOrientation

(Age 16) Rules/

expectations Philosophy of

the program Sign ILP

Contract Ice Breaker The Human

Knot Value exercise Discuss

homework and handouts

(Age 17) Rules/

expectations Sign ILP

Contract Ice Breaker The Human

Knot 5 things about

self What do you

need help with to finalize your emancipation plan?

Discuss homework and handouts

Week 2: Week 2: Independent Living Program Independent Living Program Employment/ Career PlanningEmployment/ Career Planning

(Age 16) Mock Interviews Complete sample

job applications Discuss work

permit Referral to YEOW

program Discuss Job

searching Discuss vocabulary

use for interviews Discuss how to

dress Discuss homework

and handouts

(Age 17) Create a Resume Mock Interviews Complete job

applications to be turned in

Discuss work permit

Referral to YEOW if needed

Discuss how to dress

Refer to Job Center if needed

Discuss homework and handouts

Week 3: Week 3: Independent Living Program Independent Living Program Banking & BudgetingBanking & Budgeting

(Age 16) Discuss opening a

bank account Balancing a checkbook Writing Checks Writing Money Orders Discuss personal credit Discuss overdraft fees Discuss homework and

handouts

(Age 17) Discuss credit card,

charge card, & debit cards

Develop a personal budget

Discuss taxes Discuss credit and

credit bureaus Discuss smart

shopping Discuss homework

and handouts

Week 4: Week 4: Independent Living Program Independent Living Program

HousingHousing

(Age16) Fill out a sample renter’s

lease agreement Discuss housing options

(AMHA, Subsidized, Horizon House, HM Life, college dorm, Job Corp., etc.)

Discuss landlord and tenant rights

Discuss renter’s insurance Discuss evictions Discuss cost of living Discuss homework and

handouts

(Age 17) Apartment Searches

(newspaper, internet, etc.) Fill out a sample lease

agreement Discuss housing options

(AMHA, Subsidized, Horizon House, HM Life, college dorm, Job Corp., etc.)

Finalize housing plans and options for emancipation

Create an A,B and C housing plan

Discuss homework and handouts

Week 5: Week 5: Independent Living Independent Living Program Program Health Edu. & Risk PreventionHealth Edu. & Risk Prevention

(Age 16)Discuss STD’sDiscuss pregnancy

preventionPlanned ParenthoodDiscuss homework

and handouts

(Age 17)How to obtain a

primary doctor when out of custody

Regular doctor visitsDiscuss Price

comparisonDiscuss Grocery

shoppingDiscuss food pyramidDiscuss homework

and handouts

Week 6:Independent Living Program Health Edu. & Risk Preven Continued…… (Age 16)Discuss STD’sDiscuss

pregnancy prevention

Planned Parenthood

Discuss homework and handouts

(Age 17)

Regular doctor visits

Discuss homework and handouts

How to obtain a primary doctor out of custody

Discuss Pregnancy prevention

Discuss STD’s

Week 7: Week 7: Independent Living ProgramIndependent Living Program Drug & Alcohol Prevention/medical Drug & Alcohol Prevention/medical

(Age 16) Side effects of drug use Where to go to get help Akron Health

Department Discuss homework and

handouts

(Age 17) Where to go to get help Scheduling doctor

appointments Discuss application for

medical card after emancipation

Discuss “Life on your own, but not alone” cards

Discuss homework and handouts

Week 8: Week 8: Independent Living ProgramIndependent Living Program Family Support/RelationshipsFamily Support/Relationships

(Age 16) Discuss teen dating Discuss violence

prevention Ways to reconnect

with your family Discuss homework

and handouts

(Age 17) Discuss healthy dating Warning signs of

violent relationships Healthy family

relationships Ways to reconnect with

your family Grocery shopping

Week 9: Week 9: Independent Living Program Independent Living Program

Edu./Financial Aid AssistanceEdu./Financial Aid Assistance (Age 16)

Discuss FAFSA Discuss ETV Discuss future education

plans and options Discuss SAT or ACT

registration Look for college

scholarships Discuss community

resources

(Age 17) Fill out FAFSA Fill out ETV Fill out applications

for college, Trade schools, Tech Schools, etc..

Discuss SAT/ACT registration

College visits Woman’s Auxiliary

Board Scholarship Discuss community

resources

Week 10: CelebrationRe-cap of sessions covered in

groupCompletion of module CertificateCover My Plan and what may be

needed or added

Youth not attending ILP Group modules Youth not attending group module sessions Youth who do not attend the module session will be visited by an

independent living specialist who will provide the youth with an independent living package.

The package will contain the homework assignments from the module that has been missed. The youth will complete the homework and make sure they are turned into independent living specialist. Once the homework is turned in the independent living specialist will make another visit with the youth and sit down and go over homework with youth and staff at placement and come up IL skills the youth can work on while in placement. The independent living specialist will also during this time assist and guide the youth in the creation of the My Plan.

During this time between modules the independent living specialist will also make sure the ILP assessments are completed on the youth in a timely manner, create or add information to the ILP plans and talk with ongoing social worker and get input as to what is needed for youth in their ILP plan. The independent living specialist will also make sure that the ongoing social workers are aware that (independent living) needs added as a services category so the independent living social worker can link the services.

The independent living specialist can also assist with the youth’s educational needs, possible placements, job searches, resumes and appropriate referrals to agencies that can provide the services that a particular youth may need when it comes to teenage issues or services..

Thank You, Any Thank You, Any Questions?Questions?

“Life on your own, but not alone”