Independent Living Program
Youth in foster placement who receive state or federal foster care funds are considered eligible for services during the time they are in placement and after emancipation from the system. A young person may be referred to ILP by social workers, probation officers, foster parents, other county ILP coordinators or by self-referral. A social worker is assigned to each participant in ILP for case management. The social worker meets with the ILP eligible youth to develop a Transitional Independent Living Skill plan.
Services are based on need and availability of funding. For a youth to be eligible for services in the Independent Living Program, the youth must meet the California Department of Social Services guidelines for eligibility. Youth shall be eligible for ILP services up to their 21st birthday provided one of the following guidelines for eligibility is met:
- Youth was/is in foster care at any time from their 16th to their 19th birthday
- Youth was/is 16 years of age up to 18 years of age and in receipt of the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (KinGap)
Incentives
Foster youth will have the opportunity to earn cash incentives and household items. This incentive program may vary from year-to-year depending on the budget and number of participants.
Extended Foster Care
The goal of Extended Foster Care (AB12) is to assist foster youth in maintaining a safety net of support while experiencing independence in a secure and supervised living environment. The extended time as a non-minor dependent can assist the youth in becoming better prepared for successful transition into adulthood and self-sufficiency through education and employment training.