The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 permanently authorized the Independent Living Program (ILP) which offers training, services and programs to assist current and former foster youth achieve self-sufficiency prior to and after leaving the foster care system. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-169), amended Section 477 of the Social Security Act providing more flexibility in the use of ILP funding (see 42 USC 677).
In California, County Welfare Departments have the flexibility to design services to meet a wide range of individual needs and circumstances for current and former foster youth. Every California County operates an ILP. Youth participation is voluntary. Overwhelming evidence supports the fact that youth leaving foster care are in need of greater support as they transition into adulthood. Foster youth nationwide are found to have an increased likelihood of early parenting, instability in relationships, not graduating from high school, lower school performance, increased health and mental health concerns, homelessness, incarceration, substance abuse, and a higher rate of unemployment.
In September 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law Assembly Bill 12, the California Fostering Connections to Success Act. AB12 took effect on January 1, 2012 and allows young adults to be provided transitional support to age 21 and ensure that they are given the necessary skills to survive on their own. A young adult must be in a high school or a GED program, enrolled in a college or vocational program, employed at least 80 hours per month, participating in a program designed to remove barriers to employment, or unable to work/attend school because of a medical condition. The young adult must also live in an approved placement and sign a mutual agreement with their case worker, Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP). With this legislation, young adults will receive the support of the foster care system to age 21, extending the time to work with young adults in foster care with more parity in assistance provided to children from intact families.
For the past twenty nine years, the Children and Family Services Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department has provided services through the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP). This program educates and supports youth in a wide variety of areas designed to inspire a successful transition to adulthood, and empowers foster youth to become responsible adults. Staff working in the program are Contra Costa County employees. Under the direction of a Program Coordinator and an Assistant Coordinator, the five program specialists continue to provide services to Contra Costa County foster youth, out of county youth and probation youth, while embracing the CCC CFS ILSP Vision statement:
“Our vision is to move every youth from stagnation to motivation, from limitations to possibilities; from dependency to self-sufficiency; from the past to the future.”
As a result of their successful approach and accomplishments, Contra Costa County CFS Independent Living Skills Program has received recognition throughout the State of California and nation for its performance and youth services. The program continues to emphasize and promote positive youth development to support young people in developing a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and empowerment. ILSP is funded by the federal Title IV-E and state dollars.
ILSP offers a variety of skill building trainings and youth engagement activities to promote self-sufficiency in foster youth. Development activities and programs include, but are not limited to, employment preparation, vocational training support, education resources, financial literacy and housing assistance. ILSP spotlights four core areas called the Four Pillars when providing hands-on, experiential learning experiences. The Four Pillars consist of Education, Employment, Housing and Well Being. Workshops and events are provided in the East, West, and Central parts of the county to attract more youth participation and to provide a shorter travel distance for care providers and youth attending weekly workshops and events.
This past fiscal year, six hundred and forty (640) current and former foster youth were served both individually and in group settings (i.e. workshops, classes, etc.), one hundred and fifty nine (159) of these youth are deemed “Non-Minor Dependents,” and have chosen to remain in foster care under Assembly Bill 12.
ILSP Pillar - Housing
ILSP provide workshops to youth in all areas of housing. The workshops cover topics such as:
- How to look for affordable safe housing
- Options for housing, including transitional housing programs
- Tenant rights and responsibilities
- How to get along with roommates
- Completing rental applications and securing deposits
- Differences between renting, leasing and owning
- Transitional Housing Programs and options
- Avoiding scams, starting up utilities
Housing continues to be a significant challenge for young adults as they emancipate. There is an increase in need for housing to serve those young adults opting out of extended foster care and for those youth who have their AB12 services terminated due to non-compliance prior to age 21.
ILSP maintains its efforts to develop alternative to THP housing options in the community through collaborations with community based organizations, faith based organizations and individual citizens whom are willing to offer support (i.e. room for rent). The constant goal in this area is to develop more permanent housing options for foster youth. ILSP has established connections with the Housing Authority and receives Section 8 lists when they become available so that ILSP participants can apply. ILSP staff assists youth in applying for these opportunities. Housing opportunities and Section 8 Openings are posted on the ILSP website and Facebook pages and sent to youth and social workers via email.
Contra Costa County continues to coordinate services from multiple transitional housing programs and resources. ILSP has established specialized relationships and collaborations with the following agencies to provide a seamless transition upon emancipation from foster care:
- East County Faith-Based Resources. ECFBR offers full kitchen kits to youth moving into their own apartments. Each youth receives a pot and pan set, kitchen utensils, kitchen towels, pot holders, knife block, silverware, 20 piece dish set.
- Interfaith Coalition. This program provides gently used furniture to young adults within ILSP who are moving into their own house or apartment. Youth apply through ILSP and ILSP helps deliver the furniture to the youth.
- Safe Time (Host Home NMDs). This program has host homes that have provided temporary housing to ILSPs non-minor dependents (NMD) and emancipated youth who are at risk of homelessness or are experiencing homelessness.NMDs/emancipated youth must be sober and able to pass a background check.They guest with a family at no cost for a small number of months until a more permanent housing solution is established.
- Uplift Family Services (THPP, THP+FC). Uplift is a scattered-site housing program with over 50 furnished apartments that house THPP program (16-17.9 yrs.) and THP+FC (18-21) participants. They have 5 on-site monitors who meet with youth weekly (THPP, THP+FC, THP Plus) and check in on them daily (only THPP). Youth are assisted in learning life skills necessary to live independently in an apartment setting. They learn money management, cooking, shopping smart and bill paying techniques. They also assist youth in learning how to resolve roommate problems. They are unique in that they have a Tier 2 in their THP+FC program with a flexible roommate option and one bedroom unit option.
- First Place for Youth (THP+FC, THP Plus). FPFY is a scattered-site housing program that has a THPP program as well as a THP+FC and a limited THP Plus program (24 month program for emancipated youth over 18).They employ youth advocates who work with youth weekly in the areas of employment, education, housing and healthy living while they are residing within their program.They conduct roommate meetings to discuss any issues between participants.
- Lutheran Social Services (THP+FC, THP Plus). LSS has a single-site housing program located in Concord, CA. They have a single-site THP Plus home that houses 6 emancipated foster youth (18-24 yrs.) They have an on-site monitor at the home who meets with youth regularly. They assist youth in meeting their goals in employment, education, and housing.
- EA Family Services (formerly Environmental Alternatives) (THP+FC). For youth to be referred to this program they must have the highest level of independence.Youth find their own apartments with assistance from EA that meet with the EA standards.The youth’s name is on the lease so that they can take over the apartment fully upon attaining the age of 21 if they so desire.The youth has a social worker who meets with them weekly or bi-weekly depending on the youth’s schedule and need.Youth are responsible to pay their own rent and utilities with the stipend provided by the program.Youth learn to budget and save money, how to handle landlord/tenant issues, how to apply for apartments, how to search for resources.Youth can live with another eligible youth or with a roommate of their choosing providing they can pass the mandatory background check and provide verification of their ability to share equally in maintenance of the rent, utilities, etc.
- Pomona Apartments (THP Plus Program). Pomona Apartments in Crockett is a 24 month transitional living program for homeless youth ages 18-24, including those exiting foster care, who need mental health services and support as they transition into adulthood. Pomona Apartments is on a large property with small bungalows. Up to 8 residents receive guidance and support from a personal service coordination team that prepares each youth in their movement towards wellness and greater self-sufficiency.
- Appian House (THP Plus Program). Appian House is a 6 bed transitional living program for foster youth who have emancipated from the foster care system. Youth ages 18 through 21 are eligible for entry into the program and may stay 18 to 24 months. Staffed 24 hours a day, residents are provided guidance and support to develop life skills, to address their health needs, and sustain long-term housing. They team with BH Mental Health, Eastbay Works, and Richmond Works.
ILSP pillar- Employment
ILSP has provided support and training to all eligible foster youth in the following areas: Where and how to find employment, on-line application processes, resume and cover letter writing, soft skill mastery, understanding employment terms and laws, how to ace the interview, dress for success, how to leave your job on a positive note. We assist youth one on one in creating resumes and cover letters or updating current resumes. ILSP has been partnering with the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County to deliver employment services to eligible foster youth through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. ILSP refers youth to participate in the Earn and Learn Summer Employment Program.
ILSP has established specialized relationships and collaborations with the following agencies to provide a seamless transition upon emancipation from foster care:
- Community Health Care District. The East County Youth in Transition Committee comprised of Uplift Family Services, The Contra Costa County Office of Education Foster Youth Services and The Contra Costa County Children and Family Services' Independent Living Skills Program has been partnering with the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District since 2011 to provide summer internships for youth transitioning out of the foster care system. The Internship is designed to provide valuable employment skills to the youth participants. Youth work in groups and learn public speaking skills and they conduct research on health care issues identified by the Los Medanos Community Healthcare District. This summer will be the seventh year of this award winning internship.
- WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). WIOA operates 2 programs designed to provide employment support to youth. One is the In-School program for youth who are currently enrolled in school and their Out-of-School program for those who are not. Twenty percent of the caseloads of the WIOA programs are slated for foster youth. ILSP makes direct referrals and WIOA case managers attend ILSP workshops to recruit eligible youth.
- Opportunity Junction. This program provides computer skills training, employability skills, case management, employment placement assistance and paid work experience. ILSP directly refers youth to this program that provides 12 weeks of full-time training and job placement assistance.
ILSP Pillar- Education
It is well documented that foster youth are under-educated, lack basic educational skills and often drop out of high school. ILSP supports and encourages foster youth to stay in school through curriculum that motivates youth to strive towards graduation, pursue a higher education and embrace learning as a lifelong process. ILSP maintains collaboration with the County Office of Education and Mt. Diablo Foster Youth Services to create resources and support to youth in need. In addition, we are embarking on a partnership with FosterEd, West Contra Costa Unified School District and the Contra Costa County Office of Education to create a demonstration site that serves youth in the foster care system. FosterEd is a National Center for Youth Law initiative aimed at improving the educational outcomes of system-involved youth. This past year, one hundred and twelve participants graduated from high school and eleven graduated from college. All of the graduates were honored at the 30th Annual ILSP Recognition Event where fifty-three scholarships totaling over seventy thousand dollars, were awarded.
ILSP provides the following trainings and events to foster youth with a concentration on Senior Youth, to better prepare them for post-secondary education:
- Scholarship Workshop
- Financial Aid Workshop
- Preparing Personal Statements
- Navigating the Community College System
- College Campus Tours
- Understanding the FAFSA, Chafee Grant and Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver
- Senior Night Workshop
- College Luncheon
- Understanding the UC and the CSU system
ILSP has established specialized relationships and collaborations with the following agencies and colleges to provide a seamless transition upon emancipation from foster care:
- Discovery ChalleNGe Academy. This program is run by the National Guard. They provide residential educational credit recovery. Youth live on site at their facility in Lathrop, CA. It is a highly structured program for youth between the ages of 16-18. Youth cannot turn 19 before the start of the program). They serve youth that are at risk of dropping out and are credit deficient. They enhance life skills, education levels and employment potential. They are a 5 month program that assists youth in attaining their HS Diploma or GED or assist in returning to high school to complete with their graduating class. Youth must want to attend.
- Youth Development Services. YDS collaborates with ILSP to provide services to ILSP youth who are experiencing barriers and need support to finish high school or pursue employment. They are grant funded by the Contra Costa County Office of Education.
- Los Medanos Community College. A “Student Connection Team” was developed to provide youth with a direct contact person within each department on campus, giving them a person to connect with while navigating the community college system. ILSP East County Life Skills trainings are held on campus once per week, exposing youth to the college environment. Tours and information about the various programs and areas of study at Los Medanos Community College are included as a part of the Life Skills Curriculum. Presentations from departments are held as often as possible.
- Job Corps – Treasure Island. ILSP continues to maintain a relationship with Job Corps, one of the largest career technical training and education programs in the nation for students ages 16 through 24. Job Corps provides hands on training in careers such as the Culinary Arts, Construction, Healthcare, Security and Protective Services. Housing, meals and basic medical care are afforded to our youth through the course of the program. ILSP is offered site visits for youth who are interested in enrolling at Job Corps and priority opportunities have also been made available to ILSP youth. Under AB12, this is an approved Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) for our young adults.
- Sierra College. The Sierra College provides foster youth various programs, inclusive of an on-campus housing option. Programs such as the TRiO program, Umoja, Puente, First Year Experience, EOPS and CARE have proven to benefit ILSP youth. Our continued relationship has nurtured a priority enrollment and registration into these programs. Several times per year, ILSP takes appropriate youth to the campus for tours, assessments and introductions of the services available to them. College Counselors are on site during these presentations and financial relationships are in place to assist our youth with securing housing/dorm deposits should they choose to attend Sierra College. Under AB12, this is also an approved Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) for our youth.
ILSP has developed relationships with the following agencies and organizations to better serve our foster youth and to support programs and events:
- The Assistance League of Diablo Valley. ILSP has collaborated with the Assistance League of Diablo Valley to develop a Senior Sponsorship Program as well as various scholarships for our youth. The Senior Sponsorship Program is designed to financially assist graduating seniors with the expenses for typical events during their Senior Year in High School. The program funds such things as senior pictures, yearbooks, prom tickets, cap/gown expenses, graduation announcements, as well as laptop/tablet purchases. This past year, 25 ILSP participants were sponsored $400.00 each totaling $10,000.00. In addition, the Assistance League provides each emancipating youth with an “On Your Way” Duffle bag filled with various household products and basic necessities to assist them as they progress into adulthood.
- Volunteer Emergency Services Team In Action, Inc. (VESTIA). VESTIA has served as a fiduciary agent for ILSP donations. In addition, this past year, the VESTIA Board sponsored a part of the expenses for the 30th Annual Recognition Event held to honor graduating seniors. The VESTIA scholarship committee awarded eleven (11) scholarships totaling $11,000.00 that evening. We receive items for our onsite Food Pantry, donated clothing for our onsite clothes closet and school supplies for our youth as often as needed.
- The Orinda Woman’s Club. The Orinda Woman’s Club has provided scholarships annually to our graduating seniors. This past year, 8 youth benefited from a total of $8,000.00 in scholarships towards their college education.
- Honorable Judge Lois Haight Foster Youth Foundation. In 2001, Honorable Judge Lois Haight established a foundation specifically to serve our population of youth and has since provided hundreds of scholarships to our youth in excess of $440,000.00. This past June, she presented twenty (25) scholarships totaling $25,000.00 to seniors of the class of 2018.
- The Wilhelmina Johnson ILSP Youth Award. Wilhelmina Johnson was an avid youth advocate, social worker and program analyst who dedicated 24 years to Contra Costa County youth and was instrumental in the establishment of Contra Costa County’s Independent Living Skills Program. She believed that every youth deserved a chance regardless of their background. ILSP honors youth who have demonstrated the ability to overcome significant barriers and achieved personal growth with this scholarship each year.
- Foster A Dream. ILSP collaborates with Foster A Dream to host the annual Holiday Network Event as part of the Well-Being Pillar. In addition, Foster a Dream has provided our youth with backpacks containing school supplies during our Fall Retreat Kick-off Event. Foster A Dream also provides scholarships to graduating seniors each year.
- Free Senior Portraits by Suzy Todd Photography. Suzy Todd approached ILSP several years ago and offered her professional services to ILSP seniors. She wanted to give back and does so by providing seniors with free senior portrait packages valued at $300 each.
- The Secret Elves. During the Holiday season, ILSP hosts a Holiday Social event for our youth to provide them with donated gifts from the Secret Elves. The Secret Elves have provided gifts that teens are able to enjoy during the holiday season. This past year, The Secret Elves provided each youth a ukulele and lessons on how to play one. In addition, youth were given gift cards to purchase a personal item of their choice.
- Friends of ILSP. “Friends of ILSP” is an informal group of ten members of the Philanthropic and Educational Organization that provides scholarships and financial assistance to ILSP graduates. This organization is providing scholarship monies to upcoming or former graduates of the Independent Living Skills Program that wish to or are pursuing higher education or certification from a trade school. Applications are accepted throughout the school year and contact by this organization is ongoing. They provide birthday and holiday cards and frequent contact throughout the year to let our young adults know that they are cared for.
ILSP Well-Being
Youth in foster care often do not experience childhood in the way most children who live with their families of origin do. They have suffered child abuse and neglect, been removed from their families and many older youth spend the remainder of their childhood moving from home to home. The foster care system is designed to fund board and care and basic needs, but not necessarily extra-curricular activities such as participating in sports, arts, birthday parties, spending the night at friend’s homes, etc. They are in turn exposed to the sub-culture of foster care. They learn the survival skills needed to cope with placement changes, rejection from resource parents, and the grief of not being with their families. Instead of developing positive social skills, for instance, some are learning to cope with living in a group setting with other foster youth who are struggling with their own issues. ILSP provides activities and supportive services to help encourage positive social development and exposure to typical child hood activities. Through a variety of excursions such as outings to baseball and football games, field trips to beaches, bike riding, ski trips and water rafting, foster youth are able to experience fun activities that a typical teenager might, but are also mentored in developing positive social skills and are further engaged in the ILS program. The State of California Department of Social Services has emphasized the importance of supporting the well-being of foster youth and ILSP is the perfect mechanism to provide this intervention. The ILSP staff is trained in an approach called Positive Youth Development. This approach enables them to engage youth and motivate them to strive to improve their lives and grow into happy and healthy adults.
Some of the events and excursions provided to youth:
- Yosemite Exploration Excursion - Youth learn conservation and appreciation of nature and its resources. Youth go on hikes, swimming and park ranger led tours. The youth learn to cook, clean and plan for daily trips. They make snacks, take pictures and create memories.
- Sea Kayaking - Youth go to Tomales Bay and kayak in pairs with staff. They prepare snacks and learn water safety and conservation. They learn teamwork and problem solving.
- Local sporting events - Youth attend local sports team events as a group when ILSP receives donated tickets. They learn to take public transportation out of their area and how to plan to arrive and depart on time.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium - Youth learned about conservation of the earth’s resources. They learn about local wildlife and fauna.
ILSP has established specialized relationships and collaborations with the following agencies to provide a seamless transition upon emancipation from foster care:
- First Hope Early Identification and Intervention to Prevent Psychosis Program. This is a Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention Program of Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Services. The mission of the First Hope program is to reduce the incidence and disability of psychotic illnesses through early identification of young people between ages 12 and 25 living in Contra Costa County, who are at risk for or showing early signs of psychosis. They engage and rapidly treat youth identified as "at-risk," while maintaining progress in school, work and in social relationships.
- ARM of Care. Arm of Care uses the Creative Arts to restore and empower individuals who have been exploited through human trafficking.Arm of Care has been providing creativity workshops and events to ILSP youth to help them express themselves and promote healing.
- Contra Costa County CASA Organization Sexual Reproductive Health Care Initiative. The goal of this collaboration is to provide education to both our foster youth as well as the many adults who play a key supporting role in their lives on topics related to sexual and reproductive health care in order to prevent unintended pregnancies among foster youth (separate trainings will be provided for adults and foster youth). Adults will learn how to communicate with youth about these topics. After completing the trainings youth are invited to schedule an appointment at a Planned Parenthood center in Contra Costa County and receive individual private counseling. At the completion of their visit, they will each receive a $50 gift certificate just for attending the appointment.
- VESTIA Clothing Closet. Volunteers Emergency Services Team in Action provides on-going donations of hygiene kits and age appropriate donated clothing, accessories and shoes for the ILSP Clothing Closet.
- One Closet. This youth run organization collects and donates clothes from teens, for teens. ILSP puts in requests for types of clothing needed and One Closet delivers boxes of clothing meeting those requests.
- Project Linus. This program provides blankets to foster youth within our program. They have customized their donations in regards to the size of the blankets. Blankets for our program are more appropriate in size and design for teen and young adult youth.
- Community Violence Solutions. CVS provides support and services to youth who have experienced abuse or assault.They have been providing support to foster youth who have experienced Commercial Sexual Exploitation or abuse at the hands of a significant other.
ILSP - Aftercare
Each year, 100-150 foster youth are eligible to age out of foster care at age 18 or 19 years old. If they choose to emancipate out of foster care, then at that point, they are on their own to support themselves. Some foster youth are fortunate to remain with their resource parents or relatives; other youth are able to participate in a Transitional Housing Program, but most of them will struggle once they leave the system. The funds provide supportive services to emancipated foster youth up to age 21 years old. The needs of emancipated youth are severe. They often call in crisis, homeless and in need of basic necessities such as transportation, food and shelter. The Aftercare program provides emancipated foster youth as well as Non Minor Dependent young adults living under AB12 regulations supportive housing, employment, educational, and crisis services.
ILSP has established specialized relationships and collaborations with the following agencies s to provide a seamless transition upon emancipation from foster care:
- Calli House. A shelter/program that is available 24 hours/day and the program is a safe haven off the streets. During the day, food, clothing, showers, crisis intervention, counseling, life skills education, peer-led support groups, and case management is provided. In the evening, there are currently 15 beds for youth ages 18-21. Calli House also partners with: Mental Health, HCH, WCCUSD, and Community Violence Solutions. Emancipated youth who are eligible for re-entry into extended foster care will automatically be referred to an attorney that can assist with Re-Entry. AB12 eligible youth will also be paired with a case manager who will assist with identifying possible future housing options.
Some of the ILSP resources for after care include:
- ILSP Pantry. The ILSP office provides a food pantry for youth who are homeless or struggling financially by providing non-perishable food as well as listings for local food pantries. Staff meets with youth to discuss strategies for managing finances to budget for food.
- ILSP Shower. The ILSP office has a shower installed to assist those youth who have chosen not to participate in extended foster care or have had their cases closed due to non-compliance with AB12 requirements. They are able to shower in the ILSP facility and choose clothing from the ILSP Clothing Closet.
- ILSP Clothing Closet. ILSP provides a clothes closet for in-care and emancipated foster youth. All items are donated by other organizations and are free to youth. The closet has both casual and business attire and accessories.
Leadership Development
ILSP promotes the development of leadership in foster youth. Whenever possible, emancipated foster youth are invited to share their experiences with ILSP youth and to facilitate workshops or trainings. In addition, ILSP promotes participation and support of the Contra Costa County California Youth Connection (CYC) chapter. CYC is a statewide advocacy organization specifically geared towards developing leadership in and advocacy skills to engage foster youth with policy makers to improve the foster care system. CYC is mainly responsible for all of the positive legislative changes impacting the child welfare system. Additionally, each year ILSP prepares foster youth to participate in a leadership group called the Speaker’s Bureau. These youth are trained in public speaking and work with ILSP to speak to community groups, advocate for legislation at the State Capitol and be the Youth voice in the child welfare system. This past year, our local chapter of CYC received the Local Issue Award for bringing healthy eating awareness to our local group homes and for hosting the Iron Chef Challenge, which paired our participants with care providers who prepared a nutritious meal under the training and supervision provided by Chef Cindy Gershen’s team at Mt. Diablo High School’s Sustainable
Hospitality Program.
Summary/Conclusion
Youth who emancipate from foster care are expected to become self-sufficient by age of twenty-one. This entails the ability to maintain stable housing, maintain employment, and maintain one’s physical and mental health. Research on the outcomes of emancipated foster youth indicates that this task is difficult for this population. Rates of homelessness for emancipated foster youth have been found to be as high as 42% and housing moves are generally related to poverty and lack of stable family relationships. Foster youth also have high rates of incarceration, especially when they have experienced multiple placements and time in the foster care system.
ILS programs have been implemented by Child Welfare programs in order to help prevent these negative outcomes. The Contra Costa County CFS ILSP has upwards of 800 eligible youth each year and endeavors to provide resources in collaboration with the foster care system. Much of the work of the ILSP Coordinators and staff is spent cultivating collaborative partnerships with community based organizations and other foster youth serving groups. Their expertise in engaging youth and motivating them to stay in school, graduate, and obtain life sustaining employment is critical. |