ga dfcs child welfare policy manual chapter 13: independent living program
TRANSCRIPT
DirectorBobby Cagle
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual
Chapter 13: Independent Living Program
Presenter: DFCS Programs and Policy
Presentation to: Child Welfare Legal Academy
May 20, 2015
Georgia’s Independent Living Program (ILP) provides eligible foster care youth with opportunities to successfully prepare and transition to adulthood.
ILP programming is designed to provide youth with the life skills and education necessary to become self-sufficient, live independently, and maintain stable employment.
ILP services include life skills training, financial, educational and social support.
Independent Living Program
The new ILP chapter incorporates:1. Title IV-E requirements for transition planning for youth
exiting foster care
2. New requirements for youth to receive foster care services through age 21, unless they choose to opt out
3. Incorporates requirements for youth eligible to receive medical insurance through the Affordable Care Act
4. Incorporates new requirements for Juvenile Court reviews for youth receiving ILP services ages 18-21
Independent Living Program
ILP Eligibility• Includes the ILP Eligibility criteria and process for
determining eligibility for ILP services
Casey Life Skills Assessment (CLSA)• Reduces the required number of times CLSA is
completed to align with transition planning • Incorporates the practice for the CLSA results to
be utilized when developing goals for the Written Transition Living Plan
Independent Living Program
Written Transitional Living Plan (WTLP)• Incorporates Title IV-E requirement regarding
transition planning• Incorporates Every Child Every Month
(ECEM), Transition Roundtable (TRT) and Family Team Meeting (FTM) as tools for completing the WTLP
• Includes additional participants (i.e. Division of Aging Services (DAS), Department of Education )DOE), etc.) for developing WTLP and Transition Planning for youth
Independent Living Program
Transition From Foster Care• New policy: This practice was previously incorporated
into the Written Transitional Living Plan (WTLP) and has been separated to strengthen practice while ensuring federal requirements are met
• New Initial Transition Planning Meeting within 90 days of youth’s 17th birthday and a Foster Care Exit Meeting within 90 days prior to the youth turning 18
• Requires all participants in the youth’s life to be engaged in Transition Planning and discussions with the youth regarding Extended Youth Support Services and other Post Foster Care Services available
Independent Living Program
Individual Development Accounts (IDA)• Updated requirements to clarify eligibility process
Credit Reports for Youth in Care• New Policy to meet Title IV-E requirement • Requires DFCS to assist youth in foster care ages
16 and 17 in obtaining credit reports• Requires education regarding credit as well as
assistance in resolving discrepancies on credit reports
Independent Living Program
Graduated Independence Plan (GIP)• This policy was moved from the Foster Home policy• Includes requirements for allowing youth to engage in age
and developmentally appropriate activities for short periods of time as a normalizing process
• Incorporates the process for assessing, developing and monitoring the GIP
Drivers Education and Licensure• Incorporates three (3) policies into one (1) around licensure
and drivers education for youth in care• Adds practice guidance for youth to obtain a Georgia ID
Independent Living Program
Extended Youth Support Services• Clarified eligibility, consent, termination process• Updated Consent Form to include consent for DFCS to obtain
medical and educational records• Updated Consent to Receive Extended Youth Support Services
(EYSS) form which includes the ability for the youth to sign if they choose to opt out of EYSS.
Health Insurance For Youth 18 and Older• Clarified eligibility for Chafee Medicaid • Includes Affordable Care Act requirements for youth 18 and older• Includes IV-E requirement to offer youth the option of designating a
health care proxy
Independent Living Program
Post Foster Care Services• Clarifies eligibility and process for each post foster
care service including educational services, transitional living program, emergency funds
Juvenile Court Reviews For Youth Ages 18 to 21• New requirement for Juvenile Court review for those
youth receiving independent living services after age 18
Independent Living Program
Programs and Policy Unit Contact Information• [email protected]• Mitzie Smith 404-782-4471
Questions?
Independent Living Program