FAQs

What is the Independent Living Program?

The IL program provides services to youth in foster care and young adults who were formerly in foster care. The objective of the program is to assist youth with obtaining the life skills and education necessary to become self sufficient, live independently and maintain employment. The services include life skills training and financial, educational and social support. Examples of such services are parenting skills and/or classes, career counseling, therapy and psychological counseling and assistance with time management and organization.

What are the documents that the case worker needs to provide to a youth prior to turning 18?

Current Medicaid card
Certified copy of birth certificate
Florida ID or Driver’s License
Social Security Card
Copies of pertinent court orders from their dependency case
All information relating to Social Security Benefits
Information and training related to Budgeting, Interviewing and Parenting Skills
Information regarding the Road to Independence Scholarship program including eligibility requirements, forms, and assistance in completing the forms
A bank account and essential banking skills
Information on public assistance and how to apply
A clear understanding of where the youth will live upon their 18th birthday, how they will pay for living expenses, and what school they will attend
Notice of right to extend jurisdiction of juvenile court
Notice of right to attend all judicial review hearings after their 17th birthday

What are the requirements to get a driver’s license?

If under 18, the foster parent, group home employee or case worker can sign an application for a learner’s permit without facing liability because car insurance is not required for learning permits. Once eligible for a regular driver’s license, the caseworker can sign the application. However, the case worker can only sign if getting a driver’s license is part of the transition plan.

How do youth in foster care open a bank account?

Florida recently changed the law so that youth in foster care may open bank accounts after they turn 16. In order to open an account at 16 or 17, the youth are required to take a financial literacy class (The Money Smart Curriculum donated by Wachovia Bank is covered during the monthly life skills classes). Upon completion of the financial literacy class, the youth will need a signed Court Order which states that the “disability of non-age” is removed for purposes of opening a bank account. Three months prior to the youth’s 18th birthday a similar Order should be entered to allow the youth to sign a lease.

Under Florida Law, each youth is entitled to receive Medicaid as a former foster child until the age 21. The youth may be eligible to have Medicaid coverage after age 21 if they are a part of the Road to Independence program, have a disability, are pregnant, etc.

What are the Independent Living programs for youth under age 18? When do youth become eligible?

If under 18, there are three different programs:

Pre-Independent Living Services
Life Skills Services
Subsidized Independent Living

Youth become eligible for Pre-Independent Living Services at age 13, and services include life skills training, educational field trips, and conferences. At 15, youth are eligible for Life Skills Services which include independent living skills training (including training to develop banking and budgeting skills, interviewing skills, parenting skills, and time management or organizational skills), educational support, employment training, and counseling. At 16, youth are eligible for Subsidized Independent Living; this program allows mature youth to live on their own if they qualify.

What is Subsidized Independent Living (SIL) and what are the eligibility requirements?

Youth in Subsidized Independent Living (SIL) are allowed to reside in an unlicensed setting, including their own apartment, the home of a relative or family friend, etc. The court case remains open and the Judge will continue to conduct hearings and make decisions on the case. The youth will receive money each month to help with their living expenses.

A youth eligible for SIL is:

At least 16, but not 18
Adjudicated dependent
Living in licensed care/out of home care (foster care) six months prior to entering SIL (does not have to be consecutive period)

The youth must demonstrate independent living skills:

Employed at least part-time and earn at least $100 per month or be involved in extra-curricular activities
Enrolled in school full-time and maintain adequate progress in school (at least 2.0 GPA)
Demonstrate the necessary skills to live on their own with little supervision
The youth must have not exhibited irresponsible behavior within six months, for example, running away, committing violent acts toward others, delinquency charges or property crimes.

What are the Independent Living programs for youth at age 18?

Youth aging out of foster care at age 18 may be able to receive assistance from three different programs:

Road to Independence;
Transitional Support Services
Aftercare Services

Both the Road to Independence and Transitional programs require that youth remained in foster care for at least 6 months, while the Aftercare program only requires youth are in foster care at age 18. If eligible, youth can receive assistance until their 23rd birthday.

A youth in the Road to Independence program will receive up to $1,256 per month as long as they are enrolled in school. The monthly stipend is based on an assessment of the youth’s living expenses.

The transitional program does not require the youth to be enrolled in school, but the youth is required to comply with a transition plan developed in conjunction with the case worker which outlines specific steps the youth must take in order to become independent.

The youth can also receive funds from the Aftercare program in order to prevent homelessness, as well as other services.

What is the Road to Independence program and how do youth qualify?

The Road to Independence program provides former foster youth with funds and services to help receive the education and training needed to become independent and self-sufficient. In order to qualify, a youth must:

Submit an initial application after age 17, but before age 21
Have been adjudicated dependent and spent at least 6 months in foster care prior to 18th birthday (including time spent in shelter care)
Have been living in licensed foster care or SIL on their 18th birthday or have been adopted or placed into a dependency guardianship after the age 16
Be a Florida resident
Be enrolled in school full-time (except a youth with documented disability can enroll part-time)

Can youth sign a lease for an apartment before the age of 18?

Florida passed a special law to give youth aging out of foster care the ability to sign leases before they turn 18. The youth will need a Court Order signed by the Judge that states that the “disability of non-age” is removed so that they can enter into a contract to lease an apartment. The Order allows the youth to rent an apartment and sign a lease without having to legally be an adult. This Order should be requested by the youth or caseworker at the age 17 ½.

Can youth live with their foster parents after 18? Does staying in the foster home hurt the foster parent’s license?

If a youth is eligible for the Road to Independence Program, they may be eligible to continue to live in the foster home after their 18th birthday. If a youth elects to remain in foster care, they will not be counted as a child in calculating any licensing restriction on the number of children in the home.

There should be a written agreement between the youth and the foster parent stating how much rent the youth will pay to the foster parent every month and what is included with the rent. It is recommended that the agreement covers at least a one year period. The agreement will prevent misunderstandings about how long the youth will reside in the home and clearly document what is expected from the youth and the foster parent.

What are the options for payment of the Road to Independence Scholarship program?

The monthly scholarship will be paid in either of two methods:

Direct payment to the youth
Payment of portion to the service provider for living expenses and the balance to the youth, if requested by the youth in writing