Summit County
Children Services
Independent
Living Program
“Life on your own,
but not alone”
Independent Living Program
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..)
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Independent Living Program
continued…
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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
continued…
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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
Specialists
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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 mailed
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Date, 2010
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SCCS Youth Name
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123 Street
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Akron, Ohio
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Re: Independent Living Program
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Dear Youth:
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Congratulations!
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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.
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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.
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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”.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact ___________, Independent Living Program Specialist, at (330)__________.
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Sincerely,
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_______________________________
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Independent Living Program Specialist
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Independent Living/Teen Permanency
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___/slm
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cc: foster parent
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cc: assigned social worker
Life Skills Group Curriculum
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Orientation
Employment/Career Planning
Budget/Banking
Housing
Health Education/Risk Prevention
Health Education/Risk Prevention
Medical/Risk Prevention
Family Support/Healthy Relationships
Education/Financial Aid Assistance/Community
Resources
Celebration
Payment for Groups
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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: Independent Living Program
Orientation
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(Age 16)
Rules/expectations
Philosophy of the
program
Sign ILP Contract 
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Ice Breaker
The Human Knot 
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Value exercise
Discuss homework 
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and handouts
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(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: Independent Living Program
Employment/ Career Planning
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(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
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(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: Independent Living Program
Banking & Budgeting
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(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
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(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: Independent Living Program
Housing
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(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
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(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: Independent Living Program
Health Edu. & Risk Prevention
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(Age 16)
Discuss STD’s
Discuss pregnancy
prevention
Planned Parenthood
Discuss homework and
handouts
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(Age 17)
How to obtain a primary
doctor when out of
custody
Regular doctor visits
Discuss Price comparison
Discuss Grocery shopping
Discuss food pyramid
Discuss homework and
handouts
Week 6:Independent Living Program
Health Edu. & Risk Preven
Continued……
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(Age 16)
Discuss STD’s
Discuss pregnancy
prevention
Planned Parenthood
Discuss homework
and handouts
(Age 17)
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Regular doctor visits
Discuss homework
and handouts
How to obtain a
primary doctor out
of custody
Discuss Pregnancy
prevention
Discuss STD’s
Week 7: Independent Living Program
Drug & Alcohol Prevention/medical
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(Age 16)
Side effects of drug use
Where to go to get help
Akron Health
Department
Discuss homework and
handouts
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(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: Independent Living Program
Family Support/Relationships
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(Age 16)
Discuss teen dating
Discuss violence
prevention
Ways to reconnect
with your family
Discuss homework
and handouts
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(Age 17)
Discuss healthy dating
Warning signs of
violent relationships
Healthy family
relationships
Ways to reconnect with
your family
Grocery shopping
Week 9: Independent Living Program
Edu./Financial Aid Assistance
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(Age 16)
Discuss FAFSA
Discuss ETV
Discuss future
education plans
and options
Discuss SAT or
ACT registration
Look for college
scholarships
Discuss community
resources
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(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: Celebration
Re-cap of sessions covered in group
 Completion of module Certificate
 Cover My Plan and what may be needed
or added
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Youth not attending ILP Group
modules
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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 Questions?
“Life on your own, but not alone”