What is the Independent Living Project (ILP)?

The Independent Living Program, or ILP, is a Title IV-E, federally-funded, state-administered, program to prepare foster care youth, ages 16-21, for their transition from foster care to independence, e.g. for when they will no longer be under the care of a local Children and Youth agency and must have the skills to live on their own.

History of Independent Living:

Funds for Independent Living initiatives were first made available in the United States under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. This act authorized funds to states for programs, services, and activities to assist eligible youth 16 years of age and older to make the transition from foster care to independent living. The Independent Living Program (ILP) was initially authorized by Public Law 99-272, through the addition of section 477 to Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families, issued the first set of program instructions to the states on February 10, 1987. A total of 45 million dollars was authorized for the program across the nation, with Pennsylvania receiving approximately 2 million dollars. Each state's authorization was based on the number of children/youth in foster care; e.g. the youth for which states were receiving Title IV-E foster care maintenance payments.

Each state was able to determine the nature and scope of their Independent Living Program, but guidelines that the federal government provided recommended specific program components. The recommended list included services such as GED or vocational training, daily living skills, job readiness and employability skills, and assistance obtaining higher education.

Funding for the Independent Living Program was determined on an annual basis until Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-66) which permanently reauthorized the ILP effective October 1, 1992. This permanent reauthorization allows funding to be automatically authorized each year without any further action from Congress.

In 1999 Congress passed the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 which was signed into law as the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Independence Program. This law: doubled the Federal Title IV-E Independent Living funding nationwide to approximately 140,000,000; required states to Serve youth up to age 21, for the first time, youth younger than 16 may receive age-appropriate independent living services; permits up to 30% of allocation to be used for room and board for youth ages 18-21 who have left foster care; allows states to provide Medicaid insurance to youth ages 18-21 who left foster care; increases youth’s savings account limit from $1,000 to $10,000 so that youth in foster care can save and still be eligible for Title IV-E foster care benefits; requires states develop outcome measures to assess state performance; requires states to use Title IV-E funds to train adoptive/foster care parents, workers in group homes, and case managers to help them address issues confronting adolescents preparing for independent living; and authorizes additional funds for adoption incentive payments to states that increased the number of children adopted from foster care. This law made substantial changes in the Federal efforts targeted toward youth and young adults (up to age 21) in the foster care component of the child welfare system. The law significantly improved States' ability to achieve the national goals of safety, permanence and well-being for youth and young adults in the child welfare system.

Currently a total of 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, receive funding for the Independent Living Program, at a total of $137,900,000 across the nation. Pennsylvania's grant for the current Federal Fiscal Year 2001-2002 is $5,239,835.

Pennsylvania's Independent Living Program:

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is committed to providing youth making the transition from placement to independent living with the skills and resources necessary to make them independent and productive members of society. The primary purpose of the IL program is to make every effort possible to reduce or eliminate the instances of homelessness, poverty, delinquent or criminal behavior, and non-marital childbirth and to increase employability, high school graduation rates, enrollment in post-secondary or vocational intuitions and successful transition to adulthood.

The ILP is guided by regulations found in the Pennsylvania Code, Title 55, Public Welfare, Chapter 3130, Administration of County Children and Youth Social Service Programs, which require that: :

For every child 16 years of age and older the agency shall consider the appropriateness of providing programs and services to help the child prepare for transition from placement to independent living when appropriate. A written description (IL Plan) of such programs and services must be provided in the placement amendment. When independent living services are deemed inappropriate, the basis for the choice not to offer independent living services shall be described.

In Pennsylvania, the goals of the Independent Living Program (ILP) for each youth - independence and productivity - are demonstrated through the following measures of success:

A. self supporting employment

B. enrollment in educational or vocational training, or completion of high school education or equivalent

C. stable place of residence after discharge from foster care

To achieve these objectives and to obtain funding each county Children and Youth agency that participates in the ILP submits an annual proposal outlining how it will provide IL services to eligible youth. The Independent Living Program components within Pennsylvania, as described in DPW's annual Children, Youth, and Families Bulletin, the Title IV-E Independent Living Program Application Guidelines, include the following:

A. Needs Assessment/Case Planning (required)

B. Life Skills Training

C. Prevention Services

D. Vocational Training

E. High School Support and Retention

F. Preparation for GED

G. Individual or Group Counseling

H. Assistance in Obtaining Higher Education

I. Job Placement

J. Subsidized Employment

K. Practice IL Placement (Supervised Independent Living)

L. Location of Permanent Housing

M. Room and Board

N. Stipends for Youth

O. Aftercare Services

P. Services for Teen Parents

Q. Retreats/Camps

R. Indirect Services

S. Program Administration

The application guidelines specify, in broad terms, the requirements of Pennsylvania's IL Programs, including neccessary documentation, fiscal responsibilities, and reporting requirements.

In Pennsylvania, the individual IL Programs are operated by county Children and Youth agencies, their respective designated private providers, or both and are monitored by the University Of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Competency-Based Training Program's Independent Living Project staff. See the Technical Assistance LINK for more about the role of the Project and staff. Programmatic activities on the local level include:

• individualized assessments of eligible youth to determine their IL needs and development of IL case plans based on these results
• counseling and experiental programs in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing and career planning
• stipends
• job training, placement and follow-up services
• assistance in obtaining higher education or vocational training, including technical assistance, financial assistance and counseling
• preparation for GED
• high school support and retention services
• programs directed at improving self-esteem and self-confidence, e.g. retreats, teen conferences and workshops, group and individual counseling
• programs to provide parent education and to help teen parents make the transition from foster care
• purchase of books, audiovisual materials and equipment and other resources to be used in providing life skills and other training to youth in the program
• establishment of ongoing support networks for youth discharged from care

All of these counseling, training, and support efforts are encouraged to achieve successful outcomes for the youth involved in Pennsylvania's Independent Living Program. Typically only a selection of these services are offered by any particular county. See the ILP Bulletin link for current application.

Success of the program is measured through collecting information related to the following questions: What are the results of the program in terms of:

• increased general independence of youth and general reduction in dependency?
• youths graduating from high school or receiving a GED?
• youth entering post secondary education?
• youth obtaining unsubsidized employment?
• youth obtaining unsubsidized housing?

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you would like additional information of the Chaffee Program, please view the documents listed below that have been prepared by the federal government.

• Chaffee Funds FAQ I
• Chaffee Funds FAQ II
• Chaffee Funds FAQ III