Independent Living ServicesYoung Adult Programs

Learning Objectives

Understand outcome goals and expectations

Knowledge of applicable legal references

Familiarity of eligibility requirements

Awareness of standardized implementation practices

Independent Living Services

Services to assist older children in foster care and young adults

who were formerly in foster care

Obtain life skills and education for independent living and

employment

Have a quality of life appropriate for their age, and assume personal

responsibility for becoming self-sufficient adults

Independent Living Services

Young Adult Programs

Extended Foster Care (EFC)

Postsecondary Education Services and Support (PESS)

Aftercare Services

Legal References

Chapter 39 Proceedings Relating to Children, Florida Statutes (F.S.)

• Section 39.6251, F.S., Continuing care for young adults.-

• Section 39.013, F.S., Procedures and jurisdiction; right to counsel. –

• Section 39.701, F.S., Judicial review. –

Chapter 409, Social and Economic Assistance, F.S.

• Section 409.1451, F.S., The Road-to-Independence Program. –

Chapter 120 Administrative Procedure

Act, F.S.

• Section 120.68, F.S., Judicial review. –

Legal References (continued)

Chapter 65C Family Safety and Preservation Program, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C)

• Rule 65C-30.001, F.A.C., Definitions

• Chapter 65C-41, F.A.C., Extended Foster Care

• Chapter 65C-42, F.A.C., Road to Independence Program

Children and Families Operating Procedures, 170-17, Services for Transitioning Youth and Young

Adults

• Chapter 3, Extended Foster Care

EFC Overview

➢ Youth ages out in the legal

custody of the Department

➢ Court maintains jurisdiction,

providing judicial reviews

➢ Young adult continues

participating in a qualifying

activity

➢ Young adult resides in an approved

supervised living arrangement

➢ Case management agencies

coordinate services, provide home

visits, and supervision

➢ Young adults transition to

independence

Continued care for young adults

Youth

13 to 17 18

Young Adult

19 20 21

With Disability

22

Youth Transitioning to Young Adult: 90 Days prior to 18th Birthday

Youth Turns 18

• Young Adult s Information Separates from Family

• Begin Supervised Living Arrangement

• Existing IV-E Eligibility Status Applies

Enter EFC

• Obtain EFC Agreement

• Assess Living Arrangement

• Establish Shared Living Plan

• Evaluate Program Eligibility

Continued Participation in EFC

Annual Program Eligibility Redetermination

Monthly Home Visits

Biannual Case Planning, Judicial Reviews, and IV-E Eligibility

CBC Manages CIC Medicaid

Title IV-E Extended Foster Care

Termination of EFC

Reentry to Foster Care

Transition Planning

Opt-Out of EFC

• PESS

• Aftercare

• No Program

• Review Transition Planning

• Discuss Shared Living Plan

• Observe the Home Environment

• Review Qualifying Activity

• Requires Approval of the Department• Some Termination Reasons are Appealable

• Anytime Before 21 Years of Age• Requires Complete Voluntary Placement Agreement

Preparing Youth Who are Turning 18 in

Department Custody

During the 90-day period before turning 18, the following must occur:

My Pathway to Success Plan (Transition Plan) must be updated

Discussion about young adult program options

Unless youth opts out of program, they will remain in foster care, entering EFC. The

following must occur:

Extended Foster Care Agreement form (CS-FSP 5432)

Assessment of Supervised Living Arrangement

Development of a Shared Living Plan

EFC Program Discharge Reasons

Program Discharge with Appeal Process:

Achieves permanency, independent living

Ages out, turns 21 or 22 years of age with a disability

Fails to participate in a qualifying activity*

Fails to reside in a supervised living arrangement*

Program Discharge without Appeal Process:

Voluntarily opts-out, court approves

Deceased

*most prevalent discharge reasons

Qualifying Activities

Completing secondary education

or program leading to equivalent

credential

Enrolled in an institution which

provides post-secondary or

vocational education

Participating in a program or

activity designed to promote, or

remove barriers to employment

Employed for a least 80 hours per

month

Unable to participate in any of the

programs or activities due to a

physical, intellectual, emotional, or

psychiatric condition that impairs

ability to perform one or more life

activities, limiting participation.

Supervised Living Arrangement

Formally assessed and approved by a

Child Welfare Professional using:

Supervised Living Arrangement

Assessment (CF-FSP 5431)

Shared Living Plan (CF-FSP 5430)

Consideration is given to:

Level of supervision

Young person’s needs and interests

Living outside county of jurisdiction

Settings may not be shared housing with:

Biological or legal parents

Any household member that is not

approved

Involuntary placements unless consent

for placement is through a court

appointed guardian.

Supervised Living Arrangement

Assessment

EFC Living Arrangement/Placement Type

Evaluating a specific home environment

Readiness

Focuses on conditions of the home and young person’s ability to safely reside independently

Considers functioning and demonstration of life skills

Supervision

Monthly face to face contact in the home is the minimum expectation

Services and Supports

Addresses life skill instruction, counseling, and other needs

Assessment Decision

Approved/Not Approved and justification

Shared Living Plan

Household Chores and Daily Living Activities

Lists the needed skills/resources and person(s) providing assistance or training

Physical and Behavioral Health

Addresses the development of activities in order to ensure appropriate health and wellbeing

Check-In/Curfew and 24-hour Crisis Intervention and Support

Discussion around household customs and planned absences

Financial Resources

Outline costs associated with the living arrangement

Signatures

Copy of the plan is shared with relevant parties as applicable and approved by young adult

Appealable Reason for Termination Identified

Issue Notice of Discharge

Terminate Young Adult

Program Eligibility Page

Document Reason in FSFN and Create Case

Note

Issue Resolved?No

Yes

EFC Program Termination Process

Termination Approved?

Document in FSFN

Yes

No

Appealed w/in 10 days?

Change Placement to

Terminate Payment

Document Appeal on

Independent Living Page

Appealed w/in 30 days?

Yes Yes

No

NoDischarge Removal

Notify CourtEFC Program Terminated

Create Young Adult Program Eligibility Page

DCF Appellate Process

Termination Reversed?

Yes

No

Change Placement to

Reinstate Payment

Payment Terminated?

No

Yes

DCF Regional Review Process

Young Adult Remains in EFC

Re-Entry Process

Young adults may re-enter EFC any time before their 21st birthday

A young adult must be actively participating in EFC at 21, and have a disability, in order to remain

until the 22nd birthday.

Young adult must complete the Extended Foster Care Voluntary Placement Agreement

(CF-FSP 5377)

The agreement will not be signed by the child welfare professional until all eligibility requirements

are met.

The young adult is notified of approval or denial within 10 business days of their signed

application

If approved, reinstatement of jurisdiction occurs within 90 days

Best bridge into EFC is Aftercare Services

Ensures young adult has met the eligibility requirements prior to executing the agreement

EFC Forms

New Forms:

Extended Foster Care Agreement (CF-FSP 5432)

Supervised Living Arrangement Assessment for Extended Foster Care (CF-FSP 5431)

Shared Living Plan for Extended Foster Care (CF-FSP 5430)

Extended Foster Care Voluntary Placement Agreement (CF-FSP 5377)

Updated Forms:

Notice of Denial for Readmission into Extended Foster Care (CF-FSP 5410)

Notice of Discharge from Extended Foster Care (CF-FSP 5376)

EFC Forms, continued

Existing Forms:

My Pathway to Success Plan form (CF-FSP 5425)

My Decision to Leave Extended Foster Care

(CF-FSP 5375)

Oral Request for Fair Hearing (CF-FSP 5381)

Due Process Rights Brochure (CF/PI 175-74)

Request for Fair Hearing (CF-FSP 5830)

Aftercare Services

Eligibility Overview

18 years of age but not yet 23

In the legal custody of the Department

on 18th birthday

Not in EFC or PESS

Types of Services or referrals

Mentoring

Tutoring

Mental Health

Substance Abuse

Counseling

Temporary Financial Assistance

Aftercare Services

Young adult shall complete an Application for Aftercare Services (CF-FSP 5391)

If the application is not completed at the time of request for services, designated staff shall

assist the young adult with the application

Young adult shall complete an Aftercare Services Plan (CF-FSP 5400)

If the plan is completed by designated staff, the plan should be in consultation with the

young adult.

The plan has some components that are similar to the Transition Plan addressing:

Strengths and needs

Short term and long term goals

Housing and Health

Education and Employment

PESS

Eligibility Overview

18 but not yet 23 years of age

Living in legal custody of the Department on 18th birthday AND spent a total of 6 months in

licensed care prior to aging out

OR was at least 16 and was adopted or placed with court-approved dependency guardian

after spending 6 months in licensed care within the 12 months immediately preceding such

placement or adoption

AND earned a high school diploma or its equivalent

AND has been admitted for enrollment full-time (9 credit hours) in Florida Bright

Futures eligible postsecondary educational institution***

***May still be eligible for ETV

PESS

Eligibility continued

Has submitted applied for any other grants and scholarships

Has submitted FAFSA

Has signed an agreement to allow the access to school records

Has completed an application with necessary documentation

Eligibility Ends

Not meeting academic progress at renewal, with certain exceptions

Aged out, turned 23 years of age

If young adult becomes incarcerated for a period longer than 30 days

Eligibility may end before the renewal period if no longer enrolled or is no longer a resident of Florida.

PESS

Renewal Process

Young adult shall complete a Postsecondary Education Services and Support

(PESS) and Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Initial, Renewal, and

Reinstatement Application (CF-FSP 5382) annually to continue to receive the

$1256 stipend.

Designated staff shall engage the young adult during the 90-day period before the

annual award period to ask if applying.

Young adult must be meeting standards of academic progress to continue in the

program with some exceptions

Reinstatement

Follows the same process as Renewal

Other Service and Supports

DCF Tuition and Fee Exemption

Campus Foster Care Liaisons

Medicaid

DCF Tuition and Fee Exemption

Section 1009.25, F.S.

Authorized at State (public) Universities, Colleges (public) in the Florida College System,

and School District Workforce Education Program

Fee Exemptions are offered to students if:

He or she is or was at the time he or she reached age 18 in the custody of the

Department;

He or she was adopted from the Department after May 5th, 1997;

He or she is or was at the time of reaching 18 in the custody of a relative or non-relative

under s. 39.5085 F.S.;

He or she was placed in a guardianship by the court after spending at lest 6 months in

the custody of the Department after reaching 16 years of age.

The exemption remains valid until the student reaches 28 years of age

Campus Foster Care Liaisons

Section 409.1452, F.S.

Collaboration with Board of Governors, Florida

College System and Department of Education

Improve postsecondary outcomes and career

transitions for foster care youth and alumni through

support resources, networking and determining

collective impact

For more information go to:

https://www.positivepathwaysflorida.org/

Medicaid

All youth who turn 18 in the Department’s custody are eligible for Child-in-Care (CIC)

Medicaid until they turn 21 or are no longer eligible for CIC Medicaid.

The CBC is responsible for maintaining Medicaid and will be the young adults

point of contact for information, such as change of address.

If a young receives SSI, they will not receive CIC Medicaid

Once a young adult turns 21, they are eligible for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) until

the age of 26.

Young adults must apply for coverage

Forms and Contacts

Forms

http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/Forms.shtml

Statewide Independent Living Contacts

http://centerforchildwelfare.fmhi.usf.edu/IndependentLiving/IL%20Directory-

Revised.pdf

Additional Questions

Brandie McCabe

Youth & Young Adult Transition Services Specialist

Brandie.McCabe@myflfamilies.com

(850) 717-4218