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Program Overview
The
Nevada Independent Living Program is designed to assist and
prepare foster and former foster youth in making the
transition from foster care to adulthood by providing
opportunities to obtain life skills for self-sufficiency and
independence. Some young people who leave the foster care
system may need continuing services to help them on their
way to adulthood. The Independent Living Program does this
by offering many learning and training opportunities along
with financial assistance.
The
Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) considers all
eligible foster youth to include those youth who are in the
care and custody of DCFS, Washoe County Department of Social
Services , Clark County Department of Family Services and
Tribal foster youth. DCFS considers foster care as the legal
status of the child, not the physical placement of the
child, to determine eligibility for independent living
services.
Who is
eligible?
The
Independent Living Program services are available to youth
15 and older who are currently in foster care and to former
foster care youth who aged-out of the foster care system at
age 18. Independent Living services are also available to
youth who were adopted from foster care on or after their
16th birthday. Young people who aged-out may continue
receiving services until age 21. Nevada will extend
independent living services to youth who have aged out of
care in another state.
What
are the Independent Living Services?
Some of
the services provided through the Independent Living Program
include:
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Daily living skills
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Money management
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Decision making
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Housing assistance
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Substance abuse prevention,
nutrition education and pregnancy prevention
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Preparation for
postsecondary training and education
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Mentors
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Financial assistance with
college or vocational schools
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Medical coverage
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Counseling
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Assistance in obtaining the
GED
What are the funding sources
for the Independent Living Program?
The three major sources of
funding to assist foster and former foster youth in Nevada
come from the federal and state government. The federal
funding comes from the Foster Care Independence At of 1999
which established the John H. Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program. Federal funding also supports the
Education and Training Vouchers. The State of Nevada also
provides financial assistance to former foster youth through
the passage of Assembly Bill 94, also known as the Financial
Assistance to Former Foster Youth Program (FAFFY). Each of
these programs provides a variety of services and may have
special requirements.
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