Independent Living,
If you are a teenager in foster care...
A brochure prepared by Advocates for
Children's Services
CONTENTS:
What
kind of help can I get?
When
can I get help?
- If you are 13-15
years old...
- If you are 16-18
years old...
- If you are 18-21
years olds...
Where
do I get help?
Other
Resources
What
if I hate asking for help?
Independent Living
If you are a teenager in foster care, you can
get help making the transition to living on your own once you are
too old to stay in foster care. There are resources available for
this kind of help and you are entitled to get the help that you
need.
Living on your own might be overwhelming at first. More than ever
before, you’ll have freedom to make decisions about your life. But
more than ever before, you’ll also be responsible for your paying
your bills and handling your finances, as well as making the best
choices about education, work, relationships and the direction of
your life. There may be things you don’t know yet about living on
your own, like how to get an apartment or balance a budget, for
example. That’s why the federal government and North Carolina have
an Independent Living Program, specifically designed to help
children in foster care as they age out of the foster care system.
Below you’ll find details about the kind of help that the law
entitles you to and how you can get that help. Just keep in mind
that laws will continue to change (hopefully for the better), even
after this brochure is published. So if you have any doubt about
what the law currently says, you can contact Advocates for
Children’s Services.
What Kind Of Help Can I Get?
Your county’s Independent Living Coordinator,
sometimes called the LINKS Coordinator, can arrange to help pay for
certain types of costs related to moving out on one’s own, going to
school and finding a job. These costs may include things like rent
deposits, furniture, tuition for driver’s education courses, auto
repair, computers and many others. There are limits to how much of
this financial assistance you can get each year, depending on your
age, your assessed needs and what the money gets used for.
Your county should also provide you with training and assistance in
independent living. Some examples of what this may include are: help
getting a job, workshops in daily living skills, help getting your
high school diploma or planning for college, and a mentor to work
with you on your personal goals. What’s available will depend on
your county, so ask your caseworker for details.
Both the financial assistance and the hands-on training and guidance
are part of the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, a federal
law designed to help children in foster care make the transition to
independent living.
When Can I
Get Help?
-
If
you are 13–15 years old:
The state of North Carolina does not guarantee you help with
independent living at this age, but you can still ask for it.
Some counties in North Carolina have independent living
resources for this age group. You can tell your caseworker what
areas you think you need help with and ask what’s available.
The U.S. Congress has found that "states and local governments,
with financial support from the Federal Government, should offer
an extensive program…for young adults leaving foster care, with
participation beginning several years before high school
graduation…."
If
you are 16-18 years old:
According to federal law, your case plan should include
"where appropriate . . . a written description of the programs
and services which will help . . . [you] prepare for the
transition from foster care to independent living." Further,
once you are 16 or older, under both federal and state
law, every time your case plan is reviewed at a hearing, that
review should include your independent living assessment and
plan and how the plan has been followed.
This is the time to talk to your social worker about your
independent living plan and the areas you need help with. When
you attend your permanency hearings, you can also let the judge
know that you would like an independent living plan if you don’t
already have one. And you can tell the judge what areas you
think you need help with.
If
you are 18-21 years old:
It’s not too late to get help! In fact, your county should
be making efforts to contact you and let you know about what
services are available. Even if you are already on your own, you
can still contact your caseworker for independent living
services to help with your transition. The Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program even says that states may allow you to stay
eligible for some assistance until you are 23 years old, if you
are already participating in the program when you turn 21 and
you are making satisfactory progress in an education program.
Where Do I Get Help?
Talk to your caseworker first. If you can’t get the
information from your caseworker, there are several people you can
ask for help. You can talk to your Guardian Ad Litem if you
have one. You can talk to a SAYSO (Strong Able Youth Speaking
OUT) Board Member. SAYSO is a group of North Carolina foster kids
and former foster kids who speak out for their own rights.
You can also call your county’s LINKS or Independent Living
Coordinator. If you do not have that person’s phone number, look in
the blue pages of your phone book for your county’s Department of
Human Services or Department of Social Services. When you call them,
ask for the division that deals with foster care and then ask for
the LINKS or Independent Living Coordinator. You could also call the
State LINKS Coordinator in Raleigh at (919) 733-4622.
Also, whenever you attend your hearings, you can always let the
judge know what you need or want. If you have tried these steps, but
feel that you are being denied services for which you are eligible,
call Advocates for Children’s Services, a special state-wide unit of
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., at (919) 865-7200.
Other Resources
In addition to help provided by the state and
county, there are many community resources that you may find useful.
Public libraries have a wealth of information on just about anything
you can imagine, from career planning and cooking on a budget to how
to buy a house. If you’re not sure where to find what you’re looking
for, ask a librarian. For health issues, you can always contact your
county’s Health Department. Your local community college may have
resources you can use and the Cooperative Extension Service offers
free publications related to independent living.
What If I Hate Asking For Help?
Asking for help can be difficult for anyone. Making
lots of phone calls to ask questions and find the information you
need can get discouraging if you don’t find what you need right
away. But being persistent and asking for what you need are
important skills for surviving and succeeding as an adult. Just
remember that you deserve to get the help you that you need. So ask
for it!
This information
prepared by:
Advocates for
Children's Services
(A special Statewide project of
Legal
Aid of North Carolina)
201 West Main Street, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27702
919-226-0051
E-mail:
ACSinfo@legalaidnc.org ยท Website:
www.legalaidnc.org
Disclaimer
The materials contained on this website are for information and educational
purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Please contact your
Legal Aid of North Carolina office or a private attorney if you need to speak to
an attorney regarding your particular situation. See our complete
disclaimer.
Mission Statement
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that
provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in
order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers
to economic opportunity.