Our Mission

To provide you with the skills, experience and assistance it takes for you to become productive, self-sufficient adults.


Some Hard Facts You Ought to Know

In general, the foster care system may give you an unrealistic idea about what to expect from society and how to survive.

Very likely, you'll leave foster care without having had a caring individual around to teach you the necessary skills that will allow you to lead a successful, independent life.

When the going gets rough -- as it often does in anyone's life -- there is usually no adoptive family or other permanent relationship to lend you a hand.

The statistics say that less than 1 in 5 youth are completely self-sufficient when they leave foster care. We want to help you beat those odds and change all that!


Some Good News. You're Eligible for Help. Take Advantage of It.

There is a whole world of services, support and financial aid that many of you qualify for but may not be aware of.

The requirements are easy. Make sure your social worker or probation officer documents your needs for school, housing, and work-related expenses in your Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP). The TILP is your ticket to services and funds designed to help transitioning foster youth cover some of the expenses necessary to enter youth adulthood.


Lots of Good Things Are Ahead

Believe it or not, Los Angeles County wants what you want for yourself.

1. Good Health
   
2. Safety and Survival
   
3. Economic Well-Being
   
4. Social and Emotional Well-Being
   
5. Education and Work Force Readiness

Legislation and Funding

The Independent Living Program was initially authorized in 1985 Public Law PL 99-272. In January 1988, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) established an administrative unit called Emancipation Services (now known as Youth Development Services Division) to implement and administer the Independent Living Program for youth in Los Angeles County, including probation youth. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 PL 103-66 permanently authorized the Independent Living Program effective October 1, 1992. The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 established requirements and funding for foster youth services.

Independent Living Program (ILP) financial assistance is authorized by the Federal Independent Living Program, and administered through the California Department of Social Services, and authorized by the Los Angeles County Auditor Controller. Available funds are based on the amount of money allocated to Los Angeles County by the State every fiscal year. In 2006 the ILP budget was approximately $15 million. In 2007-2008 the budget was $13 million. In county fiscal year 2008-2009, it will again be around 13 million. These funds are augmented by other private and public sector monies and programs that serve the county's population of transitioning youth.

For more information on the legislative history of the Independent Living Program please contact NFCAP, the National Foster Care Awareness Project at www.connectforkids.org

Brought to you by the Los Angeles County
Youth Development Services Division and Independent Living Program (YDSD/ILP) L.A. COUNTY TRANSITION PARTNERSHIP

Thank you for visiting our Youth Development Program website.  Please continue to contact us with your comments and suggestions.  We need and welcome your participation to make this site a vibrant source of information for all youth transitioning from foster care in Los Angeles County.  If you have information to share on our site or experience a problem with the site (e.g. nonfunctioning link),  Please contact Jennifer Chuang via email at chuanj@dcfs.lacounty.gov

The Youth Development Program receives a set budget every year from state and federal government sources.  Resources are distributed according to need and not as an entitlement. Since the budget is limited, please note that the services and benefits described in this website are available to eligible transitioning youth 16 - up to their 21st birthday in Los Angeles County, on a needs-basis, until all funds are spent for the fiscal year (the fiscal year ends June 30th).  There are some services available for youth 14 - 15.  Some of the resources are listed for your information and ARE NOT to be considered an endorsement by Los Angeles County.