Youth in Transition (YTP) 

The Youth in Transition Program (YTP) provides transition services and cash maintenance stipends to youth who are in the care of the department, capable of living on their own, and age 17 or over (16 with a high school diploma or GED). They must also be approved for either the Youth in Employment (YIE) or the Youth in College Program (YIC). The purpose of these programs is to motivate and empower youth in transition into economic independence and maturity.

Eligibility for YIE 

• the youth must be 17 years of age, but not yet 21; 
• the department must have court-ordered legal responsibility for the youth; 
• no room and board payments are being made on their behalf;
• the youth must have received basic independent living skills training and achieved minimal readiness for independent living as demonstrated through a Daniel Memorial Life Skill Assessment administered within six months prior to the youth applying for the YIE; 
• all other monetary benefits for which the youth is eligible must be applied for; and
• youth must be employed and working a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Cash Benefits to the Youth 

The Youth in Employment Program provides transition services and a cash maintenance stipend each month. Youth in Employment Program services and stipend will be terminated when the youth is legally emancipated, has completed 24 months in the program, reached 21 years of age, has successfully completed service agreement tasks and achieved the permanency goal, or fails to meet continued requirements of the program. See Appendix F of Procedures 302 for program financial provisions. Contact your caseworker or agency about the YIE program. Details may also be found on the DCFS-sponsored website: www.youthincare.illinois.gov.

Youth in College/Vocational Training Program 

The Youth in College Program (YIC) provides supplemental services and cash maintenance payments to youth for whom the department is legally responsible and who are enrolled full-time in college or other post-high school education programs.

Benefits: 

• youth may choose to attend an accredited vocational school, four-year college or community college; 
• a monthly grant in the amount of $471 is provided each month for up to four (4) years. Direct deposit is strongly recommended; 
• medical cards are provided to Illinois students until participants reach 21;  
• reimbursement is available for books not covered by financial aid; 
• transition managers are available for assistance; 
• benefits are available until the earlier of four (4) years, or the semester of the youth’s 23rd birthday; and 
• the youth is eligible for a one-time start up funding in the amount of $200 to be used for initial living expenses.

Eligibility Requirements: 

To be eligible, the youth must: 

• be under DCFS’ guardianship; 
• have high school diploma or GED certificate or be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited university or a vocational training program;
• complete the CFS 449 (Youth in College/Vocational Training Program application); 
• be at least 16 years old and not yet 21; 
• maintain at least “C” average each semester; 
• maintain full-time status (12 hours fall & spring, 6 hours in summer, or an approved summer internship). Enrollment will be verified through the National Student Clearinghouse;  
• submit class schedule at the start of each semester and grades at the end of each semester;  
• report any change of address promptly to the Business Office by fax at 309-693-5433; and 
• apply for financial aid every year to cover tuition or room and board costs

Community College Payment Program 

The Community College Payment Program allows youth under DCFS guardianship enrolling in an Illinois community college the opportunity to have their in-district tuition, fees, and books paid for by DCFS if they are not paid by financial aid grants. Payment requests can be submitted for vocational training programs that are part of the community college curriculum. Requests for out-of-district and prior fiscal years’ tuition will not be approved.

Benefits:

• payment of in-district community college tuition, fees, and books not covered by financial aid grants for a maximum of 4 semesters; and 
• services and assistance as required from the caseworker and/or department education advisors.

Eligibility Criteria: 

To be eligible, the youth must: 

• be under DCFS’ guardianship; 
• be accepted for enrollment by an in-district community college;
• not use his/her four semesters of payments; 
• maintain a “C” average; and 
• apply for financial aid through FAFSA, designating the community college to receive funds and must complete all requested documentation from the school’s financial aid department. FAFSA funding is to be used before requesting payment from DCFS.

DCFS Scholarships 

DCFS provides a medical card, monthly maintenance payments and tuition waivers if the recipient att ends an Illinois state university. 

Benefits: 

• an award in the amount of $471 is provided each month for up to four (4) years. Direct deposit is strongly recommended; 
• a medical card is provided to Illinois students until the earlier of four years or age 23; 
• a tuition waiver is available to any Illinois state-funded community college or university; 
• reimbursement of the cost of books not covered by financial aid is available; 
• education advisors and transition managers will render assistance as needed; and 
• benefits are available for four (4) years, or the date on which the participant receives a bachelor’s degree. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• youth who are at least 16 years old, but not yet 21 on the scholarship application deadline date of March 31 of the current year are eligible to apply; 
• the department must have court-ordered legal guardianship for the applicant or the department must have had legal guardianship for the applicant prior to the adoption being finalized, or the applicant must be in the Subsidized Guardianship Program; 
• the youth must successfully compete for a full-term DCFS college scholarship; 
• the youth must maintain at least a “C” average each semester; 
• the youth must maintain full-time status (12 hours fall & spring, 6 hours or an approved internship in summer). Enrollment will be verified through the National Student Clearinghouse; 
• submit the class schedule at the start of each semester and grades at the end of the semester; and 
• report change of address promptly to Business Office. 

The DCFS Scholarship is a competitive based process. A scholarship winner can use the scholarship for up to a four-year (bachelor’s) degree. The DCFS application packet is submitted by the youth’s caseworker. Caregivers can be helpful in making sure that their foster youth obtains all necessary documents and completes an application in time to make the annual DCFS deadline. 

See Rule 312 (DCFS Scholarship Program) for specific program information.

Education and Training Vouchers 

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program assists youth with postsecondary education related expenses not covered by financial aid grants. 

Benefits: 

• payment of up to $5000 annually of education-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, uniforms, equipment and/or transportation not covered by other grants or scholarships; 
• funding is available until age 21; and 
• if the student is enrolled in a post-secondary program, has used ETV funding before age 21, and is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the program, funding is available until age 23. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• youth for whom DCFS is legally responsible or who aged out of care at age 18 or older; or 
• youth who have achieved permanency at age 16 or older through either subsidized guardianship or adoption. 

Employment Incentive Program 

The Employment Incentive Program (EIP) is designed to provide financial and supplemental services to help youth gain marketable skills through on-the-job work experience or through job training programs. Youth who complete the EIP are equipped with the employment skills and work ethics necessary for a successful transition to independence. Youth living in foster care, supervised independent living, group homes or institutional placements may apply for the EIP. 

Benefits: 

• monthly payment of $150.00 with documentation for a maximum of 12 months or age 21, whichever comes first; and 
• start-up funding for work-related items (e.g., tools, work clothing, etc.). Funding is need-based and limited to a one-time disbursement of up to $200.00 with required documentation. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• be 17 years of age, and not yet 21; 
• have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate; 
• be under court-ordered legal responsibility of DCFS; 
• complete Ansell Casey life skills assessment; and 
• be involved in job training through a certified job skills training program (e.g., Job Corps, apprenticeship, internship), or be employed for at least one month prior to applying for the EIP and be working a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Youth Housing Assistance Program 

DCFS may provide Youth Housing Assistance to help attain or maintain housing stability for youth that the department currently has or previously had legal responsibility. There are two parts to Youth Housing Assistance: Housing Advocacy and Cash Assistance, each of which is explained below. Often a client will need housing advocacy services first. Once housing is identified, that same client often needs cash assistance. Other clients will not need housing advocacy at all and will simply utilize cash assistance. Still others just need help finding housing and do not need any cash assistance. Call for details. 

Housing Advocacy: 

Housing advocacy services assist young adults in obtaining and/or maintaining stable housing. Services include: 

• assistance in securing affordable housing; 
• consumer education; 
• budget counseling;  
• linkages to community based resources (i.e. assistance with utilities, clothing and food); and 
• follow-up services for a minimum of three months after the client secures appropriate housing. 

Note: Housing Advocacy does not include any money. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Youth receiving housing advocacy services must meet all three of the following criteria: 

1. be at least 17 ½ and less than 21 years of age; 
2. be the legal responsibility of DCFS within six months of case closure, or have aged out of DCFS care; (Note: Youth that entered adoption or subsidized guardianship after their 14th birthday are also eligible.); and 
3. have an income that is sufficient to meet rent and utility costs; or be working to obtain that income. (While housing advocacy can begin before income is in place, it is extremely unlikely that youth will be able to secure housing without sufficient income. Housing advocates can often help with employment.)

Cash Assistance: 

Assistance will vary depending on a client’s situation. Cash assistance may be authorized for the following reasons: 

• housing security deposit; 
• rent (limited circumstances); 
• beds for the client and the client’s children; 
• current utility bills or utility deposits; 
• appliances; 
• partial housing subsidy for a period of one year following case closure (housing costs must exceed 30% of income and assistance cannot continue past the client’s 21st birthday); and 
• items required by the client to avoid or manage a crisis.

Eligibility Requirements: 

Youth receiving Cash Assistance must meet all four of the following criteria: 

1. be at least 18 and less than 21 years of age; 
2. be legally the responsibility of DCFS and ready for case closure or have aged out of DCFS care (Note: Youth that moved to adoption or subsidized guardianship are NOT eligible for cash assistance);  
3. have completed a budget statement (Form CFS 370-5C) that demonstrates that with any subsidy and all other income they will be able to cover all remaining living expenses (e.g. housing, utilities, clothing, food); and 
4. need cash assistance in order to attain or maintain stable housing. 

Referral Process or Questions: Please discuss this program with your caseworker. For more information, caseworkers may contact the Youth Housing Assistance Coordinator at 312-814-5571.

Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) 

This program provides supportive services and living maintenance to youth. SILP is offered through private agencies contracted by DCFS to provide services. These agencies provide services such as various types of advocacy, training, counseling and monitoring services. 

Youth who participate in this program must be: 

• age 16 and older, but not yet 21; and 
• under DCFS’ guardianship. and they must: 
• have a permanency goal of “27” in accordance with Administrative Procedures #5; 
• have some money management skills; 
• be able to live in the community without continuous adult supervision; 
• have the desire and ability to cooperate with the supervising agency and their program rules; and 
• be able to manage day to day living skills in an apartment or room and board arrangement such as meal preparation, purchasing and maintaining clothing and keeping themselves and their living environment reasonably clean. 

Other requirements and policy governing the Supervised Independent Living Program are in DCFS Rule and Procedures, Subpart C – Appendix H - P302. 

Medical Coverage after DCFS Care 

The medical card that youth receive while in foster care makes it possible to take care of a wide range of routine and critical medical needs. When a child’s case closes aft er they leave DCFS foster care after age 18, the medical card ends. The young person is often left in medical care limbo with few options. That changed with Illinois’ implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act. As of January 2014 there is a new Medicaid eligibility group that includes young people up to the age of 26 who were formerly in foster care. Additionally, young people who left DCFS through adoption or guardianship can also apply for health care benefits through Medicaid. They may be eligible based on low-income, disability or if they have dependent children. 

Eligibility information and the application process are on the website Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE) at www.ABE.illinois.gov. Applications for Medicaid can also be submitted by calling the toll-free number 800-843-6154. The ABE website is streamlined and designed to be easy to use, and if needed the DCFS Health Services staff can help with questions. Call 217-557-2689.

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