The Transitional Living Program (TLP) is intended for a youth, typically age 16 and over; whose permanency goal is not reunification, adoption or legal guardianship. Transitional living experiences for youth are vital.  The purpose of the transitional living program is to provide a living environment in the best interest of the youth that provides a path for the youth to transition from alternative care to self sufficiency and achieves the outcome of preparing the youth to live independently.

The transitional living program is designed to provide youth with more independent types of living arrangements and programs. The transitional living program is distinct as the focus of the program is on life skills teaching while providing housing versus behavioral modification or assistance with emotional health care needs and is intended to serve youth who will exit the foster care system to live on their own.  Services complement the youth’s own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to assure that youths recognize and accept their personal responsibility in preparing for and making the transition from adolescence to adulthood. 

When youth enter into a TLP, it is an opportunity to discuss shared living agreements and understandings at the time of placement to promote independence, clarify new roles, and establish mutually agreed up on expectations.

Adolescence is a time of testing, not only one’s abilities but others’ abilities as well. It is a time of trial and error.  Our out-of-home care youth need to be allowed to make mistakes and to learn by natural consequences.  Staff and care providers are to assist the youth with coping and learning from their successes and deficits.

When youth in out-of-home care make mistakes, staff and care providers need to exhibit patience, support and guidance. Youth need to feel the security that we will not give up on them, rather, we will work with them as they learn how to live and function in the adult world.

Ideally, TLP offers the youth the opportunity to transition smoothly from a more restrictive environment to a less restrictive setting based on the readiness of the youth. TLP allows the youth to apply what has been learned in their life skills teaching to actual daily living.  Based on the particular needs of the youth, they may progress from one setting to another but may enter or exit any living situation at any time when it is felt by staff and the youth that they are ready for a change.

When a youth is not successful, staff and care providers should assess the current needs of the youth and modify the case plan accordingly. It is hoped the majority of issues will be resolved in the current placement.  As a last resort, a youth may be returned to a more restrictive setting and receive remedial services as needed.  When the youth is ready to progress again, TLP placement may occur.