A licensed, residential, child care site where older youth, ages 16-18, who have a plan of independent living concentrate on preparation for independent living and completion of their educational/vocational programs in a supervised group setting.  Youth are currently enrolled and actively participating in Chafee Services.  Youth should not work more than 20 hours per week, if they attend school full time.  Typically, youth entering a TLG have been residing in a residential treatment facility.  Youth are expected to maintain employment and develop goals and plans for their future.  All facilities that are contracted as TLP group homes are licensed as residential child care agencies by the Residential Program Unit within Central Office.

If the Family Support Team (FST) decides placement in a group home setting would be in the best interest of the youth, staff should refer the youth through FACES by using the Referral – Transitional Living Group Home/Scattered Site Services screen. In addition, the child’s Children’s Service Worker will submit the Residential and Specialized Placement Referral, CS-9, to their supervisor as part of the referral packet.   The CS-9 must have been completed within the last 30 days.  The Adolescent FST Guide (CD94) and Individualized Action Plan Goals (CD94) are completed within the last six months.  A life skills assessment tool of the Children’s Service Worker’s choice should be completed to assist with youth engagement, assessment, and goal development.  Once placed, the group home is responsible for completing a day-to-day service plan that addresses all items listed in the Adolescent FST Guide (CD94) and Individualized Action Plan Goals (CD94), within 30 days of the youth’s initial placement and quarterly thereafter.  The group home provider’s service plan should address:

• Academic Achievement;
• Job Readiness;
• Community Services and Support;
• Youth Leadership;
• Independent Living Skills Training.

In order to meet the individual day-to-day service plan, the provider is responsible for contacting, interviewing, and screening youth, lesson planning, liaison activities, skills assessment, record keeping, pre and post testing evaluation, material and resource organization, organization of field trips, incentives for youth, and purchasing supplies for independent living skills training.

It is the responsibility of the child’s Children’s Service Worker to update the youth’s case in FACES to show the youth placed in a TLG placement type. The maintenance code must be coded “no maintenance”.

Once a youth is residing in a Transitional Living Group Home, Chafee Services will be provided by the TLG provider.

If at any time the child’s Children’s Service Worker thinks that the contractor for TLG is not meeting the requirements outlined in the Transitional Living contract and the issue cannot be resolved with the contractor, the child’s Children’s Service Worker should contact the Older Youth Transition Specialist with the concerns to be addressed.