1. Allegheny County DHS Programs for Transition Aged Youth
January 29, 2016

2. The Independent Living Initiative (ILI)
Began in March of 2006
Located within the DHS Executive Office
Fifteen full-time staff
Independent Living Program Manager
Five DHS Caseworker 3’s
Six Educational Liaisons
Youth Outreach Supervisor
Transition Program Manager
Interns who have experienced foster care after the age of 16

3. The Independent Living Initiative (ILI)
Population served through PA Independent Living Grant:
Youth aged who have been adjudicated dependent and are placed out-of-home by CYF
In , 921 youth and young adults served
Additional Young Adults served through other funding:
Youth aged who qualified above
, 125 served
With the opening of the 412 Youth Zone, we will expand our service population to homeless young adults aged 18-24

4. The Independent Living Initiative (ILI)
Services:
Needs Assessment/Case Planning
Life Skills
Education
Employment
Prevention
Support Services
Housing
Parenting
Services are provided by DHS staff (Independent Living Initiative) and by provider agencies

5. The Independent Living Initiative
Educational Liaisons
Assist youth aged 16-24
High School retention and Post-Secondary planning
SAT/ACT preparation/ fee waivers
College Tours
Applications to colleges, universities, trade schools
Referrals for tutoring & remediation
Completion of financial aid forms & scholarship applications
Assistance with career planning
Connections to additional DHS and community resources

6. The Independent Living Initiative
Educational Liaisons
2005: .4% of all aging out youth (  8 out of about 240) went to college
2006 and 2007: (Pre-Educational Liaisons), college entry was about 12%
: entry rate hovered between 41-45%
: an average of 54% entered post secondary

7. The Independent Living Initiative
Educational Liaisons
As of May, 2015:
18% of college/post-secondary entrants have finished some type of post secondary program
25 % of all entrants (regardless of age 18-24) are still attending school.
Class of 2014: 54% completed their first year.

8. The Independent Living Initiative
Educational Liaisons
Post Secondary students residing on campus receive:
A daily stipend
Reimbursement for books and supplies
A complete dorm kit including bedding, suitcase, dishes, lamp, etc.
A backpack containing school supplies
Assistance with housing during breaks and vacations

9. The Independent Living Initiative Housing Partners and Providers
Action Housing
Single apartments for youth exiting foster care (HUD funded)
Community Human Services
Fully subsidized apartments for campus students during term breaks and summer vacations, and non college youth who remain active with CYF
Family Links Downtown Outreach Center and Shelter (DOCS)
DHS contracts for beds for homeless former CYF youth who require stabilization services or are requesting re-opening of their CYF case

10. The Independent Living Initiative
Housing
Independence Ahead Mobile Transition Aged Youth (M-TAY)
An initiative of our Office of Behavioral Health
Provides mobile treatment teams and housing to youth with behavioral health needs who can live independently with supports
Community Human Services
Rent subsidy program

11. The Independent Living Initiative
Employment
Learn and Earn Summer Employment Program, 2015
Partnership between Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to provide youth with summer employment
1926 youth were employed through this program
BNY Mellon
BNY Mellon grantees Family Links and Auberle provided enhanced employment opportunities for transition aged youth
Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board
Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board awarded Auberle a contract to provide additional workforce and employment services to out-of-school youth at the 412 Youth Zone

12. Youth Engagement/Youth Leadership
Youth Support Partners
Young adults with lived experience who serve as peer mentors, advocates and coaches for younger youth still involved with DHS services
Foster Club All-Stars
Seven week internship in Seaside, Oregon
Youth are trained and present/speak to various stakeholders, including legislators and child welfare professionals
System Transformation Through Youth (SITY)
DHS Young Adult Advisory Board
Provides DHS and partners with feedback on practice and policy

13. The Independent Living Initiative The 412 Youth Zone-Auberle
A comprehensive one stop service center for youth aged involved in Independent Living services and for homeless youth aged 18-24
Engaging and innovative activities based on youth input will include:
Classes and groups in life skills, health and wellness, employment, parenting, education
Arts/crafts/ fitness
Industrial kitchen
Medical treatment rooms
Showers, lockers and laundry facilities

14. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
Allegheny County was selected as a site in 2014
The Initiative has provided technical assistance in the following areas:
Youth Engagement/Youth Advocacy
Community Partnerships
Semi-annual survey of youth well being
National site convening and meetings provide
the opportunity to network with other jurisdictions
Implementation of the Opportunity Passport™ Keys to Your Financial Future (financial literacy curriculum) and matched savings program

15. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™
A one to one match, up to $ is provided to youth who complete modules 1-3 of Keys to your Financial Future
Participants also receive financial incentives for module completion ($ total to complete all 7 modules)
Since December, 2014:
146 youth have completed at least one module of Keys to your Financial Future
17 participants have made 26 matches for vehicles, housing, education, investments and credit repair
71 young adults have completed three required modules and are eligible to match savings

16. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™
Our first participant match occurred in March, 2015
Total amount of match provided to young adults through the Opportunity Passport ™:
$27,632.01
Assets purchased by youth total:
$100,333.77
Stipends (Module Completion/Youth Co-Facilitators): $21,645.00

17. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™
Program Costs:
March, 2014 to March, 2016
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative contribution:
$205,000.00
Opportunity Passport Coordinator
Stipends for module completion
Match
Stipends for youth Co-Facilitators
Youth Engagement events
Action Housing (Admin/pass through/technical assistance)
Allegheny County DHS contribution: $20, (match)
Allegheny County DHS in-Kind
Other in-kind: $

18. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative Opportunity Passport™
Our Goals for 2016
Continue to receive technical assistance from The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative in the following areas:
Self Evaluation
Youth engagement
Development of A Youth-Adult Partnership Board in conjunction with the 412 Youth Zone
Increase the number of Opportunity Passport Participants who are eligible for match to 175!