More than 20 Years of Helping Youth Achieve Stability and Success

“When I needed interviewing clothing, they were there. When I needed stuff for my car, they were there. Even when I need someone to talk to, they are there. So when I turn 21, I will miss them a lot, but they know I will come and visit them,” said Anna*, a youth in Family & Children Services’ Independent Living Program.

For the youth served through the Independent Living Program, also known as ILP, turning 18 is both an exciting and terrifying milestone. They exit the foster care system and enter adulthood, generally without family support to help them ease into maintaining housing, paying their bills, and figuring out the innumerable big and small tasks of supporting one’s self.

Our ILP staff strives to teach the youth strong life skills, ranging from decision-making and goal-setting to how to find a job, rent an apartment, and open a bank account. They also emphasize staying safe, with workshops on relationship violence and risky behaviors. For youth interested in college or job training, the staff connects them with financial assistance programs. Anna will be the first in her family to attend college.

Some of the youth in the program are also juggling parenthood. During the last year, grant support from Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Service Area enabled the ILP staff to provide a parent education series, as well as rides to prenatal and well-baby check-ups, for new mothers in the program. The ILP staff hopes to build on these resources this year, while also launching an expanded healthy living curriculum through the support of Kaiser Permanente.

Learn more about ILP.

*Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.