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Region 10 - Seattle

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Collaboration Initiative - 2005/2006
Independent Living / Transitional Living Report

Administration for Children and Families, Region 10 Seattle, Washington
May 2006


Table of Contents


Special Thanks:

  • Pamela Johnson, National Program Officer, Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families
  • Curtis Porter, Director, Youth Development Division, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration for Children and Families
  • Dorothy I. Ansell, Assistant Program Director, The University of Oklahoma, OUTREACH, National Resource Center for Youth Development
  • Kathy Sutter, Senior Development Specialist, The University of Oklahoma OUTREACH, National Resource Center for Youth Development
  • Clay Finck, Program Development Specialist, The University of Oklahoma OUTREACH, Resource Center for Youth Development
  • Vince Herberholt, Associate Regional Administrator, Region 10, Administration for Children and Families
  • Gary Hammons, Executive Director, Northwest Network for Youth


Region 10 2005-2006 ILP / TLP Collaboration Initiative


Background

The Initiative began in June 2005, as follow up to the May 2005 Pathways (ILP/TLP) Conference. Facilitated by Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) ILP/TLP staff, an initial conference call in June, 2005 was convened to share Pathways information among ILP and TLP programs. As part of the call discussion, participants expressed interest in working together on a special 12 month effort towards additional and enhanced ILP/TLP partnerships. Region 10 was asked to provide coordinative support.


Initiative Statement

"The Initiative promotes additional Independent Living Program (ILP) and Transitional Living Program (TLP) partnerships towards enhanced quality and quantity of services and increased numbers of served youth; the Region 10 Collaboration goal is to increase the numbers of At Risk Youth within each of the Region 10 states who successfully transition into economic independence and adulthood."


Initiative Activity Highlights

  • Quarterly conference calls were held involving the Region 10 ILP State Coordinators and TLP grantees. Each call included sharing of specific collaborations as well as training presentations on priority participant concerns: e.g. practical application of Positive Youth Development within ILP/TLP programs. Participants included federal leadership from the Washington DC Children's and Family and Youth Services Bureaus.
  • An Initiative web page was developed containing collaborations documentation, Internet resources, and conference call minutes.
  • Selected collaborations were presented at the May 17, 2006 Pathways ILP/TLP luncheon and a report of sample collaborations disseminated to conferees.

Youth Program Definitions

Transitional Living Program (TLP)
The Transitional Living program assists homeless youth ages 16 through 21 with up to 18 months of shelter and skill development as part of a comprehensive program to help in the transition to independent living.

Independent Living Program (ILP)
The Independent Living Program works in partnership with states to provide independent living skill building to youth age 16 to 21 who are in state foster care or, were in state foster care past their 16th birthday.


Initiative Resources

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/region10/resources/region_10_tlp_ilp_collab/index.html

Region 10 ACF Staff:
Judith Wood (judith.wood@acf.hhs.gov)
Tina Minor (tina.minor@acf.hhs.gov)



Sample Collaborations

THANK YOU to all of the Region 10 ILP and TLP programs who documented their collaboration successes in the following pages.



Medford, Oregon

  1. Demographic Program Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • TLP Name: Transitional Living Program
    • Location: Community Works, 900 E. Main St. Medford, OR 97504
    • Type of Program: Transitional Living Program provides housing and case management services to homeless youth ages 16 through 21. It is part of our Homeless and Runaway Teen Programs (HART), which includes our Home Run Program (Basic Center funded) and our Drop In services, and our ILP program. TLP clients receive up to 2 years of intensive case management and life skills training and a maximum of 18 months of housing. TLP coordinates services with other community partners to aid its clients with their multiple needs.
    • Number of Youth Served: Last year we housed and provided intensive services to 22 youth. We provide up to 100 youth with short term case management services per year.
    • Services Provided: A variety of housing options available up to 18 months, case management, weekly Life Skills Classes, referrals and advocacy, opportunities for youth to complete their education, to learn pre-employment skills and to find and maintain employment, assistance in obtaining medical care and government benefits, drug and alcohol and mental health assessments and treatment, and aftercare services
    • ILP Name: Independent Living Program
    • Location: Community Works, 900 E. Main St. Medford, OR 97504
    • Type of Program: This program provides case management services to foster care youth ages 16-22.
    • Number of Youth Served: 30 a month, between Jackson and Josephine County.
    • Services Provided: Case management, weekly Life Skills classes, referrals and advocacy, transitional services (financial assistance) for youth who have aged out of state care, Education Training Vouchers for youth who are enrolled in post secondary education up to age 23 if they were enrolled on their 21st birthday, and aftercare services
  2. Briefly Describe Collaboration Efforts (include length of time/location)

    Our ILP and TLP programs collaborate on many efforts. These programs have been collaborating for over four years. Our Life Skills classes in Jackson County are co-taught by our case managers in both programs. The case managers in both programs serve as back up to each other when one is not in the office.

  3. Briefly Describe Collaboration Accomplishments or Benefits

    Collaboration between these programs has strengthened our Life Skills program. It has allowed us to collaborate on individual clients as well as making each program stronger. Clients in each of these programs have similar issues, and it seemed to be a natural pairing. Involvement of both programs has also increased the social networks of the youth, and their buy into our program.

  4. Briefly Describe Challenges to Collaboration

    One of our biggest challenges is that our current funding source for our TLP program cannot house youth who are currently open in the foster care system, which causes us to be more creative in our approach to helping these youth get housing. If the ILP clients are no longer eligible, or the state closes their case they can receive housing services through our TLP program.

  5. Provide Contact Information (complete for both programs involved)

Bend, Oregon

  1. Demographic Program Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • TLP Name: "The LOFT"
    • Location: Bend, Oregon
    • Type of Program: TLP
    • Number of Youth Served: 12 Resident Capacity
    • Services Provided: Intensive case management services and a goal oriented transitional living planning designed to develop strong life and interpersonal skills. The two primary goals of the transitional living plan are Education Completion and Vocational Training & Placement.
    • ILP Name: Oregon ILP
    • Location: Bend, Oregon
    • Type of Program: One ILP staff position
    • Number of Youth Served: 29 youth per month
    • Services Provided: life skills/case management services
  2. Briefly Describe Collaboration Efforts (include length of time/location)

    ILP Coordinator brought years of life skills curriculum and group facilitation experience to The LOFT Program at no charge.

    Since August of 2003, ILP youth have been able to access supportive housing through The LOFT (facility, supervision, supports) that may not have been available otherwise.

  3. Briefly Describe Collaboration Accomplishments or Benefits

    TLP youth were able to attend life skills groups that may not have been available to them otherwise. TLP Program gained use of equipment through a collaborative grant (freezer, shelves, computers/tables, etc.) that they could not have afforded upon start of program.

    ILP Coordinator received rent-free personal office and use of all office equipment. Referrals from ILP of youth aging out of foster care were given priority status for accessing "The LOFT" Program.

  4. Briefly Describe Challenges to Collaboration

    When long standing ILP Coordinator resigned, the new ILP Coordinator chose to move out of our facility and focus her time and energy more exclusively on case management services. Her strengths are not in life skills groups but rather one to one services. She currently helps our mutual clients to access Chaffee Funds and other appropriate resources. The LOFT staff have taken over the planning and facilitation of the life skills groups.

  5. Provide Contact Information
    • Name: Joe Hayes
    • Title: Program Manager
    • Phone Number: (541) 382-0934 x207
    • Email: joe@jbarj.org

Salem, Oregon

  1. Demographic Program Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • ILP Name: Catholic Community Services
    • Life skills/case management services, averages 74 youth per month, ILP contractor for 5+ years. Other services provided by CCS include Behavioral Healthcare Services (counseling for individuals, groups, families and children, plus alcohol and drug treatment), Group Living Services, Family Support Services, Nursing Services, Healthy Start and Supported Education and Employment Services.
    • TLP Name: Northwest Human Services, Transitional Living Program
    • Extended residential program for youth ages 16-21 that provides shelter, self-sufficiency through life skills, job readiness and employability skills, leadership, completion of education, case management support, service learning, and volunteer opportunities. Client prescreens are unlimited, there is a capacity of 6-8 on site in Transitional Living homes and 4 successfully independent. Other services include mental health providers on location, medical and dental care, current issues/cultural diversity groups, and independent living skills training.
  2. Collaboration Efforts

    The Transitions TLP and Catholic Community Services' ILP have initiated a collaborative approach to youth development and supportive services. The initiative began in the summer of 2005 with a joint discussion to determine how each program can assist each other's youth and what resources can be shared and leveraged. Subsequent to that initial meeting, TLP staff has presented to the ILP Providers at their bi-monthly meetings and case coordination has begun on a limited basis and plans are under way to determine specific ways that shelter and Life skills resources can be jointly utilized.

    Length of time in operation: Approximately 3 months of collaboration

  3. Collaboration Accomplishments/Status Report/Benefits of Collaboration

    Collaboration begins the dialogue between programs. Staff more aware of each programs services and eligibility criteria. Benefits of collaboration are to share skills, resources and youth.

  4. Provide Contact Information
    • ILP Name: Lori Cox
    • Title: Program Director
    • Phone Number: (503) 856-7061
    • Email: lcox@goccs.org

Olympia, Washington

COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES – A Collaborative effort between the RISE Transitional Living Program and The Independent Living Program at Community Youth Services

Introduction

The RISE Transitional Living Program (TLP) and The Independent Living Program (IL) at Community Youth Services (CYS) have worked together for over four years to provide expanded IL programming and cross program case management for TLP participants. This has been a natural fit and beneficial to both programs for two prime reasons: 1. A significant number of IL youth who leave the state foster care system find themselves homeless and enter transitional housing and 2.The perspective, specialized knowledge, experience and community connections that the IL staff possess, are an amazing asset to the TLP program.

It has always made sense that both of these programs should have been authorized by the same congressional legislation. However, this is not the case, so it is up to those of us in the field to make those connections. We at CYS have had the distinct advantage of having both of these programs in our continuum of care and co-located in the same building. It has still not been an easy collaboration and experience has shown that success is dependent on both programs operating from a similar philosophical base and having a clear understanding of everyone's role.

Below are the individual program descriptions, an outline of the collaborations and comments on the benefits and barriers.

  1. Demographic Program Information
    • ILP Name: The Independent Living Program (IL)
    • Location: Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties
    • Type of Program: The IL Program has been a part of CYS's continuum of services since 1988. The program provides life skills programming and case management to youth who are or have been in the state foster care system ages 15 to 21. The program operates using a Positive Youth Development Model and we currently provide IL services in Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties.
    • Number of Youth Served: Last year we served 147 youth
    • Services Provided:
      • Case Management
      • Weekly life skills and peer support workshops, one designed for youth who are currently in state care and one for youth who have transitioned out of state care
      • Referrals and Advocacy
      • Opportunities for youth to participate in community service projects and recreational and cultural activities
      • Transitional Living Services (financial assistance) for youth who have aged out of state care
      • Education Training Vouchers for youth who are enrolled in post secondary education up to age 23 if they were enrolled on their 21st birthday
      • Aftercare services
    • TLP Name: The RISE Transitional Living Program
    • Type of Program: The RISE TLP is a part of Thurston Counties Continuum of Care to provide housing and case management to youth age 16 to 21 who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The program has been in operation since 1999. RISE provides scattered site, one and two bedroom apartments, a four bedroom Independent Living House, a three bedroom Safe and Sober House, a Duplex with Section 8 vouchers for young parents, a three bedroom house for a family, and HOME coupons for youth who have graduated into Phase II. The programs objective is to provide stable housing while case managers assist youth in completing their education, finding and keeping a job, learning life skills and overcoming any other barriers they might have to successful independent living.
    • Number of Youth Served: Last year we served 29 young adults with 15 children
    • Services Provided:
      • A variety of housing options available up to 18 months
      • Case management
      • IL workshops
      • Monthly housing meetings
      • Referrals and Advocacy
      • Opportunities for youth to complete their education, to learn pre-employment skills, to find and maintain employment, to participate in community service projects and when possible take part in recreational and cultural activities
      • Assistance in obtaining medical care and government benefits
      • Assistance in accessing drug and alcohol and mental health assessments and treatment
      • Aftercare services
  2. TLP/IL Collaborations

    A half time Independent Living Case Manager from the ILS Program provides the following services to the TLP Program:

    • Scheduling, attending, facilitating regular workshops and guest speakers
    • Facilitating Roommate Agreements
    • Following up on Roommate Agreements
    • Presenting at Apartment Meetings when requested
    • One-on-one ILS work with clients
    • Case consultation
    • Case Notes
    • Attending staff meetings
    • Occasional weekend checks
    • Trains and assists TLP case managers in administering and interpreting the Ansell-Casey life skills assessment

    The IL Case Manager is a full time Independent Living employee whose salary is paid for by both the IL and TLP programs. Both programs are in CYS's Youth Development Department, but function independent of each other.

    The Independent Living House (Nick's House) is a collaborative effort that resulted from a community stakeholder meeting that was held at CYS three years ago. A group composed of the ILP and TLP staff, state social workers, and foster care youth gathered together to discuss how the TLP program could better serve youth who had been in state care. In response to that discussion the TLP, ILP, and the regional state IL office collaborated together to develop "Nick's House", a spacious, four bedroom home which focuses on the needs of youth who have exited the foster care system. The program design provides youth a sense of freedom while providing the structure and supervision that youth who are leaving the state system often need. While they yearn to be independent, these young adults often have not yet learned the skills and self-discipline to live on their own with continual success.

    The TLP program leased "Nick's House" and hired a resident advisor to provide on site supervision and mentoring. Together the TLP and IL staffs developed IL program structure and guidelines, and the state regional IL gatekeeper agreed to use IL funding to pay room and board for former foster care youth.

  3. Accomplishments/Status Report/Benefits of Collaboration

    The Independent Living Case Manager

    • An IL case manager brings a greater depth of understanding to the life skills curriculum. Their program offers a wide range of IL resources. The inventory of materials to assist youth in learning life skills are too numerous to list but range from budgeting, time management, how to beat the blues, non violent communication to how to clean your apartment. Because the IL program serves a diverse population they have a variety of materials that meet differing age, cultural, and developmental needs. The IL case manager has been trained in providing IL services. She has also received in-depth training on using and interpreting the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment, which she has shared with the TLP case managers. The IL case manager also is experienced in preparing for and facilitating workshops for youth. Her expertise brings an added dimension to workshops and her connections in the community provide skilled facilitators, who share their expertise.
    • The IL provider acts as a safety net for youth, she is an advocate with whom youth can vent. Through the IL case manager, youth often receive the added help they need to work out their problems or advocate for them in order to be successful in the program.
    • Youth who are in the TLP program are informed of, and have easier access to TLS and ETV money through the IL case manager.
    • It is helpful for program planning to have another programs' objective perspective on how the program is operating.

    Nicks House

    • In the past two years eighteen young adults have lived in Nick's House. Thirteen have graduated into another phase of the program or into permanent housing. This is a 72% success rate and a significant increase. In the past, the majority of former foster care youth were failing and exiting the program within the first three months of enrollment.
    • The house uses a point system so that residents can track their own progress. This gives them control over their life and determines their continued participation in the program. A case manager visits the house daily and a resident advisor lives on site to provide supervision and mentoring.
    • The ILP and TLP staff worked together to make Nick's House a reality and have continued to share responsibility for house visits, special activities and weekly meetings to case consult and insure that the house is running smoothly.
    • The TLP and IL Coordinators attend staffing for youth who will be exiting care within the year. These staffing are held at the local DCFS office and hosted by the adolescent unit's social workers. Through those interactions the youth are introduced to program staff and are made aware of what the TLP and IL programs have to offer them. The staffing also helps to strengthen the relationships between program staff and the state social workers.
  4. Challenges and Lessons Learned

    Change in funding sources:

    • In its' first year of operation the IL house was mostly funded through the state ILS program. However at this time the state's regional office has withdrawn its financial support and we are currently using host home funds to keep the house running. It is a valuable resource that we do not want to lose.
    • Recently, because of the IL budget cuts in our region we have had to reduce the number of staff in the IL program. Current staffing levels will not allow for a 1/2 time case manager. This will force the TLP program to hire an IL case manager within their program. While this person will definitely have the advantage of the IL programs resources and the IL staffs support, we foresee that this will make a change in the delivery of IL services. We are dedicated to keeping the communication is open between the two programs and is enlisting the assistance of IL staff to train the new IL case manager.
    • Funding can be an issue. In times of shrinking dollars, IL programs, at least in our region, are finding it difficult to serve the area's eligible IL population. Asking the IL to spend time to provide IL materials, consults and staffing to a TLP can be overwhelming and not possible within their scope of work.

    Potential Staff Issues (not necessarily ones we have experienced but all possible barriers):

    • Misunderstanding by the TLP staff of the role of the IL case manager. TLP case managers teach and model life skills to their clients all the time. Introducing an IL case manager can seem as an unnecessary intrusion and cost.
    • Inexperienced staff may feel threatened by an outsider working with their case load. As new case managers, we can all remember feeling inadequate to the task and overwhelmed with our clients issues. Having someone else work so closely with a client can leave a new staff feeling vulnerable.
    • Work needs to be done so that staff realize the different role that the IL case manager has in their clients' life and how that can sometimes be the difference in the youth's success in the program. The IL case manager needs to be seen as a resource and not competition.
    • The TLP staff should have a clear understanding of what the IL case manager will be doing, how the case manager can lessen their work load and the benefit their involvement can be to the youth and the program.
    • The IL case manager needs to be accessible to the TLP case managers and be very clear about what their schedule is and what they are able to realistically provide.
    • There needs to be very clear direction from the TLP supervisor about the expectations of the TLP/ILS collaboration. It is a dynamic and potentially rich work relationship that deserves close attention in order to meet our expectations.
  5. Contact Information Independent Living Program
    Transitional Living Program

Spokane, Washington

  1. Demographic Program Information
    • Volunteers of America is the Spokane area Independent Living (IL) and Transitional Living (TL) provider for the State of Washington. The programs are available to dependent youth in the foster care system or those who have aged out of care. Referrals are made through the Region 1 Program Manager.
    • Number of Youth Served: This year, Volunteers of America has served 87 young people.
    • Services Provided: The services provided vary and some examples of this are budgeting, job readiness skills, advocacy for the youth and employment searching to assistance with educational needs (connecting with a tutor, filling out college applications, etc.). The providers help the youth to plan for independent living and with accessing resources needed for this move. We also help to monitor the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) funds and then track the progress of the students receiving these monies.
  2. Collaboration Efforts

    Volunteers of America is located in Spokane and generally works with clients in their homes. We are flexible in scheduling so that we can work around their busy schedules. We complete an Ansel-Casey Life Skills assessment and use their curriculum and others to work with the youth at their skill level. There is follow-up with all youth to check on their progress and see what else they may need assistance with. All young people we work with share the goals of employment, education and independence. Length of time in operation: Volunteers of America has been a provider of Independent Living services since 1997.

  3. Accomplishments/Status Reports/ Benefits of Collaboration

    We work closely with the Region 1 Program Manager for the State of Washington. Our monthly face to face meetings as well as all of our phone calls and e-mails helps to get services delivered quickly to clients, questions answered and overall positive interactions for everyone involved. This collaboration has helped to open doors for the clients. More is able to happen at a faster pace because we know what is needed and expected. If some of the youth are communicating with Heather directly, she can keep us informed about what we may need to work on with them. Because of our communications with the clients and our outreach, we were able to contact 30 youth this year regarding their ETV applications and disperse over $111,269 between the 32 youth going on to college. As providers, we track their progress to make sure that they are doing well in school or to set them up with a tutor if needed. We have developed working relationships with local college financial aid departments as well as student services at the high school and college level. One collaboration that is working very well is the one with the ESD 101 so that we can connect with and work with youth on their educational needs at an earlier age. We also have employment connections, housing and household goods resources. It has been very successful to have the same people providing IL services and TL services because the relationship has been formed with the youth while they are still in care. When they age out of foster care, many times they are on their own without the people that have been their support for many years. Our providers are a continuum for them that assist in their future success.

  4. Contact Information
    • Name: Heidi Peterson
    • Title: Volunteers of America TLP Program Director
    • Phone Number: (509) 624-2378
    • Email: hpeterson@voaspokane.org
    • Name: Heather Hamasaki
    • Title: Region 1 IL Program Manager
    • Department of Social & Health Services
    • Phone Number: (509) 363-3537
    • Email: hamh300@dshs.wa.gov

Juneau, Alaska

  1. Demographic Program Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • TLP Name: Juneau Youth Services, Inc (JYS)
    • Location: Juneau, Alaska
    • Type of Program: TLP
    • Number of Youth Served: 37 since February 1, 18 were provided housing
    • Services Provided: Housing, case management, behavioral health treatment, mentoring, employment and education support
    • ILP Name: State of Alaska Office of Children's Services (OCS)
    • Location: Juneau, Alaska
    • Type of Program: ILP
    • Number of Youth Served:
    • Services Provided: Limited funding for housing and educational needs, referral
  2. Briefly Describe Collaboration Efforts (include length of time/location)

    To understand the collaborative effort it is important to understand some of the unique characteristics, and unusual barriers we needed to overcome, so let's start by briefly describing the area and population we serve.

    Southeast Alaska is an area in the shape of a panhandle with as much land as Oregon but with a total population near the population of just Bend, Oregon — About 55,000 people. Communities are as small as 300 and as large as 30,000 spread throughout inter-coastal waters and nestled in the Tongass National Forest, a dense old-growth rain forest. Most communities are landlocked or on islands with varying degrees of accessibility and extremely expensive transportation. Many people live in environments/homes that would be considered sub-standard in most urban areas, but are considered acceptable here.

    Juneau Youth Services, the TLP provider for the area, serves between 20 and 30 youth at any given time providing case management that can include life skills training, mental health and/or drug and alcohol treatment, access to medical and dental needs, and access to educational needs. We have the capacity to house 7 youth at a time. In order to serve these youth we must bring them to Juneau.

    The state of Alaska Office of Children's Services, the local Child Protective Service Agency manages the ILP funds for the state. They do not provide any housing and have one care coordinator for the region. Approximately 12 foster youth age out of foster care per year in the area.

    Collaborative efforts began in the summer of 2003. The statewide ILP coordinator, Dorothy Douglas, came to an open house for 2 new supervised apartments JYS built. At the time JYS only provided housing for homeless youth that were not part of the foster care system.

    Shortly thereafter, Dorothy decided to develop regional ILP coordinators and assigned Marla Adams to the region. Marla and I decided that we needed to get the word out to our community young adults that we had more opportunities for housing and transitional living skill classes, and that we would combine forces/funds to make this happen. Ultimately we decided to host a regional youth summit and invited our local native corporation, Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribal Association (CCTHITA), and the Casey Foundation to help facilitate and provide some funding.

    Ultimately we ran into obstacles that we couldn't overcome (funding, supervision, transportation), and the summit never happened, but the collaboration did not stop there.

    The state of Alaska through the Office of Disability Employment and the Workforce Investment Act offered funds for advancing employment opportunities to young adults age 14-24 with disabilities. Intrigued we listened into the RFA discussion forum and discovered another local agency, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) was on the line interested as well.

    We collaborated and agreed that SAIL would apply for the funds, and that the group that had already been formed would be funded through these grant funds as the Youth in Transition Community Outreach Team (COT). SAIL hired a grant coordinator who now facilitates the team full-time. Since the COT had funds to provide to youth and to communities, and we now had a coordinator focused on facilitating the team, the group expanded again.

    The group presently consists of:

    • JYS TLP Coordinator
    • SAIL Program Coordinator
    • Juneau Douglas School District
    • REACH, services to DD population
    • JAHMI, adult behavioral health
    • DVR
    • OCS ILP Regional Coordinator
    • Southeast Regional Resource Center, adult education
    • Alaska Job Center Customized Employment
    • Department of Juvenile Justice
    • CCTHITA, Alaska Native Corporation
    • A parent of a youth with disabilities

    The team meets monthly and rotates locations of the meeting to insure we all have access to tour available resources. We discuss all issues related to young adults in transition. We have one breakout group that takes referrals from community members for funding through the grant that funds the team coordinator, and tracks the progress of funds that are awarded. A second breakout group is looking again at the possibility of holding a youth summit next summer.

    Some of the ways that we have utilized our collaborative resources:

    • We used ILP funds to bring a youth to Juneau so they could practice independent living in the JYS supervised apartments before returning to her home community to live independently there.
    • We used TLP funds to do pre-development of an 8-unit apartment complex for youth with disabilities that are in transition to young adulthood. The collaborative effort is helped us leverage capital funds for the project and the project is set to be built either this summer or next.
    • We used ODEP funds to purchase a video camera for a native community to develop a video series that teaches independent living that is culturally relevant to native Alaskans.
  3. Briefly Describe Collaboration Accomplishments or Benefits

    Because many members of the team previously did not know each other and did not know about each other's resources, the first, most important benefit is the "one-stop" easy access for young adults and agencies in the community to access resources.

    Other benefits to the young adults include the assignment of an advocate from the team when a referral comes in. The team is dedicated to exploring all available resources in the community to wrap around the young adult, and if all available resources cannot provide for the need, the team can provide the funds as deemed necessary/ appropriate. This greatly expanded what resources both the TLP and the ILP Programs could provide.

    One of the brightest benefits of this collaboration has been the deconstruction of the notion that the youth fit into "funding boxes." That is to say, we no longer refer to the young adults as a TLP kid, or an ILP kid, or a juvenile justice kid, or a developmentally delayed waiver kid, etc. They are all youth who need to make the transition into young adulthood and we as a team are dedicated to help them make that transition.

  4. Briefly Describe Challenges to Collaboration

    Our first challenge was trying to find funding without competing with each other.

    Another challenge was creating a common understanding re the goal of the collaborative effort.

    Defining what it means to have a disability and what it means to be homeless and be eligible for referral to the team took some deliberation.

    Also a challenge was overcoming diversity/cultural issues, and overcoming team personality/ work style differences.

    A present challenge is that the state licensing regulations restrict provision of independent housing opportunities to young adults under 18. We are discussing how we can present, and what we can present to our legislators to tear down these obstacles.

  5. Provide Contact Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • Name: Craig Lyons
    • Title: Program Coordinator
    • Phone Number: (907) 796-4117
    • Email: craigl@jys.org

State of Oregon ILP
Joint ILP/TLP Training

  1. Demographic Program Information
    • TLP Name: All Oregon TLP Programs
    • Location: various Oregon communities
    • Type of Program: Transitional Living
    • Number of Youth Served:
    • ILP Name: Department of Human Services ILP
    • Location: Statewide, office located in Salem, OR
    • Type of Program: State Agency, Program Coordinator
    • Number of Youth Served: FFY05 served 1,248 foster youth
    • Services Provided: skill building, housing, ETV, discretionary funds
  2. Briefly Describe Collaboration Efforts (include length of time/location)

    Efforts at a state level have included: invitation for TLP to participate in ILP trainings (for the adults and eligible youth), emailing TLP on relevant topics/upcoming events, facilitating meetings between local ILP Contractors and TLP, and providing funding of pilot projects to allow for creative partnerships between ILP contractor and TLP's (see Bend and Medford collaborations).

  3. Briefly Describe Collaboration Accomplishments or Benefits

    Building of relationships between both programs; greater knowledge by both ILP and TLP of resources and eligibility requirements for services for potentially eligible clients; and good partnerships that are providing enhanced, and in some instances more appropriate services for the clients (TLP and ILP).

  4. Briefly Describe Challenges to Collaboration

    Lack of knowledge regarding who to contact; change of staff may affect strength of partnership; lack of trust; program requirements (may limit some collaborations).

  5. Provide Contact Information (complete for both programs involved)
    • Name: Rosemary Iavenditti
    • Title: ILP Coordinator
    • Phone Number: (503) 945-5688
    • Email: rosemary.iavenditti@state.or.us

Region 10 TLP T/TA Contractor
ILP/TLP Training Partnership

  1. Demographic Program Information

    We are the T&TA Providers for TLP grantees in Region 10 (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho States).

  2. Briefly Describe Collaboration Efforts

    The Northwest Network for Youth has a long history of including, and inviting, state ILP coordinators to our yearly conferences as presenters and providing opportunities for networking with TLP providers from the four states in our Region.

    Last year, before the TLP-ILP initiative began, we started holding a yearly symposium for TLP and ILP programs from each state in our Region. This new yearly training was designed to begin addressing and identifying needs that face both of these groups in providing services to their youth.

    Training in Year one, 2005, was hosted in Seattle Washington and was focused primarily on providing networking and collaborative opportunities between TLP & ILP programs and coordinators.

    Training in Year two, 2006, is being hosted in Portland in conjunction with the National Pathways to Adulthood Conference. This year's training is focused on one of the areas that was identified by both groups as a need and will be on innovative housing solutions.

  3. Briefly Describe Collaboration Accomplishments or Benefits

    The Northwest Network for Youth now has a yearly training event that is focused around issues facing TLP and ILP providers and programs. These meetings stimulate new conversations and continue to promote collaboration efforts and the best use of resources for these providers. The NWNY will continue to work with the four State ILP Coordinators from Region 10 as we plan our future symposiums around TLP & ILP issues.

  4. Provide Contact Information

    TLP Contact info:

    • Name: Gary Hammons
    • Title: Executive Director, Northwest Network for Youth (NWNY)
    • Email: gary@nwny.org
    • Phone Number: 1-800-321-8890
    • asknwny@nwny.org

    ILP Contact Info:




Posted on April 27, 2006.