Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program is a program administered by the Department of Health and Human Service's Bureau of Child and Family Services for older youth in the custody, or continued care of the Department of Health and Human Services.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE
The Office of Child and Family Services believes that each youth served by the Chafee Independent Living Program should have the opportunity to receive assistance to prepare for a healthy, productive life in order to transition successfully out of care. The Chafee Independent Living Program offers youth the opportunity to develop their special talents and abilities through formal and informal learning experiences and challenges them to learn the skills needed for adult living.
The services provided under the Chafee Independent Living Program encompass a broad range of services available to prepare older youth in care to live "interdependently" in the community. Independent Living Program services are viewed as an expansion of the Bureau's permanency planning system. Services provided to older youth in care are tailored to fit their individual needs and circumstances. Youth are viewed as being important participants in developing their independent living transition plan. We recognize each youth's need to build a supportive network of adults and peers as they near the time of leaving Departmental care so that they will not live in isolation as young adults.
