Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

Quality of Practice StandardsIndependent Living Plans45.0 If the child is 13 years of age or older and in licensed foster care, the casemanagement agency provided guidance and assistance in developing aneducational and career path that is based on the child's individual abilities andinterests, (applicable to licensed out-of-home cases)Requirement: For children in foster care between the ages of 13 and 15. the case managementorganization must ensure there has been detailed discussion of the following:• Child's interest's and any appropriate hobbies:• Listing of careers that that interest them; and• Awareness of need to participate in developing a more detailed educational and career pathplan when they turn 1 6 years of age.For children ages 16 and 17, the case management organization must ensure the child's case planincludes an educational and career path that was developed with input from the child, fosterparents, and school member to the fullest extent possible. The child can choose one of fourpostsecondary goals:• attend college or military academy;• obtain 2-year postsecondary degree;• attain postsecondary career and technical certificate or credential; or• begin immediate employment.The process must be child-centered. If the child is enrolled in the Exceptional Student Educationprogram, such goal setting must be coordinated with the school and agree with the IndividualEducational Plan transitional plan. The case plan must be written simply and clearly in English, orif English is not the child's principal language, a copy of the case plan shall be prepared in thechild's language.Instructions and Considerations: Reviewers should look for documentation that supportsconversations and negotiations occurred between case management, the child, foster parents andschool member(s) during the development of the child's educational and career path plan. Inaddition, the educational and career path should be well documented in the case plan and reflectdecisions that are specific to the focus child's individual abilities and interests.Rating'.Yes, if the child is 1 6 and 1 7 and the case plan documents the educational and career pathwas determined through discussions by involved parties and the path is clearly inconjunction with the child's abilities and interests.Yes, if the child is ages 13-15 and there is detailed documentation of discussion regardingchild's interests and hobbies as well as the child's understanding of the need to develop amore detailed plan upon their 16th birthday.Office of Family Safety I Florida Department of Children and Families | FY 2010/2011 (Version 1 of 1 July 1, 2010)