Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

Quality of Practice StandardsIndependent Living/Teen Plan46.0 The teen-aged focus child is afforded opportunities to participate in normal lifeskills activities in the foster home and community that are reasonable andappropriate for his/her respective age or special needs, (applicable to licensed outof-homecases)Requirement: To prepare a teen-aged child in foster care to ultimately live independently, theymust have opportunities to participate in life skills activities in their homes and communities thatare reasonable and appropriate for their age or any special needs they might have (previouslyreferred to as the normalcy plan or a plan for age-appropriate activities). It is the case managementagency's responsibility to ensure these opportunities are available so that the child can increasehis/her ability to eventually live independently and become self-sufficient. Clear documentationspecific to the negotiation of. and agreement to, the teen's plan should be recorded in the case fileand signed by the teen, the foster parent and case manager.Instructions and Considerations:available for the focus child to:Reviewers must determine if appropriate opportunities are• Participate in age appropriate activities and manage age appropriate responsibilities;• Interact with mentors;• Learn nutritional and financial skills;• Socialize and have normal life experiences; and• Receive allowances, etc.Since the state does not require a standardized 'Teen Plan" format, some case managementagencies may opt to use different formats to document the negotiation of, and the agreement to, theteen's plan; therefore, reviewers will need to inquire as to local practices when rating this standard.The "Teen Plan" must be updated quarterly.Rating:>^ Yes if documentation in any written format, and signed by the teen, the foster parents(caregiver or residential child-caring agency) and the case manager, clearly reflects an ageappropriate plan is in place to assist the teen toward independence, and the documentationsupports the child was afforded opportunities to participate in normal life skills activities.>^ No there is minimal documentation of a teen plan, or no teen plan was found in the file, orthe teen plan was not signed by all required participants, or no documentation the child wasafforded opportunities to participate in normal life skills activities.S NA if focus child is not a teenager living in a foster care placement.References: s.409.1451 (3)(a)l-4; Florida Administrative Code 65C-30.007(1) (a-d), August 31,2005 Memorandum, Well-Being Outcome 1. Item 1Office of Family Safety | Florida Department of Children and Families ! FY 2010/2011 (Version 1 of 1 July 1, 2010)