Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

March 2010 Report No. 10-30DCF Has Improved Some Aspects of Independent LivingProgram Oversight; Other Long-Standing Problems Remainat a glanceThe Department of Children and Families hasimproved its fiscal oversight of lead agencyIndependent Living expenditures for young adultsage 18 and older to help ensure that federalfunds for this age group are spent in compliancewith federal law. The department also hasbroadened its contract monitoring and qualityassurance systems to better address keyelements of the Independent Living Program.However, the department continues to lack aneffective mechanism to track whether 13- to17-year-old youth receive services as directed bylaw.The department also is not routinelymonitoring whether lead agencies meet minimumcontract standards for services and has not metstatutory requirements to establish programoutcome measures.Scope ________________In accordance with state law, this progressreport informs the Legislature of actionstaken by the Department of Children andFamilies (DCF) in response to a 2007OPPAGA report. 1, 2 This report presents ourassessment of the extent to which the1 Section 11.51(6), F.S.2 Improved Fiscal and Quality Oversight Is Needed for theIndependent Living Program, OPPAGA Report No. 07-11,February 2007.Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountabilityan office of the Florida Legislaturedepartment has addressed the findings andrecommendations included in our report.Background ____________As provided by s. 409.1451, Florida Statutes,the Independent Living Program providesservices and financial assistance to preparecurrent and former foster youth to liveindependently. Long stays in foster care canhamper a youth’s transition to adulthood, asmost young adults learn the skills needed tolive independently while they are growingup with their families.The department contracts with communitybasedcare lead agencies to provide childprotective services, including independentliving services, in the state’s 67 counties. All13- to 17-year-old foster youth and some 18-to 22-year-old former foster youth are eligiblefor services. The program provides sixcategories of services.• All 13- to 14-year-old foster youth areeligible to receive pre-independent livingservices which include life skills training,educational field trips, and conferences.• All 15- to 17-year-old foster youth areeligible to receive life skills serviceswhich include banking and budgetingskills, educational support, andemployment training.