Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

Living Expenses:Road To Independence Program(RTI):The Road to Independence Program provides formerfoster youth with funds and services to help themobtain the education and training needed to becomeindependent and self-supporting. The RTI program isavailable to youth who are still in high school as wellas those who are in post-secondary programs (2-yearcollege, 4-year college, or vocational program).In order to qualify, the youth must:• Apply after age 17 but before age 21 (theaward can be renewed until age 23)• Have been adjudicated dependent and spentat least 6 months in foster care prior to his orher 18th birthday (this includes time spent inshelter care)• Have been living in licensed foster care orsubsidized independent living on the 18thbirthday OR have been adopted or placed intoa dependency guardianship after the age of 16• Be a Florida resident• Be enrolled in school full-time (except a youthwho has a documented disability can enrollpart-time)Youth with documented educational, medical,mental, developmental or physical disabilities areeligible for the same opportunities and servicesas youth with no disabilities. The law requires theDepartment of Children and Families to providereasonable accommodations and services to ensureequal opportunities.Students with a disability may attend school parttime and still receive full RTI benefits. Youth musthowever, make satisfactory progress in order tocontinue receiving funds, whether they go full or parttime.Florida offersassistance to helpformer foster youthcontinue with theireducation after 18.27