Independent Living Program for Youth

Independent Living Program

The Youth Advisory Board is an integral part of the Independent Living Program.
These are youth in DCYF care who are very active as a group and with the Department.
Follow the arrow for more information about the Youth Group.

Teen Grant Program

What - The teen Grant Program provides grants in amounts up to $500 per year for youths aged 16 and older, who reside in foster care. Grants can be used for a variety of purpose related to the transition to independence,including workshops, supplies and tools for vocational training programs, art supplies, sports equipment or fees, musical instruments and lessons and other extracurricular activities that will provide youth with tangible skills or enhanced self-esteem.

How - Youth submit an application to the Teen Grant Program which is managed by the RI Foster Parents Association. A committee, which includes youth, foster parents and staff, reviews requests on a monthly basis. Applications and more information can be obtained by calling the Foster Parents Association at 401-738-9915 or by contacting the Independent Living Coordinator at401-528-3764.

Life Skills Program

What - The Life Skills Program provides an individual skill assessment and over 100 hours of group instruction in fourteen skill areas to youth, aged sixteen and older, who reside in foster and group care. The Life Skills Program is conducted, through contract with the Department of Children, Youth and Families, by the Foster ParentAssociation.

Following a referral to the program by the DCYF Social Caseworker, the foster parents or the youth themselves, staff from the Life Skills Center program schedule an appointment with the youth to explain the program and to assess the youth’s skills. The youth is then scheduled to attend the next session of classes.

The Life Skills Center conducts classes Monday through Thursday from 3:30 - 6:30, with youth attending either a Monday and Wednesday session or a Tuesday and Thursday session for twenty weeks, receiving six hours weekly and over 100 hours total of life skills education. The fourteen skill areas include budgeting and money management, food preparation, housing and career planning. Field trips and guest speakers supplement the curriculum.

The Life Skills Center provides transportation to youth in foster care. Youth receive a stipend of $200 for completing the program and participate in a graduation celebration.

How - To register, or for more information, contact the Life Skills Center at 401-738-9915.

Higher Education Grant

Money is available for youth in the custody of DCYF to attend Rhode Island College, the University of Rhode Island or the Community College of Rhode Island. This grant money can fund the gap between other financial aid and the full cost of tuition, room and board, books and related expenses.

Youth are eligible to apply if they:

have been in the custody of DCYF for a minimum of 24 months at the time of the recommendation;
have received a high school diploma or GED not more than 1 year prior to the date of recommendation;
have been accepted into either CCRI, RI College, or URI;
have applied for financial aid;
are under age 21;
are enrolled full time.

How to apply???? Start with a phone call to the Independent Living Coordinator at 401-528-3764.

NOTE: Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view or download pdf documents.

Send the following information to:

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John O'Riley, Independent Living Coordinator
DCYF
101 Friendship Street
Providence, RI 02903
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youth’s name / date of birth
foster home or residential program name / address and a contact person
DCYF worker’s name and telephone number
date youth came into custody of DCYF (if known)
date of high school graduation / school youth graduated from or copy of GED certificate
copy of the letter of acceptance into CCRI, URI or RIC
A copy of the Financial Aid Award (if pending - a copy of the completed application)
information regarding where the youth will be living during the school year and during semester breaks
a completed Grant Application
a completed Release form

Chafee Educational/Training Voucher Program

DCYF has recently received funds to assist youth in the department’s care to attend colleges and vocational/technical schools. Each recipient may be eligible to receive up to $ 5,000.00 per year. Youth currently in care and those adopted from care at the age of 16 or older can apply.

Recipients must:

Be in the care of DCYF or adopted from care between the ages of 16 to 21
Be under the age of 21 at the time of the initial award
Be accepted or enrolled full time in an institution of higher education
Apply for other financial aid and provide information regarding other awards from the school they are/will be attending
Submit an initial application for the Educational/Training Voucher Program
Reapply yearly for an ETV until they complete their program *

*Note: Recipients may be eligible until the age of 23 if they are receiving an award at the age of 21, have not completed their program, but are making progress toward completion.

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Application
Release Form

For further information or to receive an application please contact::

John O'Riley,
Independent Living Coordinator
DCYF
101 Friendship Street
Providence, RI 02903

Tel: 401-528-3764, Fax-528-3760, E-mail-John.O’Riley@dcyf.ri.gov
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NOTE: Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view or download pdf documents.