A. Description and Purpose
The Supervised Independent Living Program (SILP) provides supportive services and living maintenance to adolescent youth for whom the Department is legally responsible. The purpose of SILP is to assist youth who have demonstrated the minimum requirements for living independently to progress toward their goal of independence. SILP is a totally purchased service from licensed child welfare agencies having contracts with DCFS to provide SILP.
B. Eligibility Requirements
Adolescents considered for entrance into SILP must meet the following criteria:
1) Youth must be sixteen (16) years of age but not yet 21 of age and
2) The Department must have court ordered legal responsibility for the adolescent or must have transferred legal responsibility to a successor guardian in accordance with 89 Ill. Adm. Code 302 (Section 302.400) and
3) The permanency goal for the youth must be independence and the time limit for goal achievement shall be established upon date of entry into the program and
4) The youth must have some money management skills and
5) The youth must be able to live in the community without continuous adult supervision and
6) The youth must be willing and able to cooperate with the supervising agency to further develop independent living skills and
7) The youth must have the ability and motivation to complete a training or educational program designed to assist financial independence and
8) The youth must have the ability to manage day-to-day living skills in an apartment or board and room living arrangement such as meal preparation, maintaining proper nutrition, purchasing and caring for appropriate clothing and maintaining a reasonable degree of cleanliness and
9) The youth must be reasonably expected to attain total independence within one year, progress into another youth development program, or continue in SILP for an additional year with prior approval by the Regional Administrator/Cook County designee.
C. Approval
Prior to acceptance into the program, the youth's worker shall submit the following materials to the Regional Administrator/Cook County designee:
1) Documentation of the youth's abilities as they relate to the eligibility requirements including observations from the worker and past caretaker(s) and current medical and dental examination results.
2) Current CFS 497 series which demonstrates the permanency planning goal of independence which identifies the specific planned SILP services and discharge date.
The Regional Administrator/Cook County designee shall determine the appropriateness of the referral and the availability of slots in SILP. The worker shall be notified of the decision within two (2) weeks of receipt of the material by the Regional Administrator/Cook County designee. When the request is denied, the basis for denial, as well as alternatives, are to be provided by the Regional Administrator/Cook County designee. When the request is approved the worker shall:
1) Initiate a referral to an agency with whom DCFS has a SILP contract, and
2) Upon acceptance by the agency and placement in SILP ensure that the agency completes a CFS 906-1 to reflect SILP (Service Code 0204) at the negotiated payment rate.
D. Service Planning
Upon initial entry into SILP a service plan (CFS 497) will be developed for the youth by the DCFS and supervising agency worker. The CFS 497 will be reviewed at six (6) month intervals in accordance with procedures 305, Client Service Planning.
The CFS 497 shall include:
1) statement of a permanency goal of independent living and planned goal achievement date.
2) Specifications of services to be provided which include monthly living maintenance for the youth provided by the agency and individual or group counseling. Services which may additionally be included are: assistance in locating appropriate educational or vocational programs; assistance in improving competence in daily life skills; and employment related services (e.g., developing job interview skills, job finding).
3) A schedule of a minimum of twice monthly meetings between the youth and service provider; at least one meeting per month shall be in the youth's residence.
E. Monitoring
The service provider shall submit reports as required by the contract.
F. Financial Provision
1) Payment to the Youth. The supervising agency will provide the adolescent with a monthly allowance in accordance with contractual stipulations. The amount shall not exceed $200 monthly.
2) Start-up Expenses. Initial expenses related to setting up a household may be partially subsidized by DCFS. The adolescent will present an itemized list to the private agency who will request DCFS payment. An amount up to $l00 may be authorized.
3) Medical and Dental Payments. Youth in SILP are eligible to receive a Medicaid card for medical and dental needs.
G. Discharge from SILP
The service provider shall terminate the youth from SILP:
1) Upon demonstration by the adolescent that he is able to live independently without supervision.
2) When circumstances indicate that the adolescent could better be served in another youth development program.
3) When the adolescent, over the age of 18, fails to complete the tasks as agreed upon and identified on the CFS 497.
4) No later than 24 months after entry into SILP. The Regional Administrator/Cook County designee must give prior written approval to continue an adolescent in SILP beyond 12 months.