National studies of foster youth have found that:
- 66% did not graduate from high school
- 25% of youth released from the child welfare system were homeless at least one night
- 30-40% of foster children had physical or emotional difficulties
Arizona’s Children Association provides the Independent Living Program, independent living skills for children in Arizona’s foster care system as they move toward moving out on their own. The program works with youth ages 13-21. The younger youth ages 13-15 learn basic skills like money management, household management, budgeting, interviewing for jobs, job skills, nutrition and meal planning. Instruction takes place one on one and in a classroom setting. Youth ages 16 – 21 receive more intensive services, including household management, a focus on education, budgeting, completing an apartment application, interviewing for jobs and job skills. Youth ages 18-21 who have aged out of foster care must contract with the state to stay in the system.
The Independent Living program utilizes the state-of-the-art Ansell-Casey Life Skills Program which includes an assessment component followed by a competency based learning program that includes instruction information in career planning, communication, home life, self care, daily living, work and study skills and work life. The program also includes identifying at least one caring adult to look after the youth after they leave the foster care system. After care services are also available to children who have left the foster care system and still need help and support.
For information about the Independent Living program contact:
Western Region (Yuma & La Paz Counties)
3780 S. 4th Ave. Extension, Suite K
Yuma, AZ 85365
928-344-8800
sderby@arizonaschildren.org
Southern (Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee Counties)
Cheryl DeHaven
174 S. Coronado, Suite C
Sierra Vista AZ 85635
520-224-9108,
ext.1892
cdehaven@arizonaschildren.org
Northern Region (Yavapai, Coconino, Navajo, Mohave and Apache Counties)
Lori Ollom-Tighe
440 N. Washington Ave.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-443-1991 ext.2404
lollom-tighe@arizonaschildren.org
Central Region (Gila and Pinal Counties)
Barbara Guillen
1075 S Idaho Rd, Suite 106-A
Apache Junction, AZ 85119
480-474-2263 ext 213
bguillen@arizonaschildren.org
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