ILP Skill Building
Federally Funded
Eligibility
- Age 14 or older and in substitute care (DHS or Tribal), OR
- A former foster child who left child welfare substitute care placement at age 16 or older, with atleast 180 days (six months) of placement services after age 14.
Services
Contracted out to local non-profits, for-profits, or Tribes.
- Daily Living Skills such as: money management, household maintenance, transportation, legal issues, health, community resources, housing options, personal hygiene, employment readiness
- Educational Assistance such as: tutoring, homework/study groups, college tours, financial aid/scholarshipapplications
ILP Discretionary Funds
Federally Funded
Eligibility
- Youth must be eligible for ILP skill building services and
- Have an open ILP Life Skills service (can be opened as non-paid if branch is providing services)
Services
Provided directly by DHS caseworkers
- Small amount of discretionary funds to assist a youth obtain items or services needed to meet hisor her goals for transition.
Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)
Federally Funded
Eligibility
- Age 14 or older and is in child welfare substitute care (DHS or Tribal), OR
- A former foster child who left a child welfare substitute care placement at age 16 or older, with at least 180 days (six months) of foster care placement services after age 14.
- Youth must be on the program prior to age 21
- If youth are receiving services at age 21, can continue to receive until 23rd birthday.
Services
Provided by DHS in collaboration with the Oregon Student Assistance Commission
- Youth may receive up to $3,000 per academic year. Amount is based on need.
Notes
Youth must be accepted/enrolled in a postsecondary education or training program in order to receive funds (application available at: www.oregonstudentaid.gov/chafeeetv.aspx)
Youth may not access both the ETV funds and Chafee Housing funds at the same time. However, if Room & Board is not included in a school’s cost of attendance, then the youth may be able to simultaneously access both programs.
Oregon Tuition & Fee Waiver
State Funded
Eligibility
- Must have at least 365 days of Oregon child welfare placement and custody after age 16.
- Must enroll at a post-secondary institution within 3 years of wardship dismissal or completing high school/GED (whichever is earlier).
- A student must complete 30 hour of volunteer activities to retain eligibility for year 2 and all subsequent years.
- Tuition waiver will end when the student has attended the equivalent of 4 years of undergraduate studies. Must begin accessing prior to 25th birthday.
- A student must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for the Tuition Waiver.
IL Subsidy Program (ILSP)
State General Funds, some federal/other
Eligibility
- Age 16 or older
- In DHS care and custody
- 40 hours of activity per week (work, education, or combination of the two)
- Has at least one prior substitute care placement
- Has approval of the court to participate
- If youth has not completed high school, must be actively working to complete high school or obtain a GED.
- Youth must be enrolled for ILP skill building services.
- Youth cannot live with biological or legal parent(s).
Services
Provided directly by DHS
- Youth may receive up to $600 per month to live independently for a maximum of one year.
Chafee Housing Program
Federally Funded
Eligibility
- Age 18 or older, but not yet 21
- A former foster child who left a child welfare substitute care placement at age 18 or older, with at least 180 days (six months) of foster care placement services after age 14.
- 40 hours of activity per week (work, education, or combination of the two – must include at least 4 hours of paid employment)
- If youth has not completed high school, must be actively working to complete high school or obtain a GED.
- Youth must be enrolled for ILP skill building services.
- Youth cannot live with biological or legal parent(s).
Services
Provided directly by DHS
- Youth may receive up to $600 per month to live independently, for a maximum of $6,000 or age 21, whichever comes first.
- Please advise youth that Chafee Housing services vary from state to state. They should make certain to check with a state prior to moving.
ILP services are available to former foster youth that were discharged from care at age 16 or older with at least 180 days (six months) of foster care placement services after age 14. Youth can be returned home, in a guardianship, or living independently and still retain eligibility for some ILP services. The ILP Housing services are the only ILP services a former foster youth will lose if discharged after age 16 and prior to age 18 (with 180 days of care).
To access services as a former foster youth, the youth will need to go to the local DHS child welfare office and request “voluntary services.” The youth will then go through the intake process. If the youth is under the age of 18, the parent(s) will need to sign the Voluntary Services request (form CF 304). If a young adult (age 18 – 20), the youth can sign for themselves. All services end at age 21 – ETV may be an exception.
