Older Youth Services Request for Proposals

1. Older Youth Services Request for Proposals Anisa Evans Older Youth Services Manager

2. Goals The main purpose of this RFP is to select: 1. Older Youth Services: vendors/providers that can satisfy the DCS need for the provision of Chafee Independent Living Services, Chafee Voluntary Independent Living Services and Collaborative Care Placement Supervision and Services to all 18 regions and the corresponding 92 local offices in the State . DCS will be seeking up to 10 providers to provide statewide coverage. 2. Staff Supported Housing: Staff Supported Housing Placement Supervision and Services. DCS is seeking service providers who are willing to provide physical placement, placement supervision and services as defined in the Older Youth Service Standards and Older Youth Service Protocol. 2

3. Older Youth Services Proposals • Contracted providers must offer all three services: • Chafee IL Services • Collaborative Care-Placement and Supervision • Chafee IL Services-Voluntary Services 3

4. Older Youth ServicesChafee IL Services (Budget 1) • Budget 1: Chafee IL services ONLY • Youth ages 16 to 21 who are in foster care or a Collaborative Care • placement as a CHINS or adjudicated a delinquent with a case plan establishing the need for older youth services. • Youth, ages 16 through 18 will receive services that include individual guidance, case management, and soft skills as reflected in the Learning Plan (LP). Youth must be given an independent living assessment (i.e., CLSA) to determine the appropriate services. • These services may include, but are not limited to; locating tutorial services, self-esteem building, life interest explorations, and education in housing options, budgeting, money management, health care, transportation options, secondary and post-secondary education, and interpersonal relationship skills. 4

5. Older Youth ServicesCollaborative Care-Services and Placement Supervision (Budget 2) • Budget 2: Collaborative Care Placement & Supervision • Youth ages 18 to 20 who are in foster care or were formerly in foster care on the day of their 18th birthday and meet at least one of the eligibility requirements below: • Enrolled in a secondary education institution or a program leading to an equivalent credential, e.g., a youth age 18 and older is finishing high school or taking classes in preparation for a High School Equivalency (HSE) exam. • Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to employment, • Employed for at least 80 hours per month • Incapable of performing any of the activities described above due to a medical condition documented in the youth’s case plan. 5

6. Older Youth ServicesCollaborative Care-Services and Placement Supervision (Budget 2) • Leases: • The OYS provider for Collaborative Care youth shall negotiate with each landlord the following arrangements: • The youth should have an opportunity to qualify for a lease without the provider. • The provider shall provide a letter of financial support to the landlord or leasing company to ensure payment while the youth is participating in collaborative care. If the youth moves out of the housing or the youths collaborative care case is closed the letter of support will end. • The youth shall have the right to renew the lease, without assistance from the service provider, after his/her participation in Collaborative Care ceases •  In instances where the youth is unable to qualify for a lease the provider will sign or co-sign a lease. The provider may opt to go into a corporate lease agreement on the behalf of the youth. 6

7. Older Youth ServicesChafee IL Services-Voluntary Services (Budget 4) • Budget 4: Chafee IL Services-Voluntary ONLY • Youth ages 16 to 21 who were formerly in foster care, in a Collaborative Care placement or adjudicated a delinquent between the ages of 16-18 that were returned to their own homes on a Trial Home Visit and remained a CHINS or adjudicated a delinquent with a case plan establishing the need for older youth services. • Youth age 18 to 21 who were formerly in foster care or a Collaborative Care placement for a minimum of 6 months as a CHINS or adjudicated a delinquent between the ages of 16-18. • Youth who are 18 to 21 who would otherwise meet the eligibility criteria above and who were in the custody of another state or were a “ward of another state” will be eligible if through the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children there is a verification of wardship and all eligibility criteria from the state of jurisdiction. 7

8. Older Youth ServicesChafee IL Services-Voluntary Services (Budget 4) • Budget 4: Chafee IL Services-Voluntary ONLY • Youth age 16-21 that left foster care after obtaining 16 years of age and entered into a kinship guardianship or adoption. • Youth who turn 18 in foster care are exempt from the 6 month requirement indicated in the target population. • Youth ages 18-20 who are not participating in Collaborative Care, who have not reached their twenty first birthday and who have left foster care will be offered guidance on financial issues, assessment services, housing, health care, counseling, employment, education opportunities and other support services that are unique for the development of self-sufficiency. 8

9. Older Youth ServicesChafee IL Services-Voluntary Services (Budget 4) • Budget 4: Chafee IL Services-Voluntary ONLY • Emancipation Goods and Services (EG&S): Up to $1000 • All youth who are eligible to receive Chafee OY Services and Chafee Voluntary OY Services are also eligible to access EG&S funding. • Emancipation Goods and Services (EG&S) are goods and services required to ensure a safe and successful transition to adulthood • Room and Board: Up to $3000 • Youth must have turned 18 years of age while in foster care or a Collaborative Care placement and they cannot have an open CHINS or JD/JS case. This includes: Youth who move directly from foster care or a Collaborative Care placement into their own housing at age 18 up to age 21. • Youth who leave care voluntarily at age 18 without accepting assistance, but return prior to turning age 21. 9

10. Areas DCS would like to award one contract for each area as defined below. Area 1: DCS regions 1 & 2, Area 2: DCS regions 3 & 4 Area 3: DCS regions 5 & 6 Area 4: DCS regions 8 & 9 Area 5: DCS regions 10 & 11 Area 6: DCS regions 7 & 12 Area 7: DCS regions 13 & 14 Area 8: DCS regions 16 & 17 Area 9: DCS regions 15 & 18 10

11. Staff Supported Housing Budget 3: Staff Supported Housing Includes placement cost and supervision, for youth for whom DCS has placement and care. Supervision for older youth includes preparing the youth for successful adulthood, living interdependently and apartment living by serving as a broker of services to connect youth to community service providers as defined in the services standards. 11

12. Staff Supported Housing • Budget 3: Staff Supported Housing • Multiple youth may live in a campus or apartment complex setting • May also look like a group home setting • Youth should have opportunities to interact in the community, with limited supervision over time in order to build successful adulthood skills and strengthen their social network resulting in increased social capital. • Provide youth an opportunity to build their apartment living skills in a structured environment. • Staff on site for supervision at all times. Youth must be able to reach the contact 24/7 in the event of an emergency. • Each youth will receive daily supervision. However, this does not require 24/7 supervision. • During this time the youth should receive experiential learning and guidance on successful adulthood skills as indicated in the youth’s Transition Plan for Successful Adulthood. Daily instruction will also include resources and services to increase a youth’s skills and ability to live successfully in an apartment setting. The amount of instruction will be determined by each youth’s skill level and need. 12

13. Budgets • Older Youth Services (3 budgets) • Chafee IL Services (Budget 1) • Collaborative Care-Placement and Supervision (Budget 2) • Chafee IL Services—Voluntary Services (Budget 4) • Staff Supported Housing (Budget 3) 13

14. Youth Engagement • Youth voice • Youth adult partnerships • Teachable moments • Healthy risk taking 14