INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM KERN COUNTY ILP NEWS LETTER FALL 2014

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1 Inside this issue: Volume 8, Issue 7 Fall 2014 What is ILP Summer 2 Life Skills Class Summer Life 3 Skills Pictures Tier classes info 4 What is ILP? 100 E. California Ave. Bakersfield, CA INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM KERN COUNTY ILP NEWS LETTER FALL 2014 The Independent Living Program (ILP) is a federally funded program that provides services to assist eligible youth (16-21 years of age) in making successful transitions from foster care to independent living. Any youth that were in OR are in foster care/probation and placed in out of home foster care at any time from their 16 th to their 19 th birthday are eligible for ILP Services. ILP offers a vast amount of services to help youth achieve self-sufficiency prior to exiting foster care; the following are some of those services: Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP) completed with ILP worker/probation officer every 6-months to explore goals related to selfsufficiency. Education Planning plan for completion of high school and options for college. College and financial aid application assistance Community resources that provide career planning, job leads, and resume assistance. Transitional housing for emancipated youth Emancipation conferences Life skills Referrals to resources Assist youth in opening a savings account ILP trust fund Senior packet - cap/gown, etc. Transportation assistance bus passes and/or assistance with obtaining a driver s license. Introduction to California Youth Connection (CYC) Incentives for ILP participation Referral to a mentoring program Assist youth in obtaining their birth certificate, social security card, California Identification Card or California Driver s License 1 Assist youth in obtaining access to view their child welfare case file (s). Did you Know? 5 Dream Center 6-7 Services and Workshops CYC 8 Scholarship Info 9 ILP Upcoming 10 Events ILP Contact List DHS main number Kelley Rockfellow Supervisor Rolando Hernandez, Transitional Housing Coordinator Andrea Martinez ILP Social Worker Keith Hollins ILP Social Worker Stacy Loyd ILP Social Worker Juanika Barnett Emancipated Youth Services Robin Urrabazo ILP Social Worker Intern

2 ILP SUMMER YOUTH LIFE SKILLS CLASSES This year s Summer Life Skills classes was held at California State University Bakersfield from July 15 July 17, Twenty-four students from the outlying areas such as Taft, Delano, Lamont, Lake Isabella, Tehachapi, California City, and Tulare County and Bakersfield area attended this 2 night 3 day event. The ILP Summer Life Skills event provides workshops in daily life skills for post-secondary education, budgeting, housing, utilities, health care, and job readiness needed once the youth emancipates from foster care. Youth get a chance to experience the college life, which includes staying in the dorms, eating lunch and dinner in the student commons area and attending classes on campus. After hour activities included bowling and the movies. This event is for all eligible foster/probation youth targeting outlying areas first, and then local youth. 2

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4 ILP TIER I/II CLASSES MANDATORY ORIENTATION AND INTAKE October 7, :00PM-5:45PM ILP YOUTH AGES ONLY October 7, :00PM-6:30PM ILP Seniors Only ILP LIFE SKILLS CLASSES (NEW) ILP has partnered with the Kern High School District s Career Resource Department to provide life-skills classes. These classes will be taught in 2 Tiers. Tier-I classes will be for years old who are not yet seniors and will provide foundational life-skills information coupled with a job shadow/service learning experience as an introduction to employment. Tier-II will be for seniors on up to age 21 and will build on Tier-I information providing more advanced instruction and will focus on life after exiting the foster care system focusing on postsecondary education, training, and employability skills. Youth completing Tier-II will be placed at a worksite and receive up to 100 hours of paid work experience. ILP will pay a one-time INCENTIVE worth up to $75 at the completion of each Tier. Please contact your ILP worker for more info. Andrea Martinez Stacy Loyd Keith Hollins Francisco Martinez

5 Did You Know? Emancipated ILP Youth may be eligible for: *Food stamps *Medi-Cal *THP- Plus Housing *General Assistance(GA) *See ILP Social Workers Juanika Barnett and Rolando Hernandez at The Dream Center located at th St about these services. 5

6 THE DREAM CENTER The Dream Center is an innovative resource center for foster youth. Youth can receive assistance with education, employment, and community resource needs. All emancipated youth will find their ILP Workers, Rolando Hernandez or Juanika Barnett, at the Dream Center Location: th Street in downtown Bakersfield;(661) *Like the Dream Center on Face book for news and information. *The Dream Center is a Condom Access Site for Kern County and gives out free condoms. Foster Youth Services of Kern County Offers Free Workshops at The Dream Center for all current and previous foster youth ages 16 to 24. (2014 Workshop dates and times below): California Youth Connect (CYC): is a state wide foster youth run organization that is made up of foster youth to advocate for policy on a state and local level that affect foster youth directly.(sept 2,16,30; Oct 7,21,;Nov 4,18,;Dec 2,16; 3PM-5PM) Welding Career Information workshop: This workshop features John Lopez of John Lopez Welding School who will be at The Dream Center talk about career options and schooling in the field of welding. (Future Dates and Time TBA) KSFCU Budgeting Class: In partnership with Kern Schools FCU representatives from the credit union will be on site to work directly with foster youth to help with any and all financial needs, from budgeting, accounts, credit to loans and more. This is individualized financial preparation for independent living.(sept 11, Oct 9, Nov 13, Dec 11; 3PM-4PM) Basic Auto Maintenance: All youth are interested in owning their own car but often do not know the cost and importance of vehicle maintenance. This workshop will go over the basics of auto maintenance and what to look for when buying a used vehicle. (Sept 12,Oct 30; 3PM-5PM) Creative writing, intro to art and creative arts classes: These Saturday workshops will be an opportunity for foster youth to explore their 6 creative talents from writing, painting, music and much more.(sept 13; Oct 11; 12PM-3PM; Nov 7; 5:30PM-8PM)

7 Housing Workshop: This workshop is designed for older youth that are about to emancipate or are looking to find their won place. In partnership with E-Homes of Bakersfield, representatives will discuss the rental process, how much rent is affordable and the importance of a good rental history. (Sept 10, Oct 16, Nov 19, Dec 9; 3PM-5PM) Human Trafficking Awareness: These workshops are designed to educate foster youth both male and female about the very real dangers of the human trafficking crisis here locally. Phil Gazley of The Kern Coalition Against Human Trafficking will be teaching what to look for and how to avoid human trafficking rings.(sept 17, 22; 3PM-5PM) Story Time: This workshop is for young mothers or parents to have time to learn the value of reading and bonding with their children. This is designed for older youth but any young parents are welcome to attend. (Sept 18, Oct 23; 3PM-4:30PM) WesTech Information Workshop: WesTech provides may training program for those interested in construction, oil and other industries. This workshop will focus on the programs provided, cost and career options. (Future Dates TBA). Customer Service Workshop: (Sept 4, Oct 6, Nov 6 Dec 4; 3PM- 5PM) (Please note: Dates and times are subject to change and workshops may be added or dropped throughout the year. If any changes occur a new updated workshop calendar will be sent out.) 7

8 The California Youth Connection (CYC) is a youth advocacy group made up of current and former foster youth. We are young people who work hard to improve the foster care system by educating the public and policy makers about what needs to be changed within the foster care system. We also work to change the stereo types that many people have of foster youth. Lead Adult Supporter: Ian Anderson iaanderson@kern.org Get Involved CYC has provided me the opportunity to make my own decisions and to speak up -Lazara, CYC Member 8

9 SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarship Opportunity for Your Foster Youth Seniors Deadline October 1 st Burton Scholars Backpack to Success Program Laptop Essay Competition The John Burton Foundation will be sponsoring their annual essay contest to all Chafee recipients (and eligible recipients) attending schools of higher education in the State of California for an opportunity to win a NEW fully loaded laptop computer. In order to participate in this contest, Chafee recipients must submit a written essay by the deadline date. The essay must be written by the applicant; be type written not to exceed 1000 words, and focus on this year s theme listed below. Five of the top ranked essays will be featured on the John Burton Foundation website and the students all winners will be recognized for their achievements. The theme of the Essay Contest is: WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO STAY IN SCHOOL Please submit your essay through your Guardian Scholar Office or Financial Aid Office. The deadline date to submit the essay is October 1, 2014 to your school. Winners will be notified through their respective school officials on October 30, All laptops will be sent to the school of the winning laptop contestant for pick up and acknowledgment. For more information, please contact Diane Matsuda, Executive Director of the John Burton Foundation at diane@johnburtonfoundation.org Phone: (415) The Burton Scholars Backpack to Success Program Laptop Essay Competition is sponsored by Visa, our premiere sponsor, and other generous individuals and corporate sponsors. For more information on the John Burton Foundation, please visit our website at 9

10 Upcoming Events Housing Workshop WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2014, FROM 4:00-6:00 p.m. AT THE CAREER RESOURCE CENTER 2727 F STREET ROOM 101. INDEPENDENT CITY 2014 SATURDAY OCTOBER 18, 2014-Bakersfield Junior College, From 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., REGISTRATION AND OPEN CEREMONIES WILL BE AT THE Cafeteria. Guardian Scholar Walk November 2014 Call your social worker for details AB 12 Workshop (Seniors Only) Date to be Announced Health and Sex Education Workshop December 3, 2014 (Females Only) 4:00-6:00 p.m. December 10, 2014 (Males Only) 4:00-6:00 p.m. THE CAREER RESOURCE CENTER 2727 F STREET ROOM