Transitional Services

Carolina Outreach offers an ongoing program to assist youth who have aged out of child services and are seeking solid footing to develop an independent adult life for themselves.

ILP – Independent Living Program services at Carolina Outreach provide young persons ages 16 and older the knowledge and means to transition successfully into adulthood. Through a combination of community support, independent living skills classes, vocational and educational opportunities, and financial support, participating youth work with the program counselors to achieve independent living goals—while avoiding negative outcomes such as homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse, or incarceration.

Participants in the Independent Living Program develop achievable, personalized goals in the following four domains:

• Education and/or vocation
• Housing
• Finance
• Health and wellness

ILP services prepare youths who are transitioning to a life of self sufficiency after aging out of foster care or having left difficult family circumstances. The steps are gradual in order to assure success, and they include the following three major components:

Independent Living Skills Classes
This 10–12 week course educates youth in the skills necessary for independent living. The classes cover topics such as budgeting/finance, job/interview skills, health/sex education, independent housing and vocational/educational options. Program counselors teach these classes with the assistance of visiting professional experts, such as a CPA, job recruiter, college counselor, and housing specialist.

Educational / Vocational Supports
ILP counselors work with each participant to develop individualized vocational and/or educational goals. To ensure that participants are able to meet job-related education requirements, we work with participants to link them with GED or continuing education classes. To help participants obtain permanent employment—a cornerstone of independence—youth are given a supported vocational opportunity with a local business in his/her field of interest.

Independent Housing Supports
The Independent Living Program also assists youth with obtaining age-appropriate independent or supported living situations in their community. ILP can offer need-based financial support to assist program participants with expenses for rent, utilities, deposits, furniture, and other transitional needs. In conjunction with the Carolina Outreach Foundation and other community partners, ILP at Carolina Outreach is also able to offer emergency housing on a limited basis to youth with immediate housing needs.

Read more about ILP services at Carolina Outreach here.