Our Independent Living Services help foster care youth to access and retain independent, stable housing. As part of this youth-driven program, our highly qualified professionals train participants in the creation of practical living plans with the goal of attaining economic independence and self-sufficiency. We provide short and long term assistance, helping not only with direct foster care support but also with longer term upward mobility. This is an essential basis for effective mental healthcare and allows participants to focus on successfully transitioning into adult society without the stress and anxiety caused by an unstable housing situation.
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Development of action plans and living plans
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Support with both a short-term and a long-term focus
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Assistance locating and retaining housing
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Stable homes at affordable prices
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Support with the process of becoming independent and self-sufficient
How to join our Independent Living Program and Transitional Housing Program
If you are a foster youth and believe you are eligible to join one of these programs, we invite you to take part in our screening process.
During this process, we will assess your eligibility based on your presenting problems, your level of daily functioning, your need for services, and proof of your legal status as a foster youth, such as a court order.
At the same time, we will assess the appropriateness of our available services and the availability of funding sources, in order to identify whether the organization can provide the services you need.
We will also ask for a referral from your DSS worker or Case Manager.
Finally, as part of the screening process, we will invite you and any relevant family or support persons to an interview. This interview is fully confidential and will be carried out face to face by one of our qualified credentialed counselors (QCCs), graduates, or counselor interns working under direct supervision.
If an in-person interview is not possible, you may be able to undergo the screening process by telephone. However, please be aware that at TYIA, we do not provide any form of telehealth consultation services.
Our screening processes use fully age-appropriate assessment tools and are carried out by qualified mental health professionals, such as clinical social workers (e.g., LCSW-C, LCPC). The process follows all Code of Maryland Regulations related to the admission criteria for foster youth eligibility for independent living services, and uses the standard biopsychosocial assessment screening tool.