	Youth Independent Living Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

YIL 1: Access to Service and Support

A community-based approach increases the ability of the organization and community to improve service accessibility and quality, and increases opportunities that support youth least prepared to achieve self-sufficiency as young adults.

YIL 1.01

The organization conducts community outreach and collaborates with service providers to identify youth with potential need and increase youth interest in services.

Research Note: One review of research on youth at highest risk of long-term disconnection suggests some youth differ in important ways from other out-of-school and unemployed youth. Knowledge of these differences could support appropriate targeting of scarce resources and caution when implementing programs and policies designed to serve the general population or employed youth. This review suggests systems must alter how they work and collaborate to serve both 18-24 years olds who cannot connect to the labor force and 14-17 year olds who: 1) do not complete high school; 2) are involved in the justice system; 3) are young mothers; and 4) experience foster placement.

YIL 1.02

The organization partners with community entities and providers to coordinate service delivery and increase the likelihood that needed supports and services will be used.

Interpretation: This standard promotes the “no wrong door” concept that youth will not be turned away when a narrow service does not meet comprehensive need. Instead, youth will be engaged at any point of entry and will be referred to or served by an appropriate constellation of providers.

YIL 1.03

To promote the availability of a full range of youth services, the organization regularly assesses resources and services available to youth and advocates for lacking or inaccessible services.

Research Note: Health care, a well documented area of unmet need for youth leaving foster care, can be difficult to obtain at point of access due to complexity of eligibility guidelines and to state plans that can, but may not, seek federal matching funds through the Medicaid Expansion Option. For available coverage to be used fully, service providers, case workers, and young people receiving YIL services can look to states to provide information and training about eligibility and enrollment.

YIL 1.04

The organization strives to engage youth directly as key partners, and to promote sufficient relevant resources, by encouraging youth participation in local or state leadership and advocacy activities, including community advisory and partnership groups.

Research Note: In states seeking broad-based solutions to issues of concern to youth, families, and communities, advisory groups or task forces with youth representation have grown in number and prominence. These groups offer representatives opportunities to meet with governmental and service representatives, to identify concerns and strategies in support of state-wide goals, and to advance youth service delivery efforts. As a result, youth serving organizations can more easily access university and civic engagement opportunities, agendas, resources, and information developed and disseminated by youth action programs.

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	PURPOSE: Young adults who receive Independent Living Services obtain safe and stable housing, develop life skills and competencies including work readiness, achieve educational and financial growth goals, and establish healthy, supportive adult and peer relationships.

RELATED FILES


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	COMMUNITY A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.


	QUALITY In this context, the extent to which contemporary and generally recognized standards for professional practice are met and exceeded, and desirable service outcomes achieved.


	OUTREACH Contact initiated by a provider to identify persons in need of services, to provide information to them about services and benefits, and to encourage the use of appropriate services.


	RESEARCH For purposes of COA accreditation, all forms of internal or external research involving persons served except internal program evaluation and outcomes research, or educational projects performed by students and interns that are part of their professional training.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	ELIGIBILITY The degree to which an individual, family, group, or community meets the specific criteria and qualifications required to receive goods, benefits, or services.


	CASE A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.


	TRAINING Instruction so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient in a skill or body of knowledge.


	LEADERSHIP A nonprofit organization's leadership consists of its governing body, chief executive officer, and may also include its senior management. In a public agency the term refers to the agency head and administration team. The term "leadership" is not generally applied to for-profit organizations. With respect to COA standards, in for-profit organizations the term leadership applies to the owner and board of directors if one exists.


	ADVOCACY An act performed with or on behalf of others through direct intervention, empowerment, or representation. Case advocacy refers to actions taken in relation to a particular individual consumer. Cause, social, or systems advocacy refers to actions taken in relation to a common issue affecting a group of persons.


	ADVISORY GROUP A group of individuals selected by an organization's governing body or management who possess unique skills and/or knowledge and whose role is to make recommendations, provide information, and/or share input from stakeholders. Advisory groups do not have formal governance authority or responsibilities. Advisory groups can be ongoing or ad hoc.