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Children's Division
The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 established the John H. Chafee Foster
Care Independence Program. This program incorporates and expands the former Independent
Living Program (ILP) and expands services for after care youth ages 18-21 who
have exited care at age 18 or after, but have not reached age 21.
Independent living services are provided to young people to assist them as they transition to adulthood. Independent living services are not an alternative to adoption. Enrollment in the independent living program shall occur concurrently with continued efforts to locate and achieve placements in adoptive families.
The former ILP restricted eligibility to youth ages 16 -18. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (hereafter referred to as Chafee) will serve eligible young people without regard to a young person's eligibility for Title IV-E funded foster care if they are:
The change in name from ILP to Chafee does not alter the basic services currently offered to youth 16-18 years of age through ILP. Chafee will continue to provide the same basic independent living services, with expanded services to older youth who left the Children's Division's' (CD) custody on or after age 17.5, but have not yet reached age 21. CD has chosen a broad list of activities to help youth prepare for and make the successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. The following is a list of services that are available, but it is not intended as a restrictive list:
06/20/06
Missouri Department of Social Services
221 West High Street • P.O. Box 1527
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1527
