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Transitional Living Services

Programs

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) provides Chafee Foster Care Independence Program services through its Transitional Living Services programs. These programs include Preparation for Adult Living (PAL), Education and Training Vouchers (ETV), and other related services and support of young people 16 to 21 years of age who are currently or formerly in foster care, or transitioning out of care.

DFPS established a Transitional Living Services Initiative as part of CPS Reform efforts. The general objective of the initiative has been to implement a systemic and integrated approach in transition planning and services affecting youth aging out of state foster care.

In order to consistently improve services, the initiative participants (including DFPS staff, alumni, and external partners) identified a baseline of transition and life skills training services. Establishing a consistent baseline of services helps to ensure that youth aging out of the foster care system can expect the same quality of services regardless of which region they are in.

Transitional Living Services includes:

  • Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) programs;
  • the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program;
  • formal transition planning;
  • identifying caring adults for youth in care prior to discharge, support services to youth who have left foster care;
  • Circles of Support (COS);
  • transition centers and networks of transition services;
  • Extended Care for youth up to the age of 22 to complete high school or up to age 21 to complete vocational training;
  • Return to Care for youth after they have aged out and decide they need / want to return to care continuous;
  • Medicaid for youth 18 to 21 years of age with a single application, youth surveys and assessments;
  • ongoing training for caseworkers related to PAL and transitioning youth services;
  • independent PAL program studies for young people and their caregivers when circumstances or transportation do not allow on-site participation; and
  • youth leadership and development activities including regional and statewide teen conferences and regional and statewide youth leadership councils.

Four principles guiding the DFPS Transitional Living Services Programs include:

  • engage young people in all aspects of the work;
  • engage community and build and strengthen community partnerships;
  • collaborate to improve systems, programs and services; and
  • collect and evaluate data, document what works and communicate the results.

For more information, contact:
Candice Towe
DFPS
PO Box 149030, MC W-157
Austin, Texas 78714-9030