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Preparation for Adult Living (PAL)
For teens in the care
of Child Protective Services (CPS), adulthood means leaving the state's conservatorship and making it on their
own, beginning in most cases at age
18. Through the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program, youth can
develop self-confidence and self-sufficiency.
TRAC is the CPS contractor
for Preparation for Adult Living training for the 19 counties of
Region 3, Arlington district. The TRAC staff will offer a fun and
experiential curriculum to engage youth and prepare them for the
challenges they'll face in their transition to independent living.
This life skills training is a natural complement to TRAC's transition
planning services. PAL classes, which are mandatory for youth aging
out of care, are scheduled on a regular basis and will be held in
various locations around the region.
PAL
services are required to be provided to all youth 16 and older who are
in foster care to assist them preparing for adult living. Limited
services are also available for youth 14 and older. Foster teens have an
initial assessment of their knowledge of adult living skills and their
ability to develop these skills.
Through
PAL, foster teens have opportunities to participate in specific group or
individual training sessions featuring guest speakers, field trips and
discussion on topics such as:
Youth must be referred to
the PAL classes by their PAL workers. Youth may contact their
respective PAL workers for more information: Rebecca Daniel
(Hurst office) at 817-255-2311,
Chris Milton (Lewisville office) at
972-221-3910,
Sheryl Dudley (Dallas office) at
214-370-9300 x23, Denna Hill (Lewisville office) at 972-221-3910,
or Melissa Fogg (TRAC office) 214-370-9300.
Benefits
for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care to Adult Living
This assistance is coordinated through
the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Program of Child Protective
Services.
1) Transitional Living Allowance
(up to $1,000 to be distributed in increments not to exceed $500 per
month)
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Must have been in FPS paid foster or
Medicaid-paid substitute care within
the 24 months prior to initiating the allowance;
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Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien;
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Must have completed at least 5 hours of training in each of 5 of
the 6 PAL life skills core elements, one of which must be Money
Management (Any substitution of training hours
or variance must be approved by the regional PAL supervisor);
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Must be making or have made a planned move into an independent
living arrangement, or a supervised or semi-supervised setting;
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Must not be living with a designated perpetrator while receiving
assistance;
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Must be employed, be actively seeking employment (for those youth
who are able to work), be enrolled and attending school or college, or
be receiving prevocational or vocational training services; and
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Must provide all information required by regional CPS staff.
Note: All payments must be made by the
young adult's 21st birthday.
Participation in PAL training or
services, while strongly encouraged, is not required for the following
three benefits:
2) Aftercare Room and Board Assistance
(based on need, up to $500 per month with a total cap of $3,000 of
accumulated payments per young adult; variances may be considered in
emergency or special circumstances.)
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Must be between 18 and 21 years of age;
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Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien;
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Must have aged out of foster care at age 18 or older (FPS
conservatorship and control must have been maintained until age 18);
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Must be in an educational program, be employed or actively seeking
employment (for those who are able to work), or be receiving
prevocational or vocational training services; and
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Must prove financial need.
Note: Some time-limited exceptions may
be made in special medical or emergency situations.
3) Transitional Medicaid
[a provision of federal (Chafee Foster Care Independence Act) and Texas
State Law]
You are eligible for
continuous Medicaid coverage through the month of your 21st birthday if:
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You have aged out of
foster care at age 18 or older You are a current Texas resident
between 18 and 21 years of age
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You are a U.S. citizen,
a legal permanent resident, or other qualified alien
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You have no private
comprehensive medical insurance through a family member or work, or
other Medicaid coverage through SSI, TANF, or another HHSC (formerly
the Department of Human Services, or DHS) Medicaid program
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Your total resources are
valued at less than $10,000
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Your income is below 400
percent of the current federal poverty level for one person, which
is $3104 per month for 2005. To obtain federal poverty levels, go to
www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/
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Must call the DHS Centralized Benefits Section at 1-800-248-1078,
and ask to speak to the following individuals about Medicaid for young people
transitioning from foster care. You must call for annual
re-certification and to report change of address. Information may be
faxed to (512) 908-9515.
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Jordan ext. 8126
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Shane ext. 8145
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Dody ext. 8131
4) Tuition and Fee Waiver
(for Higher Education)
(a provision of Texas State Law, Section
54.211 of the Texas Education Code. While U.S. citizenship or qualified
alien status is not required, it is strongly encouraged as young adults
without such status will have difficulty obtaining any federal financial
assistance at college.)
To be exempt from the payment of tuition
and fees at a Texas state supported institution of higher education, the
youth must:
a) Have been in FPS conservatorship in
foster or other residential care on or after:
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the day preceding the 18th birthday;
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the day the youth graduated from high school or received the
equivalent of a high school diploma; or
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the day of the youth's 14th birthday, if the youth was eligible
for adoption (parental rights being terminated) on or after that day;
and
b) Enroll in an institution of higher
education as an undergraduate student not later than:
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the third anniversary of the date the student was discharged from
the foster or other residential care, the date the student graduated
from high school, or the date the student received the equivalent of a
high school diploma,
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the student's 21st birthday.
Note: Youths who meet requirements and
are adopted at age 14 or eligible for adoption at age 14 and older are eligible.
5) Texas Education and Training Voucher
Program (ETV):
MISSION
The Education and Training Voucher Program will allow Texas to help
youth make a smoother transition to self-sufficiency and
independence by providing funding that will help youth receive
education, training and services not covered by another funding
source.
For an application, contact one of the following:
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The
youth’s PAL Coordinator:
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Rebecca Daniel (817-255-2311)
- Sheryl Dudley (214-370-9300 ext 23)
- Melissa Fogg (214-370-9300 ext 28)
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Chris Milton (972-221-3910)
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ETV Program Specialist,
David Smith at 512-438-3144.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ETV GO HERE.
6) The Texas Youth Hotline:
The Texas Youth Hotline is a resource
for youths who are under 21 years of age, including those who have aged
out of the foster care system. Youth may contact the statewide hotline at
1-800-210-2278 for telephone counseling and information and referrals. The
hotline can help young adults locate services available in their
communities.
Region 03
(19
counties in North Central Texas) specifics
a) Transitional Living Allowance
(TLA) - The allowance is given
through a series of monthly checks and may not exceed $500 per month. The
total allowance for TLAs is $1000.
b) Tuition Waiver Letter - The youth must
contact their PAL Coordinator to request this letter one month or more
before enrolling in college or vocational school. The following information
will be needed for the letter:
c) Driver's Education - Driver's
education may be paid for if funds are available. If funds are not
available, youth may check with their caseworker for possible resources
that may assist with payment of Driver's Education.
d) Books and Supplies - Youth
should apply to the Texas Education and
Training Voucher Program (ETV) to have books and supplies paid for. The
ETV application can only be submitted after youth is actually enrolled.
e) Housing -
Housing
options for transitioning youth out of foster care are limited in Region 3.
Some transitional housing options that are available are My Own Place in
Ft. Worth, for females only, TRAC’s Gaston Avenue Apartments, VOA’s The
Faith Project, Our Friend’s Place for females only. More options can be
found on TRAC’s website.
Additional housing opportunities are available in dorm rooms for youth who
attend college and live on campus. Youth need to talk and work with
their caseworkers to make housing plans BEFORE they leave care.
Youth may check with their CPS caseworker regarding how to apply for HUD
housing. Caseworker should help youth apply for HUD housing at least 3
months prior to the youth’s 18th birthday to avoid a longer delay on the
waiting list. However, please note that HUD’s funding has been reduced
and they may or may not be taking application due to lack of funds.
If you do make a HUD application, your caseworker will need to provide
youth with:
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Copy of Birth Certificate
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Copy of Social Security Card
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TX ID or Driver’s License
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If the youth has children, copy of the
youth’s children’s birth certificate(s)
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Letter of verification of youth's stay in foster care
f)
Wednesday's Child Benefit Corporation - A $1500 scholarship may
be available each year through Wednesday's Child Benefit Corporation (WCBC)
for youths who have completes the PAL program and plan to continue
their education at a four-year, two-year or technical college.
Scholarship applications are available through the PAL office. The
application must be completed and returned to the youth's PAL
Coordinator in time to reach the WCBC office no later than June 1st of
each year preceding the fall enrollment. Scholarships are based on a
fall, spring and summer schedule. The funds are divided in to $500
payments for each term and sent directly to the Financial Aid office
of the school. Some adjustments can be made if youth is attending a
technical school that is not on a tri-semester program.
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