TRAC Skill Building

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.

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:

job skills
money management
housing and transportation
personal and interpersonal skills
health, and
planning for the future

For further information or assistance, please contact the PAL coordinator on our staff.

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)

Must have been in PRS paid foster or other residential care within the 24 months prior to initiating the allowance;
Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien;
Must have completed at least 5 hours of training in each of 5 of the 6 PAL life skills core elements (Any substitution of training hours or variance must be approved by the regional PAL supervisor);
Must be making or have made a planned move into an independent living arrangement, or a supervised or semi-supervised setting;
Must not be living with a designated perpetrator while receiving assistance;
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
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.)

Must be between 18 and 21 years of age;
Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien;
Must have aged out of foster care at age 18 or older (PRS conservatorship and control must have been maintained until age 18);
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
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]

Must be a current Texas resident between 18 and 21 years of age;
Must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien.
Must have aged out of foster care at age 18 or older (PRS conservatorship and control must have been maintained until at least age 18);
Must have no other medical coverage (private insurance or other category of Medicaid);
Must not have resources valued at more than $10,000; and
Must meet the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) income guidelines for this category of Medicaid.
Note: Youth who qualify will be initially certified for the Transitional Medicaid as they age out of care by a PRS foster care eligibility specialist. The youth's caseworker coordinates with the eligibility specialist to ensure the certification process is initiated.
Must call the DHS Centralized Benefits Section at 1-800-248-1078, ext. 9658 for annual re-certification and to report change of address. Information may be faxed to Shane Brewington at (512) 908-9515.

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 PRS conservatorship in foster or other residential care on or after:

the day preceding the 18th birthday;
the day the youth graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; or
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 as an undergraduate by his or her 21st birthday or not later than whichever of the following dates occurs first;

three years after the date the youth was discharged from foster or other residential care, or
three years after the date of high school graduation or completion of an equivalency of a high school diploma (GED).

Note: Youths who meet requirements and are adopted at age 14 and older are eligible.

5) Texas Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV):

Under the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001, PRS recently received funding for a new state grant program to provide post-secondary educational and training vouchers (ETV Program) to eligible youth who are in care or age out of foster care, or who are adopted from foster care after turning 16 years old. The ETV Program allows PRS to expand and supplement the current assistance provided to former and eligible foster care youth and specifically, helps them to begin, continue and/or complete their educational and vocational goals.

Eligibility for ETV

Those who are eligible to participate are:

Youth who have a high school diploma or equivalent and plan to, or are attending a public or non-profit program that provides a bachelor’s degree or not less than a 2 year program that provides credit towards a degree.
Youth who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance (age 18) and plan to, or are attending an accredited or preaccredited program that provides not less than one year of training toward gainful employment.
Youth in PRS foster care who are at least 16 and who are likely to remain in foster care until turning 18
Youth who age out of PRS foster care but have not yet turned 21
Youth who are adopted from PRS foster care after turning 16 years old who are not yet 21
Youth participating in the education/training voucher program on their 21^st birthday can remain eligible until 23 as long as they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward completing their postsecondary education or training program.

The ETV Program provides monetary assistance for eligible youth who are enrolled in an “institution of higher education,” as that term is defined in the Higher Education Act (20 USCS §1001). An “institution of higher education” is defined as a legally authorized public or nonprofit educational institution that is accredited or granted preaccreditation status. (Please see attachment for a complete definition).

Eligible youth may receive up to $5,000 per student, per year to cover the cost of attendance as that term is defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act. This includes such items as residential housing, room and board, tuition/fees (for non state-supported institution or if youth is not eligible for the state tuition and fee waiver for former foster care youth), personal items, books and supplies, child care for the student’s child, some reasonable transportation costs, computer or other required equipment, student loan fees or student loan insurance premium, reasonable costs associated with special study projects, and required special services for students with disabilities. ETV funds can be used to cover the “cost of attendance” (as that term is defined in the law), which may include expenses for rent, transportation, childcare and some personal items. ETV funds cannot exceed the cost of attendance or $5,000 per year, which ever is less.

In addition, the assistance provided under the ETV Program cannot duplicate other benefits from PRS to assist with the same costs.

It is important for PRS to identify and inform youth eligible for the ETV program through communications with youth, caseworkers, Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Program staff, foster care providers, foster care alumni organizations, adoptive parents, PAL program contractors, and others who may be in contact with eligible youth.

For FY 2004, applications will be accepted from all areas of the state. The ETV Program will be administered through the CPS State Office and policy development will be refined throughout the first year of the Program’s implementation and operation.

For an application, eligible youth or staff can contact, Frances Serna at 817/255-2317, Linda Valdez at 512/438-3144 or access the online application by visiting the CPS website at www.tdprs.state.tx.us. (click on “Teens”, then click on “Preparation for Adult Living”).

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 specifics

a) Transitional Living Allowance is given through 4 checks. The first 3 checks are for $300 each and the last check is for $100.

b) Tuition Waiver Letter - The youth must contact their PAL Coordinator to request this letter one month or more before enrolling in college/vocational school. The following information will be needed for the letter:

Date of discharge from care
date of birth
social security number
current address

c) Region 3 PAL no longer pays for Drivers Education. Check with your Caseworker for possible resources for payment of this.

d) Region 03 PAL will no longer pay for Books and Supplies. Youth will have to apply to the Texas Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV) to have these books and supplies paid for. Youth must contact PAL office at least 1 month prior to buying books and supplies in order to allow time for application and approval.

e) Housing - To apply for HUD housing, check with your Caseworker about how to apply in your area. We recommend that the Caseworker help their youth apply for HUD housing 3 months prior to their 18^th birthday to avoid a longer delay on the waiting list. For HUD application, the youth’s caseworker needs to provide their youth with:

Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of Social Security Card
TX ID or Driver’s License
If the youth has children, copy of the youth’s children’s birth certificate(s)
Letter of verification to the youth of their stay in foster care

Other Activities

PEAKS Camps
Two five-day experiential camps are held each year. The camps accommodate 40 youths each. The youth are accompanied by an adult, preferably their caseworker. Activities include ropes course activities, canoeing, expressive arts, swimming, nature hikes, skits, journal writing, etc. The camps are aimed at increasing self-esteem, improving communication and problem-solving skills, and having fun.

Statewide Teen Conference
Each year the Statewide Teen Conference is held on a college campus. Approximately 175 youths attend a three-day conference with workshops related to preparing for adulthood. The youths are accompanied by staff, preferably their caseworker.

College Weekend
Texas A&M University at Commerce holds a college weekend each spring. Approximately 70 youths who plan to attend college participate in two days of workshops related to attending college. Youths are offered individualized assistance filling out financial aid applications, etc.

Statewide Youth Leadership Committee (Youth Advisory Board)
The Statewide Youth Leadership Committee consists of one youth from each region. The committee addresses issues and formulates recommendations for improving services to children and youths in foster care. The group also reviews relevant policy as it is being developed.

Regional Activities
Several regions have regional Teen Conferences. If regional funding is available, other regional activities may include: wilderness trips, mentor programs, support groups, job development workshops, youth forums, etc.

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