Foster Care :. Independent Living Support Program

The Independent Living Support Program (ILSP) supports foster children in developing the skills they will need for future success. ILSP receives federal and state funding to help eligible youth to achieve self-sufficiency through training in independent living skills. ILSP services are available to all youth in out-of home placement on or after their sixteenth birthday. Eligibility continues until age 21, even if the youth did not participate in ILSP prior to being reunified or emancipated.

ILSP classes meet weekly for 37 weeks of the year. A variety of topics related to living independently are covered, including: basic skills such as budgeting and job hunting; social development, such as communication and relationship skills; and academic support, such as tutoring, college preparation, and computer training.

A significant number of youth enrolled in the program go on to higher education, and there is a strong employment assistance component for youth entering the job market. Support groups and services for pregnant and parenting teens, aftercare case management, and housing assistance are also provided.

ILSP has its own website with information for current program participants, alumni, and the public: www.alamedacountyilsp.org.