When a youth in foster care turns 16 years of age, an Independent Living (IL) coordinator is assigned to assist the youth to prepare for the transition to adulthood. The IL workers are contracted by the State’s Division of Family Services (DFS) from three non-profit agencies in New Castle County: People’s Place II, Progressive Life and West End Neighborhood House. They are overseen by the Manager of the Independent Living Program at DFS.
The IL coordinators continue to assist the youth on their caseloads, with each youth’s consent, after the youth turns 18 until the age of 21 and serve as the source of referrals for our ILYA program.