Supported Independent Living Program & Transitional Living Programs
SILS
In addition to residential care, Rocky Mountain Youth Resources provides financial and emotional support to young people “aging out” of Montana’s foster care system.
The SILS Program recognizes that many youth turning 18 are not prepared for all the changes adulthood brings. The program offers a positive adult support network while an 18 year old lives in his or her own apartment in the Helena area.
The SILS Program:
- provides DPHHS Youth Court, and Department of Corrections youth with aftercare case management and support after discharged from one of our group homes with they live in the Helena community.
As part of the SILS program, RMYR will:
- Assist the youth in finding safe, affordable housing.
- Assist the youth in accessing resources to meet their physical; emotional; social; educational and employment needs.
- Assist youth in accessing Medicaid, Food Stamps and Low Income Housing.
- Work to ensure transportations needs are met.
- Provide at least 5 hours of direct services weekly.
- Complete with each youth a Transition to Independent Living Plan and Individualized Independent Living Case Plan.
- Have two face-to-face meetings with the youth weekly.
- Visit the youth in his/her residence at least one time per week.
- Work directly with the referring workers and other members of the youth’s team.
- Be available to provide crisis services the youth 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
- Assess the youth to determine if s/he is functioning at an acceptable level, is continuing to reside in a safe and acceptable environment, is managing expenditures appropriately, and provide written documentation of the assessment monthly.
- Document all contacts with the youth.
- Review the supported living plans monthly with the youth to assess whether the plan continues to be appropriate and if the youth is meeting the responsibilities identified in the case plan.
- Identify weekly goals in coordination with the Transitional Living Plan, updated at a minimum monthly.
The cost for this service is based on the monthly needs of the youth and is paid based on a daily rate. the costs include:
- Groceries
- Personal Care and Cleaning Supplies
- Optional: phone, transportation, household set up costs, living stipend
- Supervision by RMYR staff
- Operational costs
Transitional Living Program
The Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides services to youth ages 16-21 years, in foster care through the Department of Health and Human Services Child and Family Services. RMYR will provide this service to youth referred through DPHHS CFS in Lewis & Clark, Broadwater and Jefferson counties.
Youth in the TLP are assisted in the transition to self-sufficiency by a Transitional LIving Specialist. The TLS assists youth in:
- Obtaining a high school diploma or GED
- Career exploration
- Vocational training
- Job placement and retention
- Training in daily independent living skills
- Training in budgeting and financial management
- Substance abuse prevention
- Preventative health activities
Additionally the TLS provides personal and emotional support to youth agining out of foster care by finding mentors to work with the youth and by promoting positive interactions with adults that are dedicated to help youth succeed. The goal of the mentor component is to assist youth in assisting youth in learning how to build trusting long-lasting relationships with adults and to promote re-establishing connections with family members who would be willing to act as a positive role model in the youth's life.
Each youth in the TLP will begin by taking an Ansell Casey Life Skills survey and then will create a plan with the TLS, making goals for completing the RMYR Youth-on-Track to Adulthood curriculum.
