CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

Section 4, Chapter 5 (Older Youth Program), Subsection 5 – Independent Living Arrangement

Revision Date:  9-11-2026

 

An Independent Living Arrangement (ILA) is a state-approved and subsidized placement option for youth typically aged 18 to 21 who cannot return home, and who want to live independently. The Children’s Division (CD) or Foster Care Case Management (FCCM) agency, in conjunction with the Family Support Team (FST), discusses the youth’s suitability for placement in an ILA, by assessing the youth’s motivation, abilities, skills, and capabilities for living independently. Youth requesting an ILA must have a goal of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) and must be actively engaging with Chafee services prior to the placement being made. 

An ILA should be a planned move; the worker must ensure the youth has the ability to maintain and support the ILA placement prior to requesting placement in an ILA. Youth shall not move into an ILA placement until the placement has been approved by the Regional Older Youth Transition Specialist (OYTS).  

An ILA should never be used when a more appropriate placement resource is available for the youth. Although licensure is not involved, the safety and well-being of a youth must be ensured. 

 

5.5.1   Criteria for Youth Being Considered for an Independent Living Arrangement

Youth being considered for an ILA should demonstrate competency in life skills, managing personal finances, demonstrating responsible conduct, and working; an exception to the employment requirement is made if the youth is living in the dorm setting or attending Job Corps.  Following approval for an ILA, a supplemental assistance maintenance payment is made directly to the youth monthly; this funding should not be the only income the youth receives. Once the youth’s case with CD closes, the youth will no longer receive the ILA maintenance; therefore, the worker must ensure the youth can afford the living arrangement when the maintenance payment ends.    

To qualify for an ILA, a youth must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Standard Rule (Age 18):The youth is at least 18 years old (the legal age to sign a lease in Missouri). 
  • The 17-Year-Old Exception:A youth who is 17 may be considered if they meet at least one of these educational/career milestones: 
    • Earned a high school diploma. 
    • Earned a recognized equivalent (like a HiSET). 
    • Transitioned into a dedicated career-training focus. 
  • The Secondary Education Exception:Exceptions can be made for youth who have finished their secondary education and meet all other policy requirements, subject to approval by the OYTS. 
  • The Job Corps Automatic Approval:Regardless of age, if a youth is living in Job Corps, it automatically qualifies as an ILA. 

Additional Criteria includes:  

  • Youth under court jurisdiction, in the legal and physical custody of the Children’s Division. 
  • No likelihood of reunification with parent/legal guardian. 
  • Relative care has been explored and is not an option. 
  • Youth does not want to be adopted. 
  • Youth has a goal of APPLA. 
  • Worker has consulted with the FST and a plan has been developed regarding youth roles and responsibilities. 
  • Youth is enrolled and actively participating in the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. 
  • Youth continually demonstrate competency in life skills. 
  • Youth continually manage personal finances independently. 
  • Youth continually demonstrate readiness to live independently.  
  • Youth has demonstrated responsible conduct for at least six (6) months. 
  • Youth does not have any violent criminal law violations. 
  • Youth and the worker have developed the youth’s plan (including the Adolescent FST Guide and IAP Goals) for independent living. 

Placement Limitations 

  • Youth in an ILA are allowed to have roommates (peer, boyfriend, girlfriend); however, ILA is not to be used as a substitute for relative licensure or placement. ILA is not to be utilized to provide a form of maintenance to a family member, including a biological parent whose rights have been terminated. Placement with a safe, supportive adult is always ideal over an Independent Living Arrangement whenever possible. Youth in an ILA shall not live with an individual who, per policy, meets the requirements for a Relative Home, Foster Home, or Transitional Living Advocate (TLA). If placement with an adult caregiver is the plan for the youth, another placement code shall be used instead of ILA. 

 

  • ILA shall not be used in situations where the youth is living with a parent. Foster care is a form of substitute care for children whose safety or well-being requires removal from the home of their parent(s). If the parent of the foster youth resides in the resource home, the foster youth is no longer “removed from the control of his parents” pursuant to Section 211.011 RSMonor is the youth “unattended by parent” pursuant to Section 210.481(4) RSMo. Maintenance payments cannot be made to the resource provider if the child’s own parent(s) is residing in the resource home per Federal Child Welfare Policy Manual Section 8.3A.3. 

 

  • ILA shall not be used as a placement with friends or family members who are unable or unwilling to meet licensure requirements. If an adult exercises authority over the youth (makes decisions, creates limitations, oversees safety, etc.) this is not an appropriate ILA.  If the youth is paying “rent” to an adult, family member, or former foster parent while residing in the same residence, this is not an appropriate ILA placement.   

 

  • Youth in an ILA shall not “rent a room” from a parent, relative, or foster parent.  ILA is meant to be a setting for independence.  Renting from a parent, relative, or foster parent can result in complications as these persons could hold authority over the youth and leave the youth in a vulnerable position, such as homelessness, should the relationship change. If a youth wishes to rent a separate apartment or dwelling from a foster parent, relative, or family member, there must be an official lease signed and notarized to protect the rights of the youth. This lease must include the following:  
    • Landlord’s name, address, phone number, and address of rental property. The amount of monthly rent and due date- including a grace period if applicable and any fees charged for late payments. The amount of security deposit and conditions for its return, who is responsible for payment of the utilities, what repairs the landlord is responsible for, pet policy, and length of the lease. 

 

  • Youth in an ILA shall not be providing supervision or authority over any other youth residing in the home. Siblings of youth in an ILA, under the age of 18, may not be “placed” with the youth as an ILA placement. An ILA must prioritize the youth’s individual development; therefore, the youth should not be assigned a caregiving role or authority over a sibling. If a sibling meets all the ILA requirements, the siblings may reside together as housemates.  

 

  • If a youth is case managed by an agency outside of Children’s Division (such as the Department of Mental Health) and the youth is living in a group home or independent living program that is not licensed but is staffed to provide residential services, this is not considered an ILA. Youth in an ILA should be able to manage their own physical and mental health needs on a daily basis and are able to come and go on their own. Youth who qualify for an ILA should have a plan to exit to independence, not to the care of another agency or guardian. 

 

  • If a youth is in need of Transitional Living Program services, a referral shall be made with an agency contracted with Children’s Division (see CWM 4.5.4 Transitional Living Program). Community agencies may provide services similar to Transitional Living Program services via an apartment or a group home setting but may not be licensed or contracted with Children’s Division. Non-licensed or non-contracted facilities do not have their staffing vetted or monitored by CD. Thus, these programs are not approved to provide services for youth in foster care, youth shall not be placed with them, and these non-contracted agencies shall not be coded as an ILA.   

 

  • ILA shall not be used when youth are in unapproved placement settings, residing in a hotel, or on run status in either known or unknown location. 

 

  • Youth choosing to take a break from college, unrelated to school scheduled breaks, shall not remain coded as ILA unless their placement meets the requirements of ILA and the OYTS has approved. Youth who are required to find other placement when the college is on holiday or summer breaks may remain coded as ILA, with the physical placement location updated; the plan must be for the youth to return to the dorm/ILA placement once the scheduled college break is over. Youth in an ILA may visit family, friends, or permanent connections overnight.  

 

 

5.5.2   Independent Living Arrangement Team Discussion

An FST meeting shall occur prior to a youth moving into an ILA. During this FST meeting the proposed placement setting, youth’s preparedness to live independently, youth’s income and expenses, etc. shall be discussed. The worker must have an up-to-date Adolescent FST Guide in the system of record (FACES) with the Daily Living, Household Items Inventory, Money Management, Housing, and Career Planning/Work Life sections completed thoroughly. The worker must also have updated Individualized Action Plan (IAP) goals to include, at minimum, budgeting and household management. 

 

ILA Placement Planning  

For any new placements in which ILA is being considered, PRIOR to placement being made, the worker shall ensure an updated Independent Living Arrangement Packet (CD- 360) is developed with the youth then sent to the Circuit Manager or FCCM Program Director for review.  The Older Youth Transition Specialist (OYTS) or Older Youth Program Coordinator is responsible for final approval or denial of youth eligibility for ILA placement.  

 

Within five (5) business days of receipt, the Circuit Manager or FCCM Program Director will review the documents (at minimum, Section I: ILA Self-Developed Case Plan) to ensure criteria for an ILA is met and provides a recommendation of approval or denial. The packet is then uploaded to OnBase, and a copy is provided to the regional OYTS upon approval. 

 

Once an ILA location has been found, the worker must review and determine the suitability of the residence. The worker shall complete Section II: ILA Eligibility Checklist, within the ILA Packet, documenting health and safety requirements specific to the older youth requesting placement in an ILA.  

 

Section II: ILA Eligibility Checklists shall be sent to the OYTS immediately upon completion. The monthly maintenance payment for Independent Living Arrangement Placements (See CWM 4.12.8 Payments for Children) should be initiated by OYTS in the system of record. The placement date will not be backdated, and no backpay of the maintenance fee will be provided until the OYTS has received all required documentation. If approved, the OYTS shall enter the ILA placement in the system of record (FACES). 

 

If the OYTS or Older Youth Program Coordinator determines the youth does not meet criteria for an ILA placement or the physical placement does not meet ILA standards and requirements, then ILA coding shall not be used, and another placement type must be sought. If the Family Support Team or court wishes to pursue the living arrangement, despite the ILA denial, a different placement code shall be used (i.e. Relative Home, Foster Home, Court Ordered Placement, etc. See CWM 4.2.1 Common Placement Types). 

 

5.5.3   Independent Living Arrangement Placement Options and Limitations

Placement Options 

There are a variety of housing options available to youth who have demonstrated the skills and competencies to live in an Independent Living Arrangement. The housing option selected by the youth, must be stable, safe, and in a community setting that allows the youth full access to services and resources to develop independent living skills. Housing options include the following: 

  • Single dwelling (house, apartment, mobile home). 
  • Shared housing with a peer. 
  • Dormitory (college/trade school program).  
  • Job Corps, or 
  • Subsidized housing (HUD-Section 8). 

 

While it is preferred the youth enter into an official lease agreement, the youth may decide to move into a peer’s apartment without being added to the lease. In this situation, the worker must ensure the youth has made this decision with informed consent. This includes a discussion of the lack of protection, lack of tenant rights, and legal disputes that could result if the verbal agreement changes. This conversation must be documented in the case notes and the electronic case record. 

 

5.5.4 Independent Living Arrangement Support Services, Systems, and Monitoring

Youth in Independent Living Arrangements may need as much, if not more, support than youth in other placement types. These youth do not have a resource provider, and many have limited personal connections to rely on in a crisis. Consequently, youth in an ILA must have two contacts per month by the worker, with at least one contact occurring in-person in the youth’s living environment. The second contact may be made in-person, virtually, or by phone and must show meaningful engagement to support the youth’s safety, needs, well-being, and case planning goals; this contact must allow for two-way communication. Missed calls, voicemails, one-way text messaging, and scheduling-related contact does not meet this communication requirement. This level of contact helps to improve outcomes and successful transition of youth exiting state custody.  

 

Monthly visits  

The purpose of each monthly home visit with a youth in ILA is to incorporate youth voice in case planning, assess safety and stability, and actively move the youth toward independence. A quality monthly visit with an older youth should include conversations about:  

  • Housing safety 
  • Goal setting and future planning 
  • Permanent connections 
  • Life skills progress 
  • Employment 
  • Post-secondary education or trade school, if applicable 
  • Financial stability 
  • Health (physical, mental, and emotional) 
  • Current needs 
  • Case status information 
  • Clear next steps for individualized goal progression  

 

Youth in an ILA are required to actively participate in Chafee services, which can assist the youth in accessing and utilizing resources. However, it is also critical that the worker assist the youth in identifying and accessing resources to enhance success in the ILA. Specifically, the youth, worker, and other Family Support Team members should identify, to the extent possible and appropriate, the following support systems: 

  • Medical/dental services 
  • Educational/vocational training programs/options 
  • Employment opportunities 
  • Emergency contacts within the agency 
  • Family supports 
  • Permanent connections 
  • Religious supports 
  • Community sponsor/mentor and 
  • Other supports/resources identified 

 

The ILA Eligibility Checklists in the ILA Packet, worker contacts, services and resources needed or used, should be identified and discussed within each quarterly supervisor case consultation.  

 

ILA Placement Moves  

The entire ILA packet shall be updated and completed each time the youth moves to a new ILA location to ensure the living environment is safe and meets ILA requirements. 

 

5.5.5   Termination of Independent Living Arrangement

Youth living in an ILA should not remain in care solely for the monthly maintenance payment received.  

Youth must work in conjunction with the worker and must: 

  • Participate in and comply with any transition plan developed by the youth, worker, and Family Support Team 
  • Have 2 contacts per month with the worker – one visit must be in-person in the youth’s residence 
  • Actively meet, and work, with the Chafee provider 
  • Participate in any services deemed necessary; and 
  • Work to maintain personal efforts toward independent living. 

 

An Independent Living Arrangement subsidized and supported by the Children’s Division is temporary and should be terminated under the following circumstances: 

  • The youth has demonstrated success living independently and the FST agrees the youth will likely continue to live successfully as an adult in the community. In addition, the FST agrees the youth should be released from court jurisdiction; 
  • Youth is unsuccessful living independently and requires placement in a more structured and supervised setting, i.e., Transitional Living Program, out-of-home care, or residential treatment; 
  • Youth has been on run status more than seven (7) consecutive days; 
  • Youth is in active military duty; 
  • Youth engaged in violent criminal activity which has resulted in a criminal conviction or incarceration; or  
  • Youth is released from court jurisdiction, CD custody, or reaches his/her 21st birthday. 

 

It is the responsibility of the worker to prepare the youth for the time at which ILA maintenance will end. The worker shall ensure the youth is able to support his/her living arrangement without the monthly ILA payment. If the youth is unable to maintain his/her current residence, the worker shall work with the youth to ensure the youth does not leave care to homelessness.