Independent Living Services for Foster Care Youth

This report describes demographic characteristics of youth who received Independent Living Services (ILS) from DSHS Children’s Administration between April 1 and September 30, 2011. As documented by ILS providers, 1,707 youth aged 16 to 21 years participated in ILS services ranging from educational support and employment preparation to mentoring, life skills training and financial assistance. One half of ILS participants were still in foster care. Nearly 6 in 10 participants were 18 years old or less, the same share were female, and one half were minority race or ethnicity. Older participants were more likely to be female and non-Hispanic White. Career preparation and academic support services were most common ILS (46 and 43 percent of participants, respectively).