The Transitional Independent Living Plan is the document used across California to prepare youth for their transition out of the foster care system. This all-important form, known as the TILP, is the central case planning tool for older youth in foster care. California State Law requires all county child welfare agencies to complete a TILP for all youth in foster care, age 16 and older.
Given its importance, it troubled Associate Director of Education Jessica Petrass that the TILP did not include information about the transition to post-secondary education, a high priority at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). Specifically, it did not include requirements included in Senate Bill 12, landmark legislation sponsored by JBAY that requires youth to receive help applying for post-secondary education, including financial aid.
Help like this would have meant a lot to JBAY Youth Advocate Elizabeth Clews. During a recent web seminar, Elizabeth explained when she was in foster care, no one helped her understand her educational options during high school. “I didn’t have a good connection to anyone. I had little to no support when it came to preparing for college.”
She turned 18 in the middle of her senior year and left foster care. At the time, she thought that she was far behind in school, and wouldn’t graduate, let alone go on to college. She later found out that she was only one credit behind and could have graduated from high school. Instead, she spent several years working low-wage jobs and struggling economically. During one period, she lived in her car with her infant daughter. “Had I been privy to this information, it would have shifted the entire trajectory of my life.”
Fortunately, Elizabeth persevered. Due to her intelligence and grit, she is on track educationally, attending Cal Poly Humboldt pursuing her dream of becoming an educator. Young people across California will have a slightly smoother path to higher education, due to JBAY’s work to update the TILP. Associate Director of Education Jessica Petrass collected input from the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services and then brought recommended changes to the state agency that oversees foster care.
The newly updated form was released this month and informs every youth that they are entitled to receive assistance applying to post-secondary education, including career and technical education and financial aid. The updated form also requires at least one post-secondary education support person to be listed.
According to JBAY Executive Director Amy Lemley, this change is significant. “The TILP touches every one of the 15,500 youth in foster care aged 16 and older in California. Reforming the transition planning process gets us one step closer to ensuring that every young person in foster care makes a safe, supported transition.”