Fresno County ILP

1. Fresno CountyFresno County
Independent LivingIndependent Living
Program (ILP)Program (ILP)
BY: Manila VangBY: Manila Vang
California State University, FresnoCalifornia State University, Fresno

2. About ILP
Fresno County's Independent Living
Program provides services to Fresno
County's probation and foster youth.
The services and activites of ILP are
designed with intent of providing
services to current and former
probation and foster youth from ages
14 to 21.

3. ILP’s Mission Statement
“…to provide them with a sense of
community and belonging while providing
them with the necessary skills and support
to obtain self-sufficiency. ILP Social
Workers assist in the development of a
transition plan, academic advising,
employment referrals, housing assistance
and are advisors for EXPLORERS and
YONI.”

4. Who does it serve?
• Current and
former probation
and foster youth
from ages 14 to 21
• an estimation of
750 foster youths
attend FUSD and
300 are ILP
eligible.

5. Services and Programs
• ILP offers:
-Fresno City Life Skills Classes
-Fresno County Explores Post 300
-California Youth Connection
-ILP Kickoff
-Youth Organizing New Ideas (YONI)

6. Services and Programs
continue…
• ILP offers:
-Transitional Housing Assistance
-Financial Aid workshop
-BRIDGE Program
-Medi Cal
-Planned Parenthood workshop

7. Services and Programs
continue…
• ILP offers:
-High School Graduation Celebration
-Baby City event
-Food Stamp linkage
-Financial Incentives for completing
classes, education and other
assistance

8. ILP youths attend a workshop.

9. Obstacles with the
services and programs
• Many youths who age out of the
system do not follow up or participate
in the services and programs offered.
Therefore, housing is the number one
issues for these youths, which leads to
homelessness.

10. Obstacles with the services
and programs continue…
• Another challenge ILP face is finding
placement for foster youths who
have severe mental health issues,
emotional/behavioral issues, and who
are sexual predators.

11. Organizational Structure
From top is highest position:
Director
Deputy Director
Program Manager
ILP Supervisor
ILP Social Workers
Office Assistance & Social Worker Aide

12. Population at risk
• Aging out foster and probation youths
• Any foster/probation youth under the age
of 18 because of limited services for in-
care.
• In 2000, black families made up about 5%
of the county's population. However,
nearly 25% of children in foster care were
black.

13. Agency’s Practices
• Make all ILP
youths aware of
benefits and
services available

14. Agency’s Vision
• To lead an integrated network of
community partners that supports,
protects and strengthens children
and families.

15. Agency’s Mission
To promote a system of best practice in
partnership with the community, committed to
prevention and early intervention, that ensures
child safety, permanence and stability, family
well-being, that is proactive, strategic, outcomes-
based and fiscally responsible to the children and
families served. Fresno County Department of
Social Services will fulfill this mission by having
the Fresno County's employees and community
partners provide assessment, intervention,
prevention, placement and mental health
treatment services for infants, children, youth
and families of Fresno County.

16. Social Work Practice
• To be able to work with ILP youths,
the worker has to be a social worker
III or practioner.
• Code of Ethics

17. Social Justice
• Serve all foster and probation youths no
matter what background they hold.
• Lobby Day takes place every spring;
advocate for foster/probation youths who
are in the child welfare system.
• YONI and EXPLORE

18. Social Work Values
• Engage youths to
make healthy and
smart decisions for
their benefits.
• Providing each
youths with the
highest quality of
client services

19. Human Rights
• Treat all youths with respect
• Empower youths to advocate for self
• Instill a life of normalcy (eg.
sleepovers, freedom of religion,
usage of telephone, etc.)
• It is the youth’s choice whether or
not they participate in ILP services.

20. Youths advocating.

21. Reference
Independent living program. (2010, October
5). Retrieved from
http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DivisionPage.as
px?id=21143