Independent Living

The Independent Living program is designed to work with youth who have been in out of home care (or foster care), under the supervision of the Department of Children and Families or a county or tribal child welfare agency. Independent Living provides youth services and support, which will lead youth to self-sufficiency by helping them to successfully transition into adulthood. Our 5 pillars are Employment, Education, Housing, Health, and Healthy Relationships. To be eligible, youth must be 17-1/2 to 23 years of age. This is a youth-centered program dedicated to helping youth be successful, happy, and more self-sufficient.

Eligibility requirement details can be found at:
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/cwportal/il/pdf/il-eligibility.pdf

Services:

  • Individual case management and support to former foster-youth to achieve their goals.
  • Financial Support
  • Life Skills
  • Youth Advisory Council
  • Brighter Star Scholarship
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Serving the following counties:

Region 7

  • Ashland
  • Barron
  • Burnett
  • Douglas
  • Iron
  • Polk
  • Price
  • Rusk
  • Sawyer
  • Taylor
  • Washburn
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Region 6

  • Barron
  • Buffalo
  • Chippewa
  • Clark
  • Crawford
  • Dunn
  • Eau Claire
  • Jackson
  • Juneau
  • La Crosse
  • Monroe
  • Pepin
  • Pierce
  • St. Croix
  • Trempealeau
  • Vernon
Attention Donors: Our Independent Living program, in 27 counties, serves young adults who have aged out of home care, many of whom are homeless once they turn 18 years of age. They have many needs that our state grant does not support. Please consider contributing to help support these young adults as they transition to adulthood and to support the work of Workforce Resource that assists with housing, employment, education, health connections, and health.

Brighter Star Scholarships

Youth eligible for regional Independent Living services are also eligible to receive Brighter Star, Wisconsin’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program when they are enrolled in (or accepted to) an accredited or pre-accredited post-high school program. In most situations, youth eligible for this support can receive a $5,000 scholarship every academic year until they turn 23 years old.

https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/youthservices/pdf/bs-funding-guidelines.pdf

Youth eligible for the Independent Living program and attending school at a UW institution may want to learn more about the school’s Fostering Success program, if it has one. More information available at https://www.wisconsin.edu/fostering-success/ .

Youth Advisory Council

Youth eligible for regional Independent Living services, ages 14-26, are able to participate in our regional Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Our YAC’s mission is to amplify youth voices who have real-life experience in the child welfare and youth justice systems. They create support for youth that have similar experiences through collaborative effort of advocacy and awareness. Youth are able to build their leadership skills and professionalism while making a difference and creating change in our region, and have a chance to represent our regions at state meetings.

Region 7 Check out our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yacregion7

Region 6 Check out our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/914994249857507

State YAC: https://www.facebook.com/wiyac2005

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Life Skills

Weekly life skills sessions are provided to assist with money management, housing obtainment/retainment, employability skills, healthy choices, and healthy relationship boundaries.

For more information on the Independent Living Program, please call Crystal Meier at 715.232.7380, extension 2710 or 715-619-6001 or email meierc@workforceresource.org

This calendar is for Youth enrolled in Independent Living and Anti-Human Trafficking. Please check frequently for updates. Click on dates for links to virtual events and agendas for more details.