To be eligible for admission to the Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) youth shall: 

·          be DCF committed (abuse, neglected, uncared for), at the time of placement into the program or at the youth’s eighteenth (18^th) birthday 

·          have obtained a high school diploma or a Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) 

·          have exhibited adequate social, behavioral and life skills, per Adolescent Specialist assessment and case record 

·          have successfully completed a DCF's approved Life Skills Program 

   Note:  

  Successful completion of the Life Skills Program alone does not entitle youth to CHAP admission 

·        be enrolled, in good standing (per the standards of the institution), in a
     full-time educational or vocational-education program, including Job
     Corps and/or Americorps.

Youth shall account for, at a minimum, forty (40) productive hours per week.  A productive hour unit is defined as time devoted to classes, study time, part-time work, internship, volunteering, training, apprenticeship, or treatment activities or any combination of those activities.  For purposes of CHAP, enrollment and attendance in a full-time program of study is required.

CHAP services shall be available on a voluntary basis to a youth from age eighteen (18) through the end of the school year or his/her twenty-first (21st) birthday as long as he/she meets the aforementioned eligibility criteria.  In some cases, services may be extended through the school year of the youth’s twenty-third birthday. 
 

Youths who are married or on active duty in any of the armed forces of the United States shall not be eligible for continuing CHAP services. 

Youths who are married or active within any of the armed forces of the United States shall not be eligible for continuing CHAP services.

Cross-Reference:  Policy 42-20-21, Continuation of Education Beyond Age
Twenty-One.

The Adolescent Specialist and community case manager, if applicable, shall develop a monthly budget with the youth, based on expenditures for rent, food, utilities, telephone, transportation, clothing and miscellaneous expenses (e.g. personal care items, recreation, laundry, household items.)   

Once the subsidy is determined, a monthly payment shall be sent to the youth to expend on budget items.  The youth shall save all canceled checks and receipts for said expenditures, and the Adolescent Specialist and community case manager shall monitor these items to assess the youth's compliance with his/her budget. 

The CHAP subsidy must be processed in LINK by the fifth (5th) day of the month in order to cover expenses for the following month.  In order for a youth to enter CHAP, the Adolescent Specialist must establish a provider number for the youth at least twenty-one (21) days prior to placement.   

The Adolescent Specialist shall enter the first month’s CHAP stipend in care of the CHAP program’s main office.  Any required security deposits shall also be processed at this time.  Subsequent CHAP stipends shall be sent directly to the youth unless the Area Office staff has determined this is not in the youth’s best interest. 

The following details the basic cost of living standard with a maximum subsidy of $1,813.             

*Area Office Rent Allotments (for a one-bedroom apartment with heat.)

The subsidy may be below the $1,813.00 limit.  For youths sharing housing costs with a DCF approved roommate, the subsidy would be prorated based upon the regional rent allotment for the appropriate number of bedrooms, according to his/her percentage of monthly costs (rent, utilities, and phone).  For example: sharing with one person = 65%, sharing with two persons =  50%, sharing with three persons  = 40%, sharing with four persons = 35%, etc.  The Department has the right to approve/disapprove a CHAP participant’s roommate.

The rental reimbursement rate shall be set based upon the physical address of the apartment and not according to the area office with which the youth is affiliated.

Earned income is the net income from wages, salary, or profits from self-employment.

Although employment is not a requirement under CHAP, a youth who wish to do so may be employed for no more than twenty (20) hours per week, as long as the youth commits to a savings plan, as described below. 

Fifty percent (50%) of a youth’s earned income may be used for discretionary spending, as determined by the youth.  The remainder fifty percent (50%) of earned income shall be deposited into an interest-bearing savings account, to be used only toward legitimate purchases or expenses, as agreed upon between the Adolescent Specialist and the youth.

Payments received by the youth for minor children in his/her custody shall not be included in the calculation of the youth’s net income.

While involved in CHAP, the youth shall receive case management services, which shall include the following services:

·          developing a DCF CHAP contract with the youth and DCF Adolescent Specialist

·          assistance in developing a monthly budget

·          determining monthly subsidy in collaboration with the youth

·          monitoring expenditures, at least monthly

·          monitoring compliance with savings plan, at least monthly

·          providing crisis intervention

·          providing supportive intervention and on going contact

·          providing community referral services

·          conducting a DCF approved Life Skills Assessment

·          developing individualized independent living plans and goals

·          conducting strengths/needs assessment with the youth

·          monitoring and assessing the youth’s education status

·          monitoring the youth’s employment status

·    submitting case management monthly written progress reports, which specify the   
dates, times, and number of case management hours, and 

·     submitting a quarterly action discharge plan and life skills inventory.

In order to qualify for financial assistance for educational services from the Department, the youth shall: 

·   demonstrate the desire to pursue post secondary education 

·   voluntarily agree to remain in the care of the Department and understand 
    that services and funding from the Department will terminate upon completion
    of the school year when the youth reaches his or her 

-   twenty-first (21^st) birthday for a vocational education program, and/or

-   twenty-third (23^rd) birthday for a college education program, upon completion of the transitional period required by this policy.

Cross Reference:  Policy 42-20-21, Continuation of Education Beyond Age

Twenty One.

  ·    apply to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program and
     apply/compete for appropriate grants and scholarships to offset costs

Note: 

The Department will not participate in providing financial assistance unless the result of such efforts are reflected in the total funding request.

·    enroll in a licensed or accredited educational program and remain in good
     academic standing as defined by the federal financial aid standards

·    sign forms authorizing the release of information, as requested, and

·    provide the Department documentation of 

-  enrollment/registration

-  applications for school financial aid, including FAFSA

                 -  grades/report cards within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt.

Requirements for Vocational/

Training Programs

Youths enrolled in vocational or training programs shall be eligible for continued services until the end of the school year in which the youth turns twenty-one (21) years of age, or until completion of the transitional period required by this policy, whichever is later.

A CHAP contract  shall be written and reviewed quarterly by each youth, the Department and the case manager (if applicable), and shall include but not be limited to the following:

·          agreed upon place of residence

·          role and responsibilities of the youth, DCF, and community case manager

·          plan for full-time educational and/or vocational training program

·          financial arrangements (e.g. budget, client contribution, etc.)

·          statement regarding a proposed time line to attain self sufficiency and review dates to determine progress, including anticipated length of community case management

·          statement regarding the youth’s successful completion in a DCF approved Life Skills Program or other recommended programming

·          statement regarding actions to be taken if the youth does not comply with the terms of the contract or program requirements, and

A youth may be discharged from the program if he/she has

·          made a voluntary decision to no longer participate in the program and has entered into foster care or returned home 

·          passed from care or has had commitment revoked by the court, or

·      demonstrated an inability to meet the requirements of the program or
    terms of the contract, and DCF decides to discharge the youth from
    program participation.

A transitional period shall be offered to youth as

·          an incentive to complete educational programs

·          assistance to youth in becoming self-sufficient, and

·          an opportunity to further consolidate employment skills set.

The transitional period shall be provided for three (3) months immediately after the youth has completed a college degree, or after completion of a vocational/training program, up until the youth’s twenty-third (23^rd) birthday.  

The purpose of this transitional period is to guard against risk factors and prevent negative outcomes such as homelessness, need for programs such as General Assistance, and/or lack of appropriate medical coverage. 

The CHAP stipend shall apply during the transition period, except for educational expenses.