Program Goals

The program representative did not provide information about the program’s goals.

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Larkin Extended Aftercare for Supported Emancipation (LEASE).

Essential Components

The essential components of Larkin Extended Aftercare for Supported Emancipation (LEASE) include:

• Housing:
• The youth reside in scattered-site studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments.
• The youth pay a minimum of 30% of their income as rent each month.
• The Case Manager engages in ongoing communication with apartment management.
• The Case Manager helps the youth communicate housing-related issues to apartment management appropriately.
• Education and Employment:
• Upon intake, the Education and Employment Specialist conducts an assessment with participants.
• The youth, in consultation with their Case Manager, develop an Individualized Education and Employment Plan (IEEP), a collaborative action plan specific to the level of education and skills of the youth.
• The youth must either have, or be working toward, a high school diploma or GED.
• The youth must be employed on either a full-time or part-time basis depending on school enrollment.
• The youth meet with the Education and Employment Specialist weekly to find and maintains employment.
• The youth receive vocational counseling and training.
• The youth receive educational services and academic counseling.
• Case Management:
• The youth develop a Transitional Individual Living Plan (TILP), which outlines goals in employment, education, personal finances, life skills, substance use, and mental and physical health.
• The Case Manager helps the youth set concrete and achievable steps toward goals.
• The Case Manager works with the youth to set timeline for meeting goals.
• The youth meet with their Case Manager weekly to monitor progress toward goals.
• The Case Manager tracks the youth's progress or lack of progress toward accomplishing goals.
• The youth must actively communicate to their Case Manager their personal needs.
• Supportive Services:
• The youth receive individualized one-on-one life skills training.
• The youth are required to participate in a monthly Life Skills group.
• The youth must attend, and actively participate in, community meetings held every six weeks.
• The youth have access to medical services.
• The youth receive aftercare services for 6 months after program exit.

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

Larkin Extended Aftercare for Supported Emancipation (LEASE) directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

• Emancipating from the foster care system

Recommended Intensity:

Two meetings with a case manager each week. After 3 months, as a youth shows more follow-through, the meetings can be less frequent. If a youth is unable to show consistency in coming to meetings, the number of meetings per week is increased.

Recommended Duration:

The average length of time in the program is approximately a year; the maximum stay is 24 months. The length of each case management meeting is an hour.

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
• Other

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Apartments
• Private office space for individual meetings
• Significant group space for community activities
• Transportation to meet with youth in the community
• Furniture for youth
  
• Food vouchers for youth

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Program Manager:

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 5 years experience working with high-risk youth
• Experience working with foster care, or former foster care youth, preferred
• Knowledge of services available in the local area for young adults ages 18-24
• Experience providing counseling, psychosocial support, and benefits assistance to young people who have a history of foster care placements or housing instability
• Understanding of Fair Housing Laws
• Understanding of Foster Care System and related youth issues
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with Property Managers

Case Managers:

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 2-3 years case management experience, preferably with high-risk youth
• Minimum of 3-4 years experience working with high-risk youth, including foster care and former foster care youth
• Ability to lead groups
• Ability to work autonomously, as well as in a team
• Must be a self-starter with excellent follow-through skills
• Ability to work with diverse staff, clients, and volunteers

Education and Employment Specialist:

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Services, Education, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum of 3-4 years progressive experience in education, workforce development, or related discipline
• Experience working with adolescents as a vocational counselor/job developer or in the field of public relations
• Ability to work autonomously, as well as in a team
• Must be a self-starter with excellent follow-through skills
• Ability to work with diverse staff, clients, and volunteers
• Ability to speak in front of large groups of individuals
• Ability to multi-task and efficiently manage priority action items

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Toby Eastman
  Larkin Street Youth Services
  phone: (415) 673-0911 x286

Training Type/Location:

Via phone consultation.

Number of days/hours:

Informal training/consultation is available to those who are interested.

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Larkin Extended Aftercare for Supported Emancipation (LEASE).

Additional References