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PROGRAMS
Life Lines
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The Life Lines Program serves current and former foster care youth ages 16-23. Our program is designed to help youth become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. Youth in Life Lines are given guidance with education and training endeavors, financial education, medication management, employment placement assistance, coordination of mental health services, and general life skills instruction.
Referral Process:
Life Lines Independent Living Program: All youth in Delaware's foster care system between the ages of 16-21 MUST have an Independent Living Provider. The Division of Family Services (DFS) case worker assigned to each youth is responsible for referring eligible candidates to an Independent Living Provide.
Life Lines Transitional Housing Program: All referrals for this program must come from Independent Living Providers.
Life Lines Permanent Housing Program: All referrals for this program must come from Independent Living Providers.
Life Lines Transitional Housing Program
Youth in the Life Lines Transitional Housing Program learn the skills necessary to become independent while residing in townhomes located within 3 blocks from West End. This program is designed to simulate independent adult living in a supportive and educational atmosphere comprised of three phases: Supervised Practice Living, Refinement, and Self-Sufficiency. Intensive, individualized case plans are developed with the youth to help them set goals and realize their full potential.
Eligibility requirements:
- Must have been emancipated from Delaware’s foster care system at 18 years of age
- Must be between the ages of 18-21
- Must be committed to personal growth, willing to participate in all aspects of the program and comply with all program rules
- Must not be considered a danger to self or others
Independent Living
Life Lines Independent Living Program serves foster care youth between the ages of 16-21 with intensive case management. As with all aspects of Life Lines Programming, youth in Independent Living are taught life skills with a “hands on” approach. Independent Living Providers assist youth by advocating for them, assisting with educational and training endeavors, teaching financial management skills, life skills, employable skills, and assisting with housing placement. Youth in this program may choose to be paired with individual mentors to expand their support network.
Eligibility requirements:
- Must be between the ages of 16-21
- Must be a ward of Delaware’s foster care system
- Must be willing to contract for services
Life Lines Partnering With Parents Program (PWP)
The PWP Program provides safe and affordable housing in a non-institutional environment and in conjunction with intensive life skills training and mental health services. Life Lines Partnering with Parents is geared to serve former foster care youth in areas such as residential stability, mental health services (including individual clinical therapy and group therapy), medicinal management, intensive life skills training, educational and employment services, and parenting skills.
Life Lines Permanent Housing Program (Life Lines II)
Youth in Life Lines Permanent Housing Program learn the skills necessary to achieve his/her personal highest levels of self sufficiency. Life Lines II residents live in fully furnished apartments in a cluster site and are provided with supervision almost 24 hours/day. This program is designed to simulate independent adult living in an environment structured to suit these residents’ unique needs.
Eligibility requirements:
- Must be between the ages of 18-23 at time of entry
- Must be emancipated for Delaware’s foster care system
- Must have at least one debilitating mental health disorder
- Must be homeless, or will be homeless once emancipated from care
Life Lines Chronically Homeless Program (CHP)
LLCHP serves chronically homeless, former foster care youth by offering permanent housing; extensive case management; mental health services; life skills training; employment and educational assistance; and outreach, legal, and transportation services. The goal of this program is to provide immediate, permanent housing to chronically homeless individuals in a scattered site setting so that our clients can work toward achieving their highest level of independence.
For volunteer opportunities, please see our How to Help page.