The Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP)

1. The Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) A new placement under Assembly Bill 12 Version 2.0, November 28, 2012

2. Agenda • Introduction to the SILP • Completing the Readiness Assessment • Completing the Physical Inspection • Completing the Approval & Placement Agreement • Shared Living & Shared Living Agreements • Other Considerations: Parenting NMDs • Helping NMDs Plan for the Future

3. Ice Breaker: Share with Group What was your worst roommate/shared living experience? How did you handle it?

4. Introduction to the SILP Least restrictive placement setting under extended care

5. Introduction to the SILP What the SILP is: • A placement for young adults developmentally ready to live independently or in a less restrictive environment • A placement that will most often consist of shared living What the SILP is not: • An emergency placement for NMDs lacking suitable placements • A placement for “hard to place” NMDs • A placement for NMDs requiring significant supportive services • A placement for NMDs with high risk mental/physical health needs

6. Monthly Benefit • Limited to the basic rate ($776/month) • NMDs can receive the foster care benefit directly • Clothing allowance available • Parenting NMDs receive the infant supplement ($441/month) • Specialized care increment not available

7. Role of SW/PO Social Worker/Probation Officer Responsibilities: • Conduct a readiness assessment of NMD • Include areas of needed improvement identified in readiness assessment in NMD’s TILP • Provide guidance to NMD about selecting appropriate roommate(s) and appropriate housing site • Complete a SILP Approval & Placement Agreement • Meet with NMD once per month • Ensure a physical inspection of identified housing unit is conducted (bySW/PO or another county authorized entity)

8. Role of NMD Non-Minor Dependent Responsibilities: • Locate/identify housing • Notify SW/PO of interest in SILP • Prepare financial information/budgeting materials to provide for SW/PO during readiness assessment • Apply for or make arrangements for securing housing • Select roommate(s) (with guidance from SW/PO) • Meet with SW/PO once per month • Notify SW/PO of changes in housing status (i.e. change in roommates) • Maintain housing (paying rent & bills, housekeeping, etc.)

9. Types of Housing for SILPs

10. Getting Started If NMD needs assistance with finding housing, SW/PO can provide him/her with Young Adult’s Guide to Housing, but also may want to have conversation with NMD about who he/she already knows that he/she may be able to live with (former caregiver, permanent connection, etc.)

11. Readiness Assessment • Required for all NMDs in SILPs except those in student approved housing/dormitories • NMD & SW/PO should work together to assess readiness • Some SILP types require more independence than others

12. Readiness AssessmentPurpose & Components

13. Readiness AssessmentAssessment Tool • Social Workers and Probation Officers must use a tool • Tools suggested by DSS • Ansell Casey • Daniel Memorial • Other nationally recognized tools approved by the state and used by counties to approve TILP assessments

14. Help with Budgeting Helpful tools for NMDs who express need for assistance with preparing his/her budget for readiness assessment: • Budgeting tool included in Young Adult’s Guide to Housing • Online budget tool: http://www.californiarealitycheck.com/ • Select option 1: Reality Check • Tool is great for NMDs to explore housing costs in their county

15. Readiness Assessment • Budgeting and Money Management • Assesses youth’s ability to pay rent/bills • Experience with banking and responsible spending • Ability to budget and manage funds

16. Readiness Assessment • Tenant Rights and Responsibilities • Whether NMD understands their lease (if applicable) • Whether NMD knows their rights as a tenant • Whether NMD is aware of their responsibilities as a tenant • Ability to handle daily tasks • Whether NMD can prepare food and do laundry • Ability to use transportation • Ability to access resources and obtain medical care

17. Readiness Assessment • Ability to handle independence • Is the living environment safe • Can the youth manage time? • Understanding of healthy behavior (safe sex, pregnancy prevention, drinking, proper use of medications, medication side effects) • Managing conflict and relationships

18. Readiness Assessment • Possible assessment outcomes • Ready • Ready with assistance • Not ready (goals incorporated into TILP) • Basis for assessment • Determination of payee

19. Readiness AssessmentDenials

20. Readiness AssessmentNext Steps

21. Readiness AssessmentDenials: Grievance Process • If SW/PO determines after readiness assessment that NMD is not ready for a SILP, NMD has right to a grievance process if he/she disagrees with SW/PO • No standard process; each county may use own • If NMD is still not satisfied with outcome of grievance process or doesn’t want to use county grievance process, he/she can bring issue in court

22. Activity

23. SILP Physical Inspection • 10-item SILP health & safety walk-through and checklist must be performed on all SILPs except university/college approved housing • Inspection should be arranged with NMD so that it respects NMD’s privacy and schedule (including that of roommates) • NMD allowed to live in a SILP that has not yet been approved temporarily • County must inspect a new SILP within 10 calendar days • SILP unit must be re-inspected annually • Copy of completed checklist should be provided to NMD

24. SILP Healthy & Safety Checklist

25. SILP Physical InspectionSection A: SILP Placement Type • University/College Approved Housing  Physical inspection does not need to be conducted • Shared Roommate Setting, Single Resident Occupancy (SRO), Apartment, Room and Board, Room Rental  Physical inspection needs to be conducted • SILP on or near a reservation, approved by the tribal placing agency  Physical inspection needs to be conducted, but there are areas that may be exempt where indicated on the checklist

26. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist • Checklist completed during walk-through of unit with NMD • 10 items on list – each must be marked with “yes” meaning item is acceptable, or “no” meaning item is not acceptable • If repairs are needed, but item does not pose safety risk, item can be marked “yes” with an “x” in the “Maintenance Noted” column with list of the maintenance issue(s) in section C of form. • If conducting inspection of tribal housing, circle “Tribal waiver” for those items that are exempted. → THE FOLLOWING SLIDES PROVIDE CLARIFICATION ON EACH ITEM ON CHECKLIST (as defined by HUD Quality Standards)

27. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 1. Bedroom/Sleeping area: Bedroom/sleeping area used by the young adult has at least one exit that ensures safe, direct, emergency exit to the outside. If security bars are installed on windows, the window is considered operable only if equipped with safety release devices. ________________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “emergency exit to outside” could be a door or a window that leads directly to the outside, not to a hallway or another part of the building. If not on first floor, there must be a safe way to exit such as fire escape, ladder or stairs. • “safety release devices” are a way to release bars from a window so that an open window can serve as an exit

28. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 2. Home has indoor sprinkling system and/or functioning smoke detector installed in the hallway(s) of the young adult’s sleeping area audible in each room or sleeping room used by the young adult. ______________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “indoor sprinkling system” – will most likely not have a system, but will have smoke detector. • “functioning smoke detector” – test by pressing the test button (if battery needs to be replaced, detector will make chirping sound).

29. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 3. Bathroom: Young adult has access to a bathroom that contains 1 toilet, 1 sink, and 1 tub or shower maintained in safe, operating condition free from health hazards. ________________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “maintained in safe, operating condition free from health hazards” • Toilet must flush • Sink must have cold and hot running water and a sink trap • Tub/shower must have proper sewer trap, drain, vents, cold/hot running water • Drains must not be clogged • No broken ceramic, metal or glass fixtures that may pose a hazard (i.e. mirror, towel rack, soap dish, medicine cabinet, etc.) • A faucet with a hot water leak can be a scalding risk

30. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 4. Kitchen: If applicable, the young adult has an area to prepare meals, appliances are safe, operational, with adequate storage for food and is free from health hazards. Note: SRO’s may not have standard kitchens. ________________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “appliances are safe, operational” – Oven must heat. Stove/range knobs must be present. Refrigerator must be capable of maintaining a temperature low enough to keep food from spoiling (above 32 F but generally below 40 F). Sink must have a sink trap and hot and cold running water. • “free from health hazards” – gas leaks, electrical hazards • “SRO’s may not have standard kitchens” – an SRO may be located in a building that has shared kitchen space, or SRO may have a kitchenette or a small area for some basic appliances.

31. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 5. Indoor and outdoor halls, stairs, ramps and porches are free from obstructions and no structural damage that poses a safety hazard is observed. ________________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “structural damage that poses a safety hazard” – serious defects such that the structural safety of the building is threatened, such as severe buckling, bulging or leaning; damaged or loose structural members; large holes; air infiltration. stairs, porches, balconies, or decks with severe structural defects; broken, rotting, or missing steps; absence of a handrail when there are extended lengths of steps (generally four or more consecutive steps); absence of or insecure railings around a porch or balcony which is approximately 30 inches or more above the ground.

32. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 6. Home has adequate and functioning ventilation including heating systems. ____________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “adequate and functioning ventilation” – opening windows or cooling system; heating equipment capable of providing adequate heat (either directly or indirectly) to all rooms used for living

33. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 7. Lighting and outlets are provided in rooms used by the young adult and no electrical hazards are present. ___________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “Lighting and outlets” – There at least two working outlets or one working out let and one working, permanently installed light fixture. Test by plugging something in to see if it works. • “electrical hazards” – are defined by broken, non-insulated or frayed wiring; or improper types of wiring, connections or insulation.

34. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 8. Waste is stored, located and disposed of in a manner that will not permit the transmission of communicable disease or odors, create a nuisance, or provide a breeding place or food source for insects or rodents. ___________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • Facilities and services for the sanitary disposal of food waste and refuse, including temporary storage facilities where necessary, are required.

35. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 9. Living space appears to be safe and free from hazards. ____________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • If any other defects that present a safety hazard are observed during the course of the inspection that are not addressed by other sections, they should be noted here

36. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist Directly from form: 10. Sleeping room has not more than two adults and is not a kitchen or a bathroom. Waiver may be granted for more than two adults if there is a clear and direct path for each adult to exit the room in case of emergency and if there is adequate storage for each adult’s clothing and personal items. ___________________________________________________ HUD HQS Definition/further clarification: • “clear and direct path for each adult to exit” – each adult should be able to walk from their bed or personal area to the exit without having to step over furniture or obstructions.

37. Physical InspectionSection B: Safety Checklist • Items marked in Section B as “NO” indicate deficiencies that would have a direct and immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights of the young adult. • Correction must be made prior to the placement of the young adult or the home may not be approved. Examples of Immediate Impact Deficiencies: • Infestation of insects or vermin • Exposed electrical hazards • Black mold • No functioning smoke alarms in unit • Toilet not in working condition

38. Physical InspectionSection C: Maintenance or Repair Plan • This section is where person conducting inspection should record any maintenance issues in need of repair, such as: • Neglect of maintenance of the building and grounds • Cracked window • Peeling paint or wall paper, or stained walls or flooring • These are issues that ARE NOT considered safety or health issues, and are not cause for denying approval of housing

39. Physical InspectionSection D: Inspection Summary • The Supervised Independent Living Placement of _____________ (young adult name) meets the standards for approval as described in this form. • The Supervised Independent Living Placement of _____________ (young adult name) meets the core safety and health standards for approval with the above recommended maintenance or repair issues noted. • The Supervised Independent Living Placement of _____________ (young adult name) does NOT currently meet the standards for approval. • Young adult indicated he/she will pursue needed corrections and has requested re-inspection of unit in ___ days.

40. SILP Approval & Placement Agreement

41. SILP Approval & Placement Agreement

42. SILP Approval & Placement AgreementComponents • Placement Type • SILP Readiness • Parent with Infant Supplement • Payment • Other Persons in Shared Housing Unit • Reporting • Health & Safety Inspection • Signatures

43. Shared Living • Most NMDs in SILPs will reside in a shared living arrangement – may consist of: • Living with roommate(s) • Living with former caregiver(s) • Renting a room from a stranger

44. Shared Living Agreements Shared Living Agreements (SLAs) are a best practice • SLA is a basis for a written understanding between the NMD and former caregiver or others with whom the youth is residing. • Should be broad in scope, covering aspects of shared daily living • Each SLA should be individualized, reflecting specific values, concerns and personalities of all parties • SLA should support the NMD’s continued transition into adulthood • SLA should be renegotiated and updated as needed and appropriate • SLA with roommate(s) is also something for NMD to consider

45. Shared Living Agreements Shared Living Agreements may include the following topics: • Mentoring/Skills/Interests • Household Agreements and Customs • Healthy and Safety Concerns • Household Chores and Responsibilities • Attendance and Performance at School and or Work* • Financial • Drugs and Alcohol • Conflict Resolution * This would most likely not be included on a SLA between a NMD and roommate(s)

46. Shared LivingActivity • Scenario: Mia lives with her former foster mother, Linda as a SILP placement. When Mia lived with Linda as a minor, Linda was very strict about school and would ground Mia if she missed a day or was late to school. Mia is now 18 and takes courses at a community college. Mia recently stayed out until midnight on a Sunday night and was too tired to attend class the next morning. Linda told Mia that because she missed class she was grounded the following weekend and that she could no longer go out on a Sunday night.

47. Helping NMDs Select Roommate(s) • SW/PO is responsible for guiding NMDs about how to select appropriate roommates/housemates • Refer to handout “Selecting Roommates” to review areas of consideration with NMD such as: • Sharing space • Personal habits • Money • SW/PO cannot perform background checks on roommates • NMDs may choose to ask for a background check from roommate(s) • Megan’s Law website - online resource to check if someone is a registered sex offender – http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

48. Other Considerations:Parenting NMDs • Consider including assessment of NMD’s ability to provide adequately for child when conducting Readiness Assessment- • Is NMD budgeting adequately for child-related expenses? • Is NMD’s childcare plan realistic, convenient and safe? • Is NMD capable of daily care? (feeding, supervising, addressing health needs) • Is NMD considering appropriate roommates? • Helpful resources for determining whether NMD is capable of living independently with child: • Ansell Casey Life Skills Parenting Young Children Assessment Supplement • Ansell Casey Life Skills Parenting Infants Children Assessment • Ansell Casey Life Skills Assessment Supplement - Pregnancy • Physical inspection - consider health and safety of NMD and child

49. Other Considerations:Parenting NMDs • Shared living that includes a child requires additional considerations: • quiet times for naps • no smoking in apartment • no leaving dangerous objects in child’s reach • will roommate(s) ever provide baby-sitting? • will parenting NMD pay more than non-parenting NMD in rent or for bills/groceries? • Important to discuss with non-parenting NMD what to expect if choosing to live with a roommate with a child • If NMD is living with former caregiver, consider completing a Shared Responsibility Plan in addition to SLA

50. Searching for, Establishing & Maintaining Housing • Make sure to provide NMD with Young Adult Guidebook in your training packet • Guidebook provides resources and direction on: • Budgeting • Searching for housing • Applying for housing • Getting established • Maintaining housing