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Linking Youth and Young Parents to Economic and Educational Resources

Linking Youth and Young Parents to Economic and Educational Resources. Presented by Lacinda Hummel Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health August 27, 2004. ICAH Mission. The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, a nonprofit membership organization, promotes:

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Linking Youth and Young Parents to Economic and Educational Resources

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  1. Linking Youth and Young Parents to Economic and Educational Resources Presented by Lacinda Hummel Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health August 27, 2004

  2. ICAH Mission • The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, a nonprofit membership organization, promotes: • a positive approach to adolescent sexual health • comprehensive support for young parents

  3. ICAH Strategies • Youth leadership development • Policy analysis and development • Advocacy • Training

  4. Linking Youth and Young Parents to Economic Resources - Outline • Illinois Department of Human Services resources: • TANF financial assistance • Food stamps • Medical assistance • How to apply for DHS resources • Special rules for youth on TANF • Child support • Child care assistance • Housing assistance • Rights of pregnant and parenting youth to attend school

  5. TANF • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides minimal income assistance to families. Participants receive a “LINK” card that works like a debit card. • Pregnant and parenting youth can apply for TANF at any age. Other youth are not eligible to apply except through their parents.

  6. Food Stamps • The Food Stamps program provides assistance in purchasing food, based on financial need. Participants receive a “LINK” card that works like a debit card. • Unaccompanied youth can apply for food stamps at any age. (Youth under age 22 and sharing living space with their parents do not qualify for their own card.)

  7. Medicaid / KidCare / Family Care • The Medicaid, KidCare, and Family Care programs provide a medical card that pays for medical care at clinics and hospitals that accept the card. Assistance may also be available to help pay employee expenses of employer-based medical insurance. • Medical assistance is available for youth under age 19, and youth of any age who are pregnant, parenting, blind, or disabled, based on financial need.

  8. Medicaid / KidCare / Family Care • If a teen is not living with his parents, their income will not be counted to determine his eligibility for medical assistance. • Only the teen parent’s own income is used to determine eligibility for her child, regardless of the teen parent’s living situation.

  9. Go to the neighborhood Department of Human Services (DHS) office and bring all identification and documentation of income, expenses, living arrangements, school attendance and pregnancy if applicable. The minimum needed to start an application is name, mailing address and signature. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS

  10. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS • Ask for the cash benefit to ensure the application is for TANF in addition to Food Stamps and medical assistance. • Ask for emergency food stamps for faster processing of food assistance.

  11. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS • If a young parent is under 20 and has not finished high school, she should be referred to Teen Parent Services (TPS), which can help her apply for TANF. • TPS is a case management program for young parents run by a separate DHS office or a community organization.

  12. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS • Applicants should receive a letter within 30 days, and should receive TANF within 45 days if they qualify. Food stamps and medical assistance may be provided more quickly in emergencies. • Missing appointments without rescheduling could result in a denial of benefits.

  13. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS • Youth can find their local DHS office by calling 1-800-843-6154 or on the internet at www.dhs.state.il.us/officeLocator • Youth can also apply by filling in the application form available at the DHS web site, and mailing or faxing it to their DHS office. Be sure to call to see if they got it. • www.dhs.state.il.us/ts/fss/dhs_foodStamps_fsai.asp

  14. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS Dealing with application problems • It often helps to ask for a supervisor or manager if there is a problem. • If a young person thinks she/he was treated unfairly or a mistake was made, she/he can file an appeal form at the DHS office.

  15. How to Apply for TANF, Food Stamps, and Medical Assistance with DHS Places to call for help • Public Benefits Hotline (in Cook County) 1-888-893-5327 (TTY 312-431-1206) • Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health 312-427-4460 x22 • KidCare Hotline (medical benefits) 1-800-226-0768

  16. TANF LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENT for Teen Parents under age 18 Generally, teen parents under age 18 must live in an adult supervised setting or meet an exemption to receive TANF. However, teen parents under age 18 may receive TANF for up to 6 months while not meeting living arrangement rules. TANF & Teen Parents – Special Rules

  17. TANF LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENT for Teen Parents under age 18 • The following living arrangements are always allowed: • Biological parent(s) • Legal guardian • Adult relative • Maternity home

  18. TANF LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENT for Teen Parents under age 18 • The adult with whom the minor lives is asked to become the Representative Payee for the Teen (RPT) and her case. • If the adult does not agree, the teen parent is the payee and will receive the cash grant directly.

  19. LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENTfor Teen Parents under age 18 Exemptions: • Teen is or has been married • Parent or guardian is deceased or their whereabouts are unknown • Parent or guardian will not allow the teen and child to live with them

  20. LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENTfor Teen Parents under age 18 Exemptions: • Physical or emotional health and safety of the teen or child is jeopardized if they live with the parent or guardian • Teen has lived apart from the parent or guardian for at least one year prior to the child’s birth or applying for TANF • Parent or guardian lives out-of state, in an institution, or is addicted to drugs or alcohol

  21. LIVING ARRANGEMENT REQUIREMENTfor Teen Parents under age 18 Exemptions: • Teen’s return to the parent or guardian’s home would violate their lease or local health and safety standards • Teen is in a licensed substance abuse treatment program that would not be available if they returned to the parent or guardian’s home

  22. NO TANF TIME CLOCKfor Teen Parents under age 18 • Teen parents under age 18 do not have a TANF time clock, regardless of where they live or if they receive their own grant.

  23. STOPPING THE 5 YEAR TANF TIME CLOCKFor Teen Parents at any age • Parents of any age can have their time clock stopped when they are: • in college full time • caring for their disabled child • caring for a related child under 18 or a spouse who has a serious medical condition • addressing domestic violence issues • working at least 30 hours per week

  24. STAY IN SCHOOL REQUIREMENTFor Teen Parents under age 20 • Teen parents who are receiving TANF must participate in basic education until receiving a high school diploma or GED. • Teen parents who participate in high school or GED do not have a work requirement.

  25. CHILD SUPPORT • To be eligible for TANF or medical assistance, all applicants must cooperate with Child Support Enforcement activities or show good cause why they should be excused.

  26. CHILD SUPPORT Good cause applies to cases where: • the child was conceived as a result of incest or rape • there is a possibility the child will be adopted • there may be physical or emotional harm to the parent or the child • there is fear of domestic violence

  27. CHILD SUPPORT • Youth who are parents, even if they do not receive welfare or other public assistance, can contact the Illinois Department of Public Aid’s Child Support Enforcement program for help with establishing paternity and a child support order. • 800-447-4278 (voice) • 877-526-5812 (TTY) • www.ilchildsupport.com

  28. CHILD CARE • All teens in need of child care should be referred to the local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to apply for assistance and for provider referrals. 773-769-8027 • The income of the parent(s) of a teen parent is never considered in determining eligibility for child care assistance to care for the teen’s child.

  29. Housing Assistance • Subsidized housing – CHA or Housing Choice Vouchers (“Section 8”): Head of household must generally be 18 or over or be at least 16 and go through a court emancipation process with parental consent. • Waiting lists are years long and often closed.

  30. Shelters • Shelters – very few available for youth, particularly those who are under 18 or who have children. See www.icah.org for resource list. • In a survey of social service providers throughout Illinois, one in four pregnant and parenting youth needed housing or shelter. www.impactresearch.org

  31. Consequences of Homelessness • Once on the street, many homeless youth will not survive. According to a Chicago Coalition for the Homeless survey of youth on the street: • 33% were physically attacked • 20% had been sexually assaulted • 75% had been asked to sell drugs • 12% had engaged in prostitution

  32. School Completion • Teen mothers have a 60% chance of graduating from high school by age 25, compared to 90% for those who postpone childbearing. • In a 2003 survey of pregnant and parenting youth in Chicago, 26% said they had been encouraged to leave school by a school staff member.

  33. Barriers to School Completion • 34% reported that their school did not excuse absences for students who are ill due to pregnancy. • 22% reported that their school did not excuse an absence for a student to care for their sick child. • www.impactresearch.org

  34. Right to equal opportunity Federal and state gender equity laws protect young parents’ rights to public education • IL Admin. Code, Title 23, Chapter 1 • Section 200.50(e). “No student shall be discriminated against because of his or her actual or potential marital or parental status.” • 200.50(e)(4) “Systems shall eliminate administrative and programmatic barriers to school attendance and school completion by pregnant students or students who are parents.”

  35. Rights of Pregnant and Parenting Youth in School • Stay in regular school & attend all classes • Participate in all school & extracurricular activities • Have excused absences for health problems related to pregnancy or delivery • Attend special programs only if voluntary • Receive home instruction • Return to school after the birth

  36. Join Us • www.icah.org • Become a member • Sign up to be on our email list for events and action alerts • Take part in opportunities for adults and youth to learn about and advocate for young parent and sexual health issues.

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