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340:75-6-115.3. Independent living contingency funds
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Revised 5-11-06
(a) Independent living (IL) contingency funds are a category of youth development funds, per Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) Appendix C-19-A, Independent Living Youth Development Funds, designed to support the youth's IL case plan in preparation for living independently and for emergencies encountered after leaving care while learning to live independently. • 1 through 4
- (1) The approval of IL contingency funds is contingent upon funding availability.
- (2) IL contingency funds are not used to reimburse youth, OKDHS staff, or contractors for a purchase made on behalf of the youth.
- (3) Exceptions to reimbursement and item cost limits, per OKDHS Appendix C-19-A, require approval by Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) IL Section.
- (4) Requests for an item, per OKDHS Appendix C-19-A, is not split between two codes.
(b) Eligibility criteria for IL contingency funds are listed in (1) through (4).
- (1) Preparation contingency funds.
- (A) Eligible youth are ages 16 to 18 currently in OKDHS or tribal custody and out of-home placement or in Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) custody and residing in foster family or specialized community homes.
- (B) These funds are used for education and work related expenses, miscellaneous services, and permanent connection related activities necessary to achieve the youth's IL plan. • 1 through 3
- (2) Supportive Services contingency funds.
- (A) Eligible youth are ages 18 to 21 and were in OKDHS or tribal custody and out-of-home placement for nine months between ages 16 to 18.
- (B) These funds are used for education related expenses, car expenses, furniture, appliances, alternate transportation, clothing, medical expenses, purchased services, such as substance abuse counseling and mentors, work related services, and other miscellaneous services necessary to achieve the youth's IL plan. • 1 through 4
- (3) Housing contingency funds.
- (A) Eligible youth are youth who were in OKDHS or tribal custody and out-of- home placement on their 18th birthday and have not yet reached age 21.
- (B) These funds are:
- (i) designated to assist youth with housing in emergency situations; and
- (ii) used for living expenses, such as rent, utilities, deposits, and food. • 1 & 4
- (4) One Time Only contingency funds.
- (A) Eligible youth are ages:
- (i) 16 to 18 in OKDHS or tribal custody and out-of-home placement;
- (ii) 18 to 20 in OKDHS or tribal custody receiving voluntary services;
- (iii) 18 to 21 who were in OKDHS or tribal custody for nine months between ages 16 to 18; and
- (iv) 16 to 19 in OJA custody.
- (B) These funds are used to purchase goods and services the youth needs to access on a one time only basis. • 2 through 4
INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF 340:75-6-115.3
1. IL contingency funds. Independent living (IL) contingency fund categories are:
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(1) Preparation. Appropriate items to request for IL Preparation contingency funds are:
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(A) education related – tutoring, summer and night school, correspondence courses, General Educational Development (GED) classes and testing, national college admission examinations, college application fees, calculators, tape recorders and other study aids, career assessments, or any item that enhances the youth's academic achievement;
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(B) miscellaneous related – band, cheerleading squad, and sports equipment and clothing, class related trips, class ring, junior-senior prom expenses, animals and supplies needed for school related clubs, yearbooks, or goods and services that are identified on the IL case plan that assist the youth in a successful transition to adult living;
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(C) work related – clothing, such as uniforms, special shoes and protective wear, inoculations and health tests, and transportation assistance, such as purchase of a bicycle, taxi fare, gasoline, or bus tickets until the youth receives his or her first paycheck; and
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(D) permanent connection related – costs connected with searches for family or unrelated persons willing to make a permanent connection to the youth, expenses associated with family group conferences, person centered planning meetings or other activities that result in connections for youth, and costs for visits to support or maintain connections.
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(2) IL Supportive Services. Appropriate items for authorization to request for IL Supportive Services contingency funds are:
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(A) car expenses to assist youth if the youth is in school or working and the repairs are necessary to maintain transportation to job or school;
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(B) furniture or appliances to assist youth with housing needs. Videocassette recorders (VCRs), digital video drives (DVDs), and play stations are excluded;
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(C) alternate transportation, such as public transit, bicycles, or gas for carpooling, to assist youth in transportation for seeking or maintaining employment, and transportation necessary for education or medical needs;
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(D) clothing to assist youth with clothing needs, including work clothing;
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(E) medical expenses for youth to obtain medical or dental treatment, purchase prescriptions, eyeglasses, or medical insurance, when these services are not available through other resources;
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(F) counseling and mentoring services for youth to obtain outpatient sliding scale counseling, non-medical substance abuse treatment, or mentoring;
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(G) miscellaneous for goods and services that are planned with the youth to complete the goal of transition to independence and are not covered by any other contingency fund or IL service;
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(H) education related expenses, for tutoring, GED classes and testing, summer, night, and correspondence courses, national college admission examinations, college application fees, tape recorders, calculators, and other study aids, and career assessments; and
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(I) work related – clothing, such as uniforms, special shoes and protective wear, inoculations and health tests, and transportation assistance, such as purchase of a bicycle, taxi fare, gasoline, or bus tickets until the youth receives his or her first paycheck;
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(3) Housing contingency funds. Youth, ages 18 to 21, who have left care may use IL Housing contingency funds for deposits and food for setting up the initial post care living arrangement or for housing assistance to prevent homelessness.
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(A) Payment for housing for youth attending post secondary institutions where dorms are available is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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(B) Youth may be eligible for a total of six months housing payments.
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(C) Housing payments extending beyond two consecutive months requires approval from Children and Family Services Division (CFSD) IL Section.
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(D) Youth who choose to take advantage of an IL specialized community home (SCH) or other community supported transitional placement may have three months of housing paid to the IL SCH or transitional placement and still be eligible for an additional six months of housing.
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(E) All subsequent requests for emergencies are considered on a case-by-case basis by CFSD IL Section.
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(F) Appropriate items for IL Housing contingency funds are:
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(i) rent deposit;
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(ii) rent payment;
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(iii) utility deposit for gas, water, and electric only;
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(iv) utility payments for gas, water, and electric only;
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(v) food; and
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(vi) room and board payments that include rent, utilities, and food.
2. Contingency funds limits. Eligible youth may access:
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(1) an item in IL Preparation and Supportive Services contingency funds more than once but expenditures must not exceed the cost limit for each item per year, October 1 through September 30, per youth;
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(2) graduation expenses only during the year of the youth's graduation; and
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(3) One Time Only contingency funds at any time.
3. Accessing IL contingency funds for youth in care. To access Preparation or One Time Only contingency funds for eligible youth, ages 16 to 18, or Supportive Services or One Time Only contingency funds for eligible youth, ages 18 to 21, in voluntary care, the CW worker:
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(1) prior to requesting contingency funds, determines whether the goods and services are available elsewhere at no expense;
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(2) refers to OKDHS Appendix C-19-A, Independent Living Youth Development Funds, for a list of services and goods cost limits and codes available through contingency funds;
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(3) discusses goods and services that support the youth's IL case plan with the youth and placement provider during each visit and documents the discussion in KIDS Contracts screen;
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(4) negotiates with the vendor to obtain the lowest cost for goods and services and obtains cost comparisons on all goods and services greater than $200;
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(5) completes Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E), Request for Independent Living Youth Development Funds, and includes complete vendor information and instructions on where the youth development fund payment must be mailed;
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(6) submits completed Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) to the CW supervisor for approval;
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(7) faxes CW supervisor approved Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) to the National Resource Center for Youth Services (NRCYS), 918-660-3785. NRCYS IL staff:
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(A) processes the request by verifying youth's available funding and determining whether the request supports the youth's IL case plan; and
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(B) faxes the approved Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) to the contracted fiscal agent who issues the youth development fund payment and mails the payment to the location designated in the instruction section of Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E);
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(8) enters the goods and services in KIDS Service Log screen;
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(9) verifies that the goods and services were received by the youth and advises the youth that the fiscal agent must have all receipts for goods and services for the youth to continue to receive youth development funds;
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(10) assists in obtaining the receipts for goods and services if requested by the fiscal agent; and
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(11) files Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) and any supporting documentation in the youth's case record.
4. Accessing One Time Only, Supportive Services, and Housing contingency funds for youth, ages 18 to 21, who have left care. When a youth contacts the current IL community contractor, the contractor:
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(1) verifies the youth's eligibility for services and opens a KIDS IL case;
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(2) consults with the youth regarding the contingency fund request and how it complements the youth's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency;
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(3) when necessary, requests the youth fax verification of employment, housing lease agreement, or car ownership;
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(4) when goods and services are needed, completes Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) and consults, as needed, with the CW worker familiar with the youth formerly in OKDHS custody in order to identify vendors and services in the area where the youth resides;
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(5) faxes Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E) to the contracted fiscal agent. The contracted fiscal agent issues the contingency fund payment and mails the payment to the location identified in the instruction section of Form DCFS-84 (new form number 04IL006E);
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(6) enters the conversations with the youth in KIDS Contacts screen and documents goods and services received on KIDS Service Log screen; and
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(7) when the contractor determines the youth requesting contingency funds may benefit from case management, such as a parenting youth or the youth who is in an unsafe place or relationship, makes an agreement with the youth to allow a case manager to schedule a face-to-face contact.
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