Discharge Support Services

The Department may provide discharge financial support to young adults who are transitioning to living independently as adults. Discharge support payments may include payments toward first and last months rent, security deposit, essential household items, or other related needs. These services are subject to the limitation of funding received from the federal government. (1) Eligibility. A young adult is eligible for discharge financial support if the young adult is: (a) under the care and responsibility of the Department; (b) between 18 and 21 years of age; (c) within three months prior to discharge from a Department placement or is planning to live independently as an adult; (d) making progress toward development of life skills as specified in the young adult's action plan; (e) willing to participate in the discharge planning process; and (f) able to afford the ongoing cost of the apartment or other living arrangement after the discharge support payments have been provided. (2) Application. In order to receive discharge financial support, the Department's social worker assigned to the young adult's case must apply prior to the young adult's anticipated discharge from placement, for discharge support funding from the Department's Adolescent Support Services Unit. (3) Decision. The Department's Adolescent Support Services Unit will notify the young adult's social worker of the outcome of the application and the process for payments. The young adult's social worker will notify the young adult of the outcome.