Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program (ILP) helps youth who are, or were, in foster care to become self-sufficient adults.
It gives an opportunity to learn valuable skills necessary to make a successful transition from state or tribal custody to living on your own in the community.

You may be eligible for services through the Independent Living Program to help with
  • building skills to live on your own
  • funds for continuing your education
  • assistance with housing
Photo by Tenisha Waugh

Resources & Support

21 Things – Don’t leave foster care without them. 
A list of the 21 things everyone should have when exiting foster care.
Casey Life Skills (CLS) is a set of free tools that assess the independent skills youth need to achieve their long-term goals. It aims to guide youth toward developing healthy, productive lives. Some of the functional areas that CLS assesses include:
  • Daily living and self-care activities
  • Maintaining healthy relationships
  • Work and study habits
  • Using community resources
  • Money management
  • Computer literacy and online safety
  • Civic engagement
  • Navigating the child welfare system
Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC) is a statewide, youth led, advocacy group of current and former foster youth between 14 - 25 years of age. OFYC is completely youth led, meaning youth members shape every aspect of what OFYC is, how it is structured, which policies to work on, and what activities to participate in.