Today we had the intake meeting for Middle Boy's independent living meeting.  All I can say is WOW.  His life skills coach is AMAZING.

Because he was a ward of the state past age 14 he qualifies for the project.  His permanency objective is adoption...next month.  Doesn't matter.  He is 15 and still in the system.

The program AMAZING.

Here's what they do for the kiddos in the program....

1. Take them to get their learner's permit.
2. Enroll them in and PAY FOR driver's ed.  They provide transportation to and from every session.
3. They have companies and entities they work with and will help you find a part time job within reasonable distance of your home.
4. They help prepare resumes.
5. They make sure you know you are pell grant eligible.
6. They help with scholarships and all of the programs available to wards of the state.
7. They have a bank they work with to set up accounts and teach budgeting and money management classes.  They even have an "account manager" at the bank to help them when they overdraft.
8. They have savings/matching programs that help nearly everything.
• The savings program for a car is you save $1000 they give you $4000.  They max you out at you saving $2000, but they will let you get a new car each year you are in the program.  Starting when you have a valid drivers license.
• They have a matching account of housing expenses.  This one is a one for one match.  This can go toward rent, deposits, or whatever is associated with housing.
• They have a matching account for college.  This is also a one for one match.
• They have a matching account for starting a small business.  This matches two to one and they help with the business plan.
9. You can take homemaking skills classes...how to cook, do laundry, clean, whatever.

What are the disadvantages to the program?  That more wards of our state don't know about it.

They have recently started a program where if you are a sibling of the ward of the state and were once a state ward you are grandfathered in.  Maybe not for all parts of the program, but for most of them.  So this means Younger Boy may qualify as well.

You remain in the program until age TWENTY FOUR.

The first meeting for Middle Boy is in 10 days.  They will talk about the information he needs to gather to get his learner's permit and then they will go the following week.

Praises for an AMAZING program with AMAZING workers.  This whole thing...such a blessing.  Praises for the team who started this program and recognized the need.  Prayers more foster kiddos can take advantage of it.