transitioning OUT OF CARE
CountDown to 21
NOTE: there are current delayed timelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a youth in care, you may have started to think about your dreams, your goals, your life. You may find yourself excited, scared, or even overwhelmed about becoming an independent adult. DCFS Illinois wants to help you transition into adult life on your own as smoothly as possible.
To hear from young people talk about what aging out of care was like for them, check out this video:
How long can I stay in care in Illinois?
In Illinois, you can stay in care until you are 21. When you turn 18, you can decide if you want to continue to receiving support from DCFS or if you want to leave. If you decided to stay, at 18, you can begin to make decisions around different housing options. When you turn 19, you will begin to work with your case worker, support people and others to map out your transition into adulthood plan.
What is Countdown to 21?
Once you turn 19, you will begin what’s called the Countdown to 21. For the next two years, you, your case manager, and key support people in your life, will work together to plan for your future and walk through topics such as:
Personal finance
Education or Technical School Goals
Career Planning
Housing
What are the Countdown to 21 meetings like?
The Countdown to 21 meetings are meetings with you, your case worker, someone who helps facilitate the meetings, sometimes a housing navigator, and support people that you can choose. This meeting is about you, what your goals are, and how the people in your life can support you to achieve those goals. Some of the things you might be asked are:
Where do you see yourself living in the next few years?
What type of career do you want to pursue?
What kind of education or training if any do you need to get there?
How do I prepare for these meetings?
If there is someone in your life who is a support person to you, who knows you well, let your case manager know that they should be invited. To prepare, start to think about what you want your next few years to look like, and bring those dreams to the table, so that you can start to explore what resources or supports you need to achieve those dreams.
Who should be there?
Your case manager, a meeting facilitator, sometimes a housing navigator, a support person for you, and most importantly, YOU!
What will I be asked to do?
Over the next two years you will work with your case manager to build out your transition plan, and make sure you that when you leave you have a stable place to live and have a job and/or school pathway. Before you transition out at 21, you will meet one more time to review your plan with your case manager, Countdown to 21 meeting facilitator, and your supportive people.
What do I get out of the Countdown to 21 meetings?
Support on figuring life out
Learning about available resources to support education, employment, and housing through DCFS
$1,323 one-time payment when you transition out of care (must attend one Countdown to 21 meeting before 90 days along with other requirements below)
How do I get the transition funds?
1. You must be in a Department approved housing placement.
2. You must participate in a Countdown to 21 meeting at age 19 and develop a transition plan.
3. You must complete the Youth Driven Transition Plan or ILO TLP, Quarterly Discharge Transition Launch Plan.
4. You must be able to describe and give the address of your living situation post emancipation.
5. You must complete the Department approved Financial Literacy Course.
6. You must participate in a transition planning meeting 90-days before you close your case or turn 21. During this meeting, you will plan for life after DCFS, fill out your Emancipation Funds Application, and create a personal budget.
7. Before you begin transition planning, be sure to ask your caseworker about the Employment Incentive Program”. If you are a youth working an average of 20 hours/week (or 80/month), you can also receive a stipend from DCFS for $158/month. All DCFS involved youth with open cases are eligible .
Keep in mind, planning for adulthood doesn’t necessarily begin or end at 19. You could be a freshman in high school thinking about your ideal college or university. You could be a junior who’s contemplating a career rather than another 4 years in school. You might even be a 20 year old who has opted to stay in care, and unsure which path they would like to take. DCFS wants to help support you in your journey.
Take time to check out Getting There a brief overview created by DCFS full of the resources available to you from your teens to your 20’s as you approach your 21st birthday. DCFS also has a helpful list on what you need when you leave and some common questions with helpful tips.