A. The department or a licensed child welfare agency may establish an independent living program for youths who are the subject of a dependency petition or who are adjudicated dependent and are all of the following:

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 8-521

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • department: means the department of child safety. See Arizona Laws 8-501
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Director: means the director of the department. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Foster home: means a home that is maintained by any individual or individuals having the care or control of minor children, other than those related to each other by blood or marriage, or related to such individuals, or who are legal wards of such individuals. See Arizona Laws 8-501
  • Independent living program: includes a residential program with supervision of less than twenty-four hours a day. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Petition: means a written statement of the essential facts that allege delinquency, incorrigibility or dependency. See Arizona Laws 8-201

1. In the custody of the department, a licensed child welfare agency or a tribal child welfare agency.

2. At least seventeen years of age.

3. Employed or full-time students.

B. The independent living program may consist of a residential program of less than twenty-four hours a day supervision for youths under the supervision of the department through a licensed child welfare agency or a foster home under contract with the department. Under the independent living program, the youth is not required to reside at a licensed child welfare agency or foster home.

C. The director or the director’s designee shall review and approve any recommendation to the court that a youth in the custody of the department be ordered to an independent living program.

D. For a youth to participate in an independent living program, the court must order such a disposition pursuant to section 8-845.

E. The department of child safety, a licensed child welfare agency or a tribal child welfare agency having custody of the youth shall provide the cost of care as required by section 8-453, subsection A, paragraph 9, subdivision (b), item (iii) for each youth placed in an independent living program pursuant to this section, except that the monthly amount provided shall not be less than $1,200.

F. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 6 to carry out this section.

G. The department shall provide quarterly progress reports to the court and to local foster care review boards for each youth participating in the independent living program.

H. The local foster care review boards shall review at least once every six months the case of each youth participating in the independent living program.

I. The department shall establish an educational case management unit within the division consisting of two case managers to develop and coordinate educational case management plans for youths participating in the independent living program and to assist youths in the program to do the following:

1. Graduate from high school.

2. Pass the statewide assessment pursuant to section 15-741.

3. Apply for postsecondary financial assistance.

4. Apply for postsecondary education.