§ 532-d. Residential transitional independent living support programs. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, pursuant to regulations of the office of children and family services, residential facilities operating as transitional independent living support programs are authorized to and shall:

1. (a) (i) provide shelter to homeless youth who are at least age sixteen.

(ii) Provided, however, that shelter may be provided to a homeless youth under the age of sixteen if the municipality has notified the office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four hundred twenty of this chapter.

(b) Shelter may be provided to a homeless youth in a transitional independent living program for a period of up to eighteen months, or up to twenty-four months when authorized in the applicable municipality's approved comprehensive plan;

(c) A homeless youth who entered a transitional independent living program under the age of twenty-one may continue to receive shelter services in such program beyond the applicable period authorized by paragraph (b) of this subdivision, if the municipality has notified the office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four hundred twenty of this chapter;

2. work toward reuniting such homeless youth with his or her parent, guardian or custodian, where possible;

3. provide or assist in securing necessary services for such homeless youth, and where appropriate, his or her family, including but not limited to housing, educational, medical care, legal, mental health, and substance and alcohol abuse services. Where such program concludes that such homeless youth would be eligible for assistance, care or services from a local social services district, it shall assist such youth in securing such assistance, care or services;

4. for a homeless youth whose service plan involves independent living, provide practical assistance in achieving independence, either through direct provision of services or through written agreements with other community and public agencies for the provision of services in the following areas; high school education or high school equivalency education; higher education assessment; job training and job placement; counseling; assistance in the development of socialization skills; guidance and assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and income; and training in the development of skills necessary for responsible independent living, including but not limited to money and home management, personal care, and health maintenance; and

5. provide residential services to a youth in need of crisis intervention or respite services, as defined in this article;

6. continue to provide services to a homeless youth who is not yet eighteen years of age but who has reached the maximum time period provided by paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, until he or she is eighteen years of age or for an additional six months if he or she is still under the age of eighteen; and

7. contact the appropriate local social services district if it is believed that the youth may be a destitute child, as such term is defined in section one thousand ninety-two of the family court act. The office of children and family services shall provide appropriate guidance to the residential transitional independent living support program on how to accurately identify a youth that may be a destitute child;

8. provide information to eligible youth about their ability to re-enter foster care in accordance with article ten-B of the family court act, and in appropriate cases, refer any such youth who may be interested in re-entering foster care to the applicable local social services district. The office of children and family services shall provide the residential transitional independent living support program with the appropriate educational materials to give to eligible youth regarding their ability to re-enter foster care. The office of children and family services shall also provide appropriate guidance to the residential transitional independent living support program on how to accurately identify youth that may be eligible to re-enter foster care and how to refer such youth to the applicable local social services district if appropriate; and

9. provide such reports and data as specified by the office of children and family services.