Emancipation Preparation

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Many of the children in the CASA program are teenagers, and many of these teenagers will emancipate (become independent of "the system") when they are 18 years old or soon after. If you are a CASA for one of these teens, the following information may help you and your teen prepare for emancipation.

1. Has your teen thought about whether he/she would like to attend college? You can discuss the various options (i.e. community college, junior college, a 4-year program) and what is required for admission. What about funding and housing? The Independent Living Skills Program ("ILSP") can provide assistance with these issues (call Arlene at 934-4206 for info). If the teen does not plan to attend college, other options exist. Meet with the high school counselor to assess whether the teen is on target to graduate.

2. Alternatives to college include: Technical Schools (private schools that train people for work in construction, cosmetology, computer science and nursing, often at a smaller cost than community college and with a shorter time commitment), Apprenticeships (combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction, check out www.calapprenticeship.org), the Military (www.militarycareers.com), Job Corps (provides educational and vocational training, as well as housing 24/7, on Treasure Island, www.sfjobcorps.com), and Employment (local libraries, as well as the ILSP, offer internet access where you can help your teen explore employment opportunities and post resumes, www.caljobs.ca.gov and www.jobstar.org). Jewish Vocational Services (www.jvs.org) and the Private Industry Council (www.picsf.org) also provide low cost and free employment services and training opportunities.

3. Check with the teen's Child Welfare Worker to confirm that a file will be prepared to give to the teen with all the teen's records: medical records and immunization history, dental records, Social Security card, California i.d., birth certificate, diploma or GED certificate, and immigration paperwork if applicable.

4. Make sure your teen has thought about housing possibilities. Alternatives include renting a room, moving in with friends or relatives, or locating transitional housing (call Earlene at the ILSP at 934-4210 for help with transitional housing).

5. Even if your teen is going to college or job training, he/she will need to be employed, at least part-time. Help your teen put together a resume, practice filling out a job application and do a mock interview. Help him/her assemble a list of references and several letters of recommendation. The ILSP offers workshops on job search and interviewing (call Ben at 934-4205).

Please contact your Case Supervisor or the ILSP for further assistance with any of these issues. There is a wealth of information at the CASA office, at the ILSP, and on the web to assist you in preparing your CASA child for emancipation. It's never too early to start investigating the possibilities.

-Lorna Walker