Independent Living

Approximately 1,000 young people age out of Florida's foster care system every year. At 18 — or 19, or 21, depending on circumstances — the file closes, the case manager moves on, and the young person is left to navigate adulthood with a developmental history that most adults would find unimaginable. Residing Hope's Independent Living Program exists to change that outcome.

The Independent Living Program serves young adults ages 18 through 26 who are aging out of foster care or who are facing homelessness as a direct consequence of childhood instability in the child welfare system. The program is based on the Enterprise campus — 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, Florida 32725 — a historic, wooded property in Volusia County that has served Florida children since 1908. Safe, stable housing on campus is the foundational element of the program, because without it no other work of adult development is possible. But housing alone is never the goal. The goal is a fully independent, self-sufficient adult life — and the program is designed to build every competency that goal requires.

Life skills coaching addresses the practical competencies that most young adults acquire gradually and informally within the context of a family — competencies that many foster care alumni have never had the opportunity to develop. Budgeting and financial management, cooking and nutrition, navigating public transportation, applying for jobs and maintaining employment, managing healthcare and insurance, building and maintaining credit, understanding the legal and civic systems that shape adult life — these are taught systematically and without judgment by dedicated life skills coaches. Mental health therapy is a core component of the program, not an optional add-on. The young adults who enter the program carry significant trauma histories, and the transition out of foster care is itself a traumatic experience for many of them. Residing Hope's licensed clinicians specialize in the unique psychological challenges of young adults who have experienced childhood trauma and the abrupt transition out of care.

Career development is the third pillar. Residing Hope maintains active partnerships with local employers, workforce development programs, and educational institutions to help residents identify career pathways, complete GED or college coursework, and secure employment. Case managers maintain relationships with employers who are committed to hiring young adults from the foster care system and who understand the importance of providing the mentorship, flexibility, and patience that these young people need to succeed in the workplace. Florida's Road-to-Independence (RTI) program, Postsecondary Education Supports (PES), and the Florida Tuition and Fee Waiver for foster youth are all navigated with residents as part of the program's comprehensive support.

Mentorship and peer connection are the fourth pillar. The program actively cultivates mentorship relationships for residents, connecting them with community volunteers, alumni of the program, and professionals in fields that align with residents' career interests. The alumni network — former residents who have completed the program and who return to the campus to share their stories and offer guidance — is one of the program's most powerful resources. Referrals are accepted from DCF, community-based care lead agencies, case managers, schools, community organizations, and self-referrals. Call 386-668-4774 to begin the inquiry process.