Subdivision 1. Independent living assistance for youth. "Independent living assistance for youth" means a nonresidential program that provides a system of services that includes training, counseling, instruction, supervision, and assistance provided to youth according to the youth's independent living plan, when the placements in the program are made by the county agency. Services may include assistance in locating housing, budgeting, meal preparation, shopping, personal appearance, counseling, and related social support services needed to meet the youth's needs and improve the youth's ability to conduct such tasks independently. Such services shall not extend to youths needing 24-hour per day supervision and services. Youths needing a 24-hour per day program of supervision and services shall not be accepted or retained in an independent living assistance program.

Subd. 2. Admission. (a) The license holder shall accept as clients in the independent living assistance program only youth ages 16 to 21 who are in out-of-home placement, leaving out-of-home placement, at risk of becoming homeless, or homeless.

(b) Youth who have current drug or alcohol problems, a recent history of violent behaviors, or a mental health disorder or issue that is not being resolved through counseling or treatment are not eligible to receive the services described in subdivision 1.

(c) Youth who are not employed, participating in employment training, or enrolled in an academic program are not eligible to receive transitional housing or independent living assistance.

(d) The commissioner may grant a variance under section 245A.04, subdivision 9, to requirements in this section.

Subd. 3. Independent living plan. (a) Unless an independent living plan has been developed by the local agency, the license holder shall develop a plan based on the client's individual needs that specifies objectives for the client. The services provided shall include those specified in this section. The plan shall identify the persons responsible for implementation of each part of the plan. The plan shall be reviewed as necessary, but at least annually.

(b) The following services, or adequate access to referrals for the following services, must be made available to the targeted youth participating in the programs described in subdivision 1:

(1) counseling services for the youth and their families, if appropriate, on site, to help with problems that contributed to the homelessness or could impede making the transition to independent living;

(2) educational, vocational, or employment services;

(3) health care;

(4) transportation services including, where appropriate, assisting the child in obtaining a driver's license;

(5) money management skills training;

(6) planning for ongoing housing;

(7) social and recreational skills training; and

(8) assistance establishing and maintaining connections with the child's family and community.

Subd. 4. Records. (a) The license holder shall maintain a record for each client.

(b) For each client the record maintained by the license holder shall document the following:

(1) admission information;

(2) the independent living plan;

(3) delivery of the services required of the license holder in the independent living plan;

(4) the client's progress toward obtaining the objectives identified in the independent living plan; and

(5) a termination summary after service is terminated.

(c) If the license holder manages the client's money, the record maintained by the license holder shall also include the following:

(1) written permission from the client or the client's legal guardian to manage the client's money;

(2) the reasons the license holder is to manage the client's money; and

(3) a complete record of the use of the client's money and reconciliation of the account.

Subd. 5. Service termination plan. The license holder, in conjunction with the county agency, shall establish a service termination plan that specifies how independent living assistance services will be terminated and the actions to be performed by the involved agencies, including necessary referrals for other ongoing services.

Subd. 6. Place of residence provided by program. When a client's place of residence is provided by the license holder as part of the independent living assistance program, the place of residence is not subject to separate licensure.

Subd. 7. General licensing requirements apply. In addition to the requirements of this section, providers of independent living assistance are subject to general licensing requirements of this chapter.

History: 1997 c 248 s 33; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 11 s 11; 2004 c 288 art 1 s 30,31; 2012 c 216 art 16 s 13; 2019 c 50 art 1 s 65