Perhaps the biggest challenge for young people transitioning from childhood to adulthood is figuring out the financial part of life. Kids – whether in the foster program or not – simply don’t have any way of understanding how powerfully money impacts every part of life once they are an adult. For those who are leaving the foster program, opportunities like the Independent Living Program in California or the Transitional Housing Program can make this difficult step just a little bit easier. 

Different Financial Benefits Between Programs

Anyone weighing whether they should pursue the Independent Living Program in California or the Transitional Housing Program should understand the financial differences between the two. Simply put, more money in support each month is provided by the Transitional Housing Program. More money is always better than less and having additional support will make everything about day-to-day life easier. Beyond the extra money, young people in the THP will also enjoy more help from social workers and will get assistance finding the right place to live. Even basics like getting help learning how to shop for food, or how to get around using various forms of transportation, are provided with THP. 

Building a Strong Financial Future

It’s one thing to get help with financial issues in the short term by receiving monthly support, but it’s another thing to create an opportunity to earn money for a lifetime. This happens by pursuing education and starting to build a career. Those are two other aspects that are covered by THP but not available in an Independent Living Program in California. Having help enrolling in college, and getting assistance finding a job, can set a young person on a course to support themselves throughout their adult lives. That’s the ultimate goal of all of these programs, to prepare the young person for life ahead, and THP does it better than the alternatives.

If you are eligible for the transitional housing program and interested in learning more, apply now. If you want to become a mentor for the young adults in the THP program, contact Children First Foster Family Agency.

Children First FFA is a private, non-profit organization in Northern California that is dedicated to helping change lives by providing a safe place for children to heal in a culture of love, acceptance, and consistency.