BUDGET

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE

When young people reach the age of majority (18 in most states) and are still in foster care, they age out, meaning that they leave care without a legal connection to a family. To help young people prepare for this transition, child welfare agencies typically provide them with independent living skills (e.g., mentoring, budgeting classes, and educational aid).

Youth Development Services of Harris County is proposing a new program for independent living/transition services offered to older youth (ages 16 to 23) in and transitioning out of foster care. Additionally, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act allows federal funding for states to provide foster care services to young people ages 18 to 21, if those young people choose to remain in foster care.

The new Transitional Living Program will support the ongoing transition of the youth to adulthood. YDS will offer Supportive Transitional Living services and support services to 20 youth in the first year of operation. The goal of the program is to help youth who are preparing to age out of foster care or recently having aged out of foster care, become self-sufficient and successfully achieve their independence. When youth reach age 16 in foster care or enter foster care after the age of 16, the program will support the youth in achieving the skills needed for independence. This may be through services provided by the agency and/or by linking youth with resources in the community.

The Transitional Living Program will operate using a strength-based in approach, be trauma-informed, youth-centered and promote youth independence. The agency will support the youth by helping them with housing and by working with the youth to develop a transition plan. The program will: Provide housing, Ensure educational goals are met, Assist in job readiness and/or secure employment, Teach financial management skills. Provide engagement opportunities that promote social and emotional well-being, Provide education on personal safety and/or the safety of their children, Assist with providing resources for any personal obstacle the youth might encounter, and Assist the youth in developing or maintaining permanent connections.

Potential Revenue Sources:

State Contract 60% of program expenses

Individual Donations

Foundation Grants

Special Events

United Way

Other

Projected Expenses:

Case Managers 2 full-time @ $48,000 annually

Program Director 25% of a directors time, full-time annual salary is $95,000

Life Skills Teacher 1 full-time @ 39,000 annually

Benefits are 19% of total salaries

Apartment & Utilities for youth (2 per apartment) = $1,000/month for each rental unit

Supplies - $125.00 per month

Transportation - $500.00 per month

Insurance - $210.00 per month

Educational and Social Activities - $100.00 per client per month

Miscellaneous: $75.00 per month

Indirect expenses (human resources, office supplies, office space, finance, building support services etc.) are estimated at 15% of total program expenses

CREATE A BUDGET FOR YEAR ONE BASED ON THE INFORMATION ABOVE. USE THE TEMPLATE BELOW. YOU WILL NEED TO ADD ROWS FOR REVENUES AND EXPENSES AS YOU DETERMINE APPROPRIATE.

YOUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A BALANCED BUDGET MEANING REVENUES EQUAL EXPENSES.

BUDGET TEMPLATE

REVENUE BUDGET

Revenue Sources	Annual Amount	% of Total
Government Contract (60% of total expenses)
List other resources
Total Revenues

EXPENSE BUDGET

Line Item	Annual Amount	% of Total
Personnel Expenses:
Salaries
Benefits
Total Personnel
Operating Expenses:
(insert as many lines as you need)
Total Operating Expenses
Total Program Expenses Year 1 (Personnel & Operations)

For each expense, please indicate below if it is a fixed or variable cost.