Former consumers of independent living programs for youth in out-of-ho
me care present their views of the services they received. me youth fo
und that skills classes and stipends for independent living were helpf
ul, that instruction in managing a budget was particularly valuable, a
nd that the services lessened the stigmatization and isolation of bein
g in care. Foster parents and specialized independent-living workers e
ased the transition out of care, but regular public child welfare case
workers were not helpful in this regard. me young people report that b
eing in care was difficult to tolerate and that the transition out of
care was often abrupt and difficult to manage.