Youth formerly in state custody (foster care or the juvenile justice system) received customized case management that included weekly meetings with a transitional living specialist who used motivational interviewing and provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy services as needed. Participants also received soft-skills training, supportive services, and other services to encourage independent living, education, and work. About half of participants received services for the intended intervention period of nine months. Participants were youth ages 18 to 24; had been in state custody through the child protection or juvenile justice systems at the age of 17 or for 1 year after the age of 14; did not have histories of severe violence, mental health problems, drug use, or developmental delays; and were deemed capable of living independently with support. YVLifeSet was evaluated in Tennessee.
YVLifeSet served youth formerly in state custody and aimed to provide case management services and training to improve outcomes in employment, earnings, education, housing, justice involvement, health, and benefit receipt.
Youth Villages LifeSet serves youth who are in state custody and aims to provide case management services and training to improve outcomes in employment, earnings, education, housing, justice involvement, health, and benefit receipt.
Beginning March 12, 2020, YVLifeSet began performing an over-the-phone health assessment before meeting with participants in person. The program limited staff travel, allowed many community-based staff to work from home, and began conducting health screenings for staff and essential visitors who came to their offices. The program also suspended volunteer contact with youth, encouraged volunteer mentors to keep in contact with participants virtually, limited visitation to residential centers, and required residential staff to wear masks in common areas or in proximity to others. As of April 2021, YVLifeSet continues to implement these precautions. For more information, visit https://www.youthvillages.org/what-is-youth-villages-doing-concerning-covid-19/.