Independent Living Services

St. Aemilian-Lakeside is committed to Keeping Our Promise to provide high quality services to foster youth of all ages, including those who leave the system because they turn 18. Foster youth aging out of care face countless challenges during the transition to adulthood. St. Aemilian-Lakeside’s current
iniatives are:

Independence Place
Independence Place consists of foster family units which serve foster males and females ages 17 to 19 who are all working toward independent living. Independence Place works with foster youth to develop life management skills, responsible decision making skills, employment readiness, competencies in independent living and a productive attitude of independence. Independence Place is designed to adapt to the needs of the individual foster youth and goals are set around his/her educational and career needs.

Supportive Permanent Housing Program
St. Aemilian-Lakeside’s Supportive Permanent Housing Program, funded through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, serves 12 young adults with mental illness ages 18-24 through an apartment scattered site model. This project is based on the “Housing First” model as it provides permanent housing linked with supportive services. Its’ purpose is to intervene with homeless young adults who experience mental illness during this critical stage of transition to adulthood. This program addresses the current gap in permanent housing for young adults in the Milwaukee community.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood (YTA) Scholars
The Youth Transitioning to Adulthood (YTA) Scholars Program provides long-term support and guidance to young adults who are exiting the foster care system. With a focus on education, employment and personal development, program services are designed to ensure that youth engage in positive relationships and explore and pursue further education and employment goals. The YTA Counselor is at the center of the success of this program. He/She serves as a mentor, teacher, advocate, cheerleader and surrogate parent for the youth on his/her caseload.

Finding Their Voices
Finding Their Voices serves current foster youth and foster care alumni through self-advocacy training and civic engagement activities. This program teaches the basics of self-advocacy and offers opportunities to participate in civic engagement activities. Since current foster youth and foster care alumni rarely participate in community dialogue, Finding Their Voices provides them with the unique opportunity to learn about and work toward positive impacts in their community.

Advocacy and Partnerships
We are actively working through the Wisconsin Association of Families and Children (WAFCA) and the Alliance for Children and Families and other interested stakeholders in the community to increase awareness, establish partnerships and direct needed funding to support youth aging out of care.

To Make a Referral or For More Information
For more information regarding Independent Living Services, please contact Kathy O'Neil, ILS Program Coordinator, at 414-465-5736 or koneil@st-al.org