Fostering Connections After Fostering Connections After 18: 18:

Shared Living AgreementsShared Living AgreementsVersion 1.0

April 23, 2012

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WelcomeWelcome

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Shared Living AgreementShared Living Agreement

Collaboration and Working TogetherCollaboration and Working Together

Best PracticesBest Practices

Question and AnswerQuestion and Answer

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ObjectivesObjectives

Gain understanding of the purpose and Gain understanding of the purpose and benefits of a Shared Living Agreement.benefits of a Shared Living Agreement.

Gain understanding of the knowledge, Gain understanding of the knowledge, skills and resources required by skills and resources required by emerging adults to become self-emerging adults to become self-sufficient.sufficient.

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ValuesValues

Voice of Young AdultsVoice of Young Adults Assistance and PartneringAssistance and Partnering Love and BelongingLove and Belonging Unique NeedsUnique Needs Support Services are ExploredSupport Services are Explored Development is SupportedDevelopment is Supported

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The Shared Living The Shared Living AgreementAgreement

Before you even look at the Before you even look at the suggested template, think suggested template, think about what items are about what items are important to you so they are important to you so they are included in the agreement.included in the agreement.

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Things to keep in Things to keep in mindmind

The non-minor dependent’s brain The non-minor dependent’s brain is not fully-formed until his/her is not fully-formed until his/her mid-twenties. mid-twenties.

Flexibility and continuing Flexibility and continuing guidance will be necessary.guidance will be necessary.

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More topics to More topics to keep in mindkeep in mind

Sleeping habits, messy rooms Sleeping habits, messy rooms and curfew are topics that may and curfew are topics that may cause conflict and should be cause conflict and should be addressed up front. addressed up front.

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Shared Living Shared Living Agreement (SLA)Agreement (SLA)

A A Shared Living Agreement Shared Living Agreement is a is a basis for a written understanding basis for a written understanding between the caregiver and the between the caregiver and the non-minor dependent (NMD) on an non-minor dependent (NMD) on an array of expectations for array of expectations for placement in the household.placement in the household.

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Shared Living Shared Living AgreementAgreement

Broad in scopeBroad in scope IndividualizedIndividualized

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Shared Living Shared Living Agreement, Agreement, continuedcontinued

Renegotiated Renegotiated UpdatedUpdated FlexibleFlexible

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Shared Living Shared Living Agreement, continuedAgreement, continued

Cannot supersede or impinge on Cannot supersede or impinge on licensing or approval standardslicensing or approval standards

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Shared Living Shared Living Agreement may Agreement may

include:include: Check in/curfew/communication on Check in/curfew/communication on

schedules and vacationsschedules and vacations Noise (i.e. loud music)Noise (i.e. loud music) Language (i.e. swearing, name Language (i.e. swearing, name

calling)calling)

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Shared Living Shared Living Agreement may Agreement may

include:include: Cigarette smokingCigarette smoking Guests in the house/visiting Guests in the house/visiting

times/partiestimes/parties Shared items, including use of carShared items, including use of car Shared spaceShared space

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More items that may More items that may be included in the be included in the

SLA:SLA: Expectations regarding meals Expectations regarding meals

together, holidays and other together, holidays and other joint activitiesjoint activities

Television/computer/video Television/computer/video gamesgames

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Other Other Considerations to Considerations to include in an SLA:include in an SLA:

Furnishing/decorating of living spaceFurnishing/decorating of living space

Privacy for both caregiver and NMDPrivacy for both caregiver and NMD

House meetings/periodic check-insHouse meetings/periodic check-ins

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Other Other Considerations to Considerations to include in an SLA:include in an SLA:

Health and Safety ConcernsHealth and Safety Concerns Household Chores and Household Chores and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Attendance and Performance at Attendance and Performance at

School and/or WorkSchool and/or Work

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Adolescent Brain Adolescent Brain Development….Development….a a

refresherrefresher At age 18, the At age 18, the brain is not a finished brain is not a finished

product, but is a work in progressproduct, but is a work in progress Related behavior can include Related behavior can include

decision-makingdecision-making recklessnessrecklessness emotional outburstsemotional outbursts

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TraumaTrauma

Youth with a history of trauma may have:Youth with a history of trauma may have: Difficulty figuring out their place in the Difficulty figuring out their place in the

worldworld Compromised causal thinkingCompromised causal thinking Challenges related to conscience and/or Challenges related to conscience and/or

empathy empathy Difficulty with delayed gratificationDifficulty with delayed gratification Delayed brain developmentDelayed brain development

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Emerging as an Emerging as an adult…adult…

Youth need your help withYouth need your help with Opportunities to grow and Opportunities to grow and

become self-sufficientbecome self-sufficient Housing Housing Education Education EmploymentEmployment PermanencyPermanency

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The Most Important The Most Important PartnerPartner

is You!is You!

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Very ImportantVery ImportantMentoring for Skills & Mentoring for Skills &

InterestsInterests Assistance skill buildingAssistance skill building Accessing resources Accessing resources

Household repair and maintenanceHousehold repair and maintenance Automotive repair and maintenanceAutomotive repair and maintenance Household tasks Household tasks TransportationTransportation Financial mattersFinancial matters

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Very ImportantVery ImportantMentoring for Skills & Mentoring for Skills &

Interests, Interests, continuedcontinued

Connection to educational optionsConnection to educational options Assistance with employment optionsAssistance with employment options Persistence and patience throughout Persistence and patience throughout

the processthe process

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What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Share your experiencesShare your experiences Meet the youth where they areMeet the youth where they are Provide opportunities to take Provide opportunities to take

on responsibilitieson responsibilities

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What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Help the emerging adult gather Help the emerging adult gather the skills they need for successful the skills they need for successful transition to independencetransition to independence

Make sure they know what to Make sure they know what to expectexpect

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CollaboratingCollaboratingWho are some of the community Who are some of the community

partners that we will need to partners that we will need to work with to serve these young work with to serve these young

people?people?

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Some things to Some things to consider before consider before transitioning to transitioning to

independent livingindependent livingRenting:Renting: First and last month’s rentFirst and last month’s rent Security depositSecurity deposit Credit checkCredit check

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Some things to Some things to consider before consider before transitioning to transitioning to

independent livingindependent livingOther things to budget:Other things to budget: Gas & Electric Gas & Electric  WaterWater TelephoneTelephone FurnitureFurniture

CableCable InternetInternet InsuranceInsurance Transportation Transportation

costscosts

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Helping Youth Helping Youth PreparePrepare

Start talking about it earlyStart talking about it early Suggest that they check with friends Suggest that they check with friends Share information related to what it takes to Share information related to what it takes to

run a householdrun a household

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Cars and the Cars and the responsibility they responsibility they

bringbring Car ownership is not easyCar ownership is not easy CostsCosts

Initial costInitial cost Car paymentCar payment InsuranceInsurance MaintenanceMaintenance GasolineGasoline

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Personal CarePersonal CareBeing Responsible for Being Responsible for

OneselfOneself

Finding and accessing medical and dental Finding and accessing medical and dental carecare

Transferring recordsTransferring records Scheduling and keeping appointmentsScheduling and keeping appointments

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Questions?Questions?

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My Action PlanMy Action PlanNow and BeyondNow and Beyond

1.1.2.2.3.3.

1.1.2.2.3.3.