Colorado Springs Independent Living Guide 1-24-14.pub

125 Pages·2014·1.35 MB·English

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“Change
happens.
And it happens to all of us.
Understanding your patterns, your options,
your priorities, your resources, and your
strengths as you make the emotional
transitions in response to those changes is
a way for you to claim your power.
Claim your voice.
Claim your choice.
Claim your self.
Understanding YOU are not broken, even
though parts of your life have been, is a
way for you to claim victory.”
- Flux: Life After Foster Care
2 Updated 1/24/14 For the most recent update: www.casappr.org/resources
On behalf of Leadership Pikes Peak’s LNOW! Class of 2012, thank you for
picking up this document. When we started compiling this resource guide at the
request of CASA, we had no idea that it would grow to be the monster that it
has become, but we hope that within these pages you find some useful infor-
mation. We are so passionate about this project and know that it will be benefi-
cial for those of you that are aging out of the foster care system and as you con-
tinue on your road to independence. There are a lot of resources in the Colora-
do Springs community that can help you out, and we have tried to include most
of them.

Inside this guide, you will find a lot of information, from accessing healthcare to
fun activities to do in the Pikes Peak region. We want you to know that there are
a lot of people out there, people you have never even met, that are invested in
your success.
-LNOW! Class of 2012
CASA thanks Leadership Pikes Peak NOW 2012 for choosing our project
and doing a great job compiling this guide. The CASA Hanger Teen Activi-
ties Program has agreed to update this guide on a regular basis. If you have
corrections or suggestions, please forward them to
A huge thank you to the following people and organizations
for their information, help and guidance
as we were preparing this resource guide.
AmeriCorps
My Plate
BBVA Compass Bank
PEAK Parenting
Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado
Pikes Peak Library District
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
Pikes Peak United Way
Colorado Department of Child
and Protective Services Pikes Peak Workforce Center

Colorado Department of Health Peak Vista Community Health Centers
and Human Services Office
Recipes courtesy of Share Our Strength's Cooking
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Matters®

Colorado District of Revenue Santa Cruz County Probation Presents Your Guide
to Independent Living
Colorado Farmers Market Association
Sarah Musick
Colorado Legal Services
Share our Strength’s Cooking Matters for Adults
Colorado Springs Housing Authority Participant Guide

Colorado Springs Independent Stacy Frost, Supervisor at the El Paso County De-
partment of Human Services Chafee Foster Care
Department of Federal Services Independence Program and Teen Self Sufficiency
Program
Flux: Life After Foster Care is a project of Foster
Care Alumni of America. Susan Saksa, Executive Director of Leadership
Authors: Leigh Ecke, Misty Stenslie, Pikes Peak
Miriam Aliberti, Samantha Jo Broderick, Angie
Cross, Jelani Freeman, Adam Robe Texas Foster Youth Justice Program, A Guide for
those “Aging Out” Of Foster Care In Texas Second
Jenny Boyle-Edge Edition

The Gazette Texas Foster Youth Justice Program

Guide to Independent Living for Transitional-Age U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
and Emancipated Foster Youth Alameda County
You Are Not Alone! A HANDBOOK PUBLISHED
Court Appointed Special Advocates Program BY LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN FOR YOUTH
AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE IN NEW YORK
Jonathon Whiteman CITY

Laura Pelletier, CASA volunteer Yvonne Boggs with BBVA Compass Bank

Matt Payne Photography

Mile High Youth Corps

Mountain Metropolitan Transit
4 Updated 1/24/14 For the most recent update: www.casappr.org/resources
Table of Contents

Emergency Services 7

Foster Youth Rights 11
Visitation for Siblings 13
Access to Records 14

Identification Documents 17
Social Security Card, Birth Certificate , Identity Theft 18
Drivers License and State ID 19

Immigration 22

Housing 24
Finding Permanent Housing 25
Navigating a Lease, Need Help Paying Your Bills? 27
Roommates 28
Temporary Housing/Shelters 29
Roommate Rental Agreement 30

Education 32
Importance of Education, Finishing High School, Planning For College 33
Appling to College 34
Scholarships and Financial Aid 35
Researching/Planning Your Career 36
Local Higher Education Institutions 37
Vocational/Technical Schools__________________________________ 43

Employment 44
Finding A Job 45
Job Resources 46
How To Get A Job 48
Employment Issues 49
Example Cover Letter 51
Example Resume 52

Banking and Credit 53
Banking 54
Check Examples 56
Credit 57

Income Tax 59

Transportation 62
Bus Service 63
Carpooling, Taxi Cabs, Designated Driver of Colorado Springs 64
Cycling 65

Health Care 66
Health Insurance 67
Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse 68
Colorado Springs Hospitals 69
Colorado Springs Clinics 69
Vision and Dental 71
First Aid 72
Pregnancy 73
Parenting Classes 74
5 Updated 1/24/14 For the most recent update: www.casappr.org/resources
Table of Contents, cont.

Food & Nutrition 75
Reading Food Labels, Kitchen Safety Basics 78
Cooking Terms 79
Common Conversions 80
Yields for Common Ingredients 81
Farmers Market 83
Plan for Leftovers 84
Save Money Before, While, and After You Shop 85
Stocking Your Pantry 86
Weekly Meal Planner 87
Recipes 88
SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) 93
The Emergency Food Assistance Program 96
El Paso Community Emergency Food Pantries 97

Military 102
Joining the Military 103
Military Careers, Military Benefits, Military Myth vs. Reality 104
Local Military Bases 105
Selective Service 106

Voting 107

Marriage, Divorce & Children 109
Marriage 110
Divorce, Children 111

LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) 113

Legal System 116
Criminal Law Information and Resources 117
Expunging of Misdemeanor Charges, Legal Services in the Community 118

Recreation 119
Places to Go 120
Things to Do 124
More Information 125

Help us keep this guide up to date and complete. Please submit corrections and
ideas to:
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This information is courtesy of the Colorado Springs Independent.
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