Jeff Ross, TIL Coordinator, Student Support Services
661-763-7776 or
jross@taft.org
Target population:
The Transition to
Independent Living Program (TIL) is an educational experience for
developmentally disabled adults.
Goals: To develop
independent living skills in developmentally disabled adults.
Description: The TIL program is an on-campus live-in program for
developmentally disabled adults. The program stresses the importance
of teaching people to accept responsibility for decisions and
choices they make. The program occupies 30 rooms in the Seventh
Street residence hall on the Taft Community College campus, which is
one of two residence halls on the campus. Participants for the
program are selected from referrals made primarily by California
Regional Centers (outreach centers for the California Department of
Developmental Services), the Department of Rehabilitation, and high
schools. Guidelines for making a referral are available from the TIL
Program Coordinator or the Intake Coordinator. An applicant who
meets the requirements for entry will be scheduled for an on-site
evaluation. Upon admission to the TIL Program, the student moves into
a residence hall room and begins learning independent living skills.
The students participate in the program an average of 22 months, and
all students have a 90- day probation period.
Staff works with each student to establish realistic long-range and
short-range goals. Individual Program Plans are then written to
assist students in attaining these goals. Instruction is offered in
the following areas: meal preparation, money management, shopping,
housekeeping, use of appliances, safety, communication,
transportation, personal care, and interpersonal relationships.
Instructional hours are from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. A Community Integration Program is run
on weekends. Students are responsible for paying a dorm rental fee
that includes meals served in the Taft College cafeteria and all
utilities except telephone. Students are eligible for graduation
when they complete the required course work and independently
demonstrate the learned skills. At that time the TIL staff assists
graduated students in transitioning into an independent living
situation in their home community. The TIL program tracks all
graduates for a ten year period to measure outcomes of the students
and the program.
Staffing:
Staff for the TIL
program include a program coordinator, assistant to the coordinator,
program director, director’s assistant, instructors, instructional
aides, transition specialist, and security personnel.
Facilities, equipment, materials:
The TIL program provides the same level of support as any other
student service, however the dedicated use of 30 on-campus dormitory
rooms and use of the college cafeteria by the program is unique and
essential to the success of this program. Please refer to the
suggestions for replication below, which address the current testing
of a similar Taft College program that does not require access to
dormitory rooms and cafeteria.
Costs, funding source:
Funding comes from three sources. 1) The student pays for dormitory
and cafeteria costs. 2) The Chancellor’s Office pays for educational
services funding. 3) The Regional Centers pay for three distinct
programs which include: the payment of 30 hours per week per student
at the rate of $15.74/hour for operational TIL expenses, the funding
of a weekend community outreach program, and a transitional program
to assist students entering the program, and for students graduating
from the program.
Outreach and marketing:
The primary source of students is word of mouth regarding the
success of the program. However the Program Coordinator regularly
conducts presentations on the program within the community, across
the state, and frequently makes national presentations of the
program.
Evidence of effectiveness:
The program has been graduating students since 1997. An astounding
93% of graduating students have moved on to independent living
status, and 83% are employed. Most individuals in similar
circumstances are eligible for Supported Living Services (SLS)
assistance in the amount of 120 hours per month.. TIL program
graduates average 20 hours per month of assistance, and 30% of TIL
graduates require no SLS assistance.
Suggestions for replication:
The Program Coordinator emphasizes that Regional Centers across
California are very willing to work with Community Colleges in
setting up such programs. Also, Taft College is currently in year
one of a two-year program to test/evaluate an adaptation of this
program that does not include students living on campus in college
dormitories. To date the testing has been very successful.
Transportation and personal responsibility for time management have
become much more important components of the piloted course
curriculum.