For Adults: Welcome for Independent Living Coordinators, Social Workers, Group Home Staff, Foster Parents...and Other Adults Who Care
For Teens: An Introduction from Someone Who’s Been There, Done That, and Learned
Speakout: My First Day Out of Care
Worksheet: Do You Have What It Takes to Be on Your Own?
Why It’s Important to Prepare Now
Activity Page for Group Leaders:
Understanding the Need to Prepare for Independence Think About It

Manage That Money: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: How I Save & How I Spend
Mountain Climbing for Beginners: Paying All My Bills Felt Impossible I Learned to Take It One Step at a Time
How to Save Paper
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Saving for My Future
Ask the Expert: Shopping Smart
Think About It
Credit Card Hell: I Shopped ’Til I Dropped...Into Debt
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Learning to Budget
Worksheet: My Budget

On the Job: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: Finding a Job I Love & Leave Your Problems at Home
Getting My First Job Was a Pain in the Butt!
Words from The Wise
How to Ace Your Job Interview
You’re Fired! Losing Eight Jobs Has Taught Me a Lot
Think About It
Ask the Expert: Work It Out at Work
Quiet on the Job: I Can’t Figure Out How to Act at Work
How to Keep Your Job
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Acing a Job Interview
Worksheet: My Job Interview

Your First Home After Care: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: To Have Roommates or Not? & All to Myself
On Our Own: Apartment Programs Let Teens Try Living on Their Own Before They Leave Care
My Own Two Feet: An Independent Living Program Helped Me Get Running
Crib Sheet: How to Find Your Own Place
Apartment Hunting?
Other Than Renting My Own Apartment, What Options Do I Have for Housing?
Getting Back to You: Part of Independent Living is Dealing with Yourself
Activity Page for Group Leaders: How to Find and Keep an Apartment
Worksheet: My First Apartment

Building Your Support System: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: Who Can I Count On? & Running Scared
Phoenix Rising: I Made It, But I Needed All the Help I Could Get
Too Much Pride: I Learned That Asking for Help Isn’t Weak
Think About It
Ask the Expert: Preparing for Life’s Challenges, Starting from Inside
Psych! How to Know When to Seek Therapy
I Left Foster Care But My Past Came With Me
Creating My Own Family
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Identifying a Support Network
Worksheet: My Support System

Taking Care of Number One: Why This Chapter Matters
Soap Opera: How to Stay Fresh
Flossed Out: How to Keep Your Teeth Clean
Natural Woman: Skin Care Products You Can Make at Home
Ask the Expert: What You Eat Affects How You Look
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Making a Self-Care Plan
Worksheet: My Self-Care Plan

Keeping House: Why This Chapter Matters
A Clean Sweep: My Apartment Went from Nasty to Neat
Caring for My Clothes Keeps Me Looking Good: Here’s How I Do It
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Doing Laundry
An Apology to All Group Home Cooks
Help Yourself: How to Eat Healthy
Worksheet: My Recipes
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Cleaning Your Apartment Cheaply
Worksheet: Test Yourself: How Clean is Your Crib?

Options After Care: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: Planning for the Long Run
Scraping by: Working ’Til I Dropped Paid Off
Worksheet: You’re Leaving Care, What’s Next?
Train to Gain: School Wasn’t Working for Me, So I’m Joining Job Corps
Thinking Ahead: Working in Fast Food Is a Beginning, Not a Career
How to Find an Internship
Cooking up a Future: I Need Book Smarts and Confidence to Become a Chef
Anchors Aweigh! I Knew I’d Look Good in Navy Blues
Carded: I Need My Green Card to Go to College or Get a Job
From ‘Group Home Child’ to College Success
Ask the Expert: The Real Deal About Applying to College
Two Things Not to Forget When Applying to College
Activity Page for Group Leaders: Exploring Options for Life After Care

Making a Plan: Why This Chapter Matters
Speakout: The Day I Left Care
Countdown to Independence
Worksheet: My Goals for Independence
In the Driver's Seat: Setting Goals Gets You on the Road. Here's How
Worksheet: My Plan for Independence
To All Foster Youth: You Can Overcome the Madness
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