66B4=6:B953E “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: @5;O 0 A5C6BD4G965 @BJ9;@E EH::6BG @5;O0A5C6BD4G965@BJ9;@E This information is courtesy of the Colorado Springs Independent. @5;O0A5C6@BJ9;@Ea;65G_ @5;O0A5C6@BJ9;@Ea;65G_ R74G9E