Sunrise Children’s Services
300 Hope Street
P.O. Box 1429
Mt. Washington, KY 40047

Independent Living & VentureON

What You Can Expect with Sunrise

Sunrise has created an innovative and lifechanging Independent Living program for 18-to-21 year-olds who have aged out of the state’s care. As a participant, you will be given the tools you need to build your own future as an independent adult through one of our multiple programs located across Kentucky.

Sunrise will pay for the rent and utilities on your apartment. Your fully furnished apartment will include personal and cleaning supplies as well as an initial supply of food. On a monthly basis, you will be given money for clothing, food, allowance, and personal items. Additional money can be earned for education, work support, and cell phone use.

Sunrise will work with you and your state worker to design a program around your education and employment needs. A Sunrise team member will meet with you weekly to assist you in building your independence readiness and skill level as you move through a plan that’s uniquely yours. Sunrise will provide assistance with transportation and offer skills-training classes that include money management, job search skills, proper nutrition, volunteering, and more.

Upon completion of the program at age 21, you may have the opportunity to transfer the apartment lease and utilities to your name and keep the furnishings. We want to help you become the best version of yourself.

1.

Who Can Be Accepted

Clients must have reached their 18th birthday in order to be admitted to the IL program and may remain in the program until their 21st birthday. Both genders are accepted. Admittance will be based on the client’s most recent behavioral issues as well as his or her desire to continue educational and workforce skills. We normally do not consider the client’s current location as a determining factor. Sunrise will be paid a level 3 rate throughout the entire time clients are in the program.

2.

Current Locations of our Apartments

We currently have apartments in Maysville, Morehead, Vanceburg, Danville, Lexington, Richmond, Bowling Green, Paducah, Murray, and Owensboro. All apartments are within walking range of 1 to 1.5 miles from the college campuses as well as centrally located in areas where employment opportunities exist within walking distances. In both communities, most of the apartments are located within the same complex which makes it very easy for Independent Living clients to commute together or to be supports for each other.

3.

Specific Admission Criteria

Clients who are referred to IL do not have to be employed or enrolled in school; however, those are expectations and goals that each client will work toward once they enter the program. The Independent Living Specialist will determine readiness and skill level and develop an individual course of action along with the client, SSW, and other support people that the client may have. Clients who are actively homicidal, suicidal, or present with psychotic features will not be considered for Independent Living.  All others will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with recent behavioral issues.

4.

What About Parenting Teens

Parenting teens are welcome. We currently have two parenting teens in the program. Daycare is not provided, but we do assist clients applying for funding for daycare. The agency is NOT paid a per diem for children of Independent Living clients.

5.

Support, Supervision, and Therapeutic Services Offered

The agency provides the following funding for IL clients:

  • Payment of rent and utilities in a Sunrise-leased apartment
    $100.00 monthly stipend that includes: $40.00 for clothing
    $30.00 for cell phone, $20.00 personal allowance
    $10.00 for personal supplies/incidentals
    $100.00 monthly Wal-Mart gift card to offset food and household expenses
  • The IL specialist will ensure that new clients have appropriate apartment furnishings which include: living room furniture and bedding, kitchen supplies, personal and cleaning supplies, as well an adequate supply of food
  • Weekly face-to-face visits from the IL Specialist which may include transportation for needed grocery trips, appointments, etc
  • Monthly bus route tokens
  • Assessment to determine Independent Living readiness and skills level and weekly education to include topics such as: money management, job search skills, educational planning, community resources, emergency and safety skills, health and nutrition, stress management, as well as problem solving and decision making skills and support
  • Clients have the option to be paired with a current foster parent mentor as a resource person
  • Assistance with filling out financial aid and FASFA forms
  • Mental Health Therapy services are available through a licensed and credentialed Sunrise therapist upon client request
  • Clients who successfully complete the program may have the option of transferring current apartment lease and utilities in their name upon their 21st birthday as well as taking possession of the apartment furnishings
6.

How to Refer to the Program

Referrals should be made through our Centralized Intake Department. If apartment space is available and clients meet eligible criteria, SSW should contact the IL Specialist to determine an admit date. Normally clients can be admitted within two weeks after being accepted in the program.

VentureON

VentureON is Sunrise’s pioneering, grantfunded program that surrounds you with a care plan team and additional resources to better equip you for all that life can offer.

Here’s what you will receive through VentureON:

• Job training and support
• Coaching in areas such as driving, budgeting, and grocery shopping.
• A monthly work stipend (if working) to offset work expenses
• A monthly stipend for school expenses (if enrolled in school)
• A quarterly “step up to success bonus” to build your savings account
• A Christian mentor if you desire more personalized support

Your VentureON care plan team will work together to create a path of life for you to address personal, emotional, and spiritual areas, along with education and work related goals.

Since 1999, more than 230,000 young adults

have left the foster care system without a family or other support system. A gloomy picture for these young people – a distressing picture for society. At Sunrise, we’re committed to changing the path of life for these young people,

“VentureON ensures the successful transition of young people into contributing adulthood.”

VentureON connects people aging out with resources that can help them find housing, jobs, and an education to build their own future and surrounds the young adult with a care plan team, a mentor, partnerships with employers, and safe, stable housing.

Youth who age out of state care at age 18 can find themselves without the necessary support and guidance they need to become successful adults. Planning and preparing for independent living, providing connections to safe and stable adults, and creating opportunities for education, jobs, independent living skills, and solid, caring adults is key to success, and Sunrise is the hope and guidance these young adults need to create for themselves a path of life.

With apartments and staff working in ten Kentucky cities, Sunrise Independent Living and VentureON services are proven, life-changing, and growing. Sunrise is proud to be the first organization to take on this challenge from a statewide perspective and even more proud to be God’s Word in action as commanded in Galatians in the words, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The challenge is we cannot do this work alone and need your help, involvement, and support to change lives in a very real way.

The Cost To Do Nothing

On average, for every young person who ages out, taxpayers and communities pay $300,000 in social costs over that person’s lifetime. (Social costs equal taxpayer-funded costs just as public assistance, incarceration, and costs absorbed by the community.)

How it works

You can help

Interested in Helping? Email a Sunrise Representative to get started.