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CHILDREN 'S HOME SOCIETY INDEPENDENT LIVING <br /> INDIAN RIVER COUNTY CHILDREN ' S SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br /> Be PROGRAM NEED STATEMENT (Entire Section B not to exceed one page) <br /> 1 . a) What is the unacceptable condition requiring change ? b) Who has the need ? <br /> c) Where do they live ? d) Provide local, state or national trend data, with reference <br /> source, that corroborates that this is an area of need . <br /> Florida is experiencing a surge of teenagers and young adults . Between the years 2000 and <br /> 2015, the number of teens and young adults in Florida (14-24) will increase some 23 % . <br /> Florida has never experienced this volume increase of teenagers , and our state ' s service <br /> infrastructure—educational, health , social service, therapeutic, or youth justice systems—is <br /> simply unprepared for this surge of young Floridians . <br /> (http : //www.floridakids . ore/trends . htm). The Independent Living Program is designed to <br /> provide services to children and young adults in and formerly in foster care who are ages <br /> 13 to 23 . The largest group of children in foster care is between the ages of twelve and <br /> eighteen . (http : //www. chileseenter. orprJindex.htm), The Independent Living Program <br /> provides the skills necessary for these children without a loving family to grow into <br /> productive, self-sustaining adults. At this time, there are 94 children between the ages of <br /> 13 and 18 in foster care in District 15 (Indian River, Martin , Okeechobee and St. Lucie <br /> counties). There are 8 young adults in the District who currently receive transitional <br /> support services . Specifically, the program is serving 16 Indian River county residents . <br /> We estimate serving an additional 5 Indian River county residents before October 2003 . In <br /> 2003-2004, we anticipate again serving at least 23 children and young adults in Indian <br /> River County. <br /> 2 . _ a) Identify similar programs that are currently serving the needs of your targeted <br /> population ; b) Explain how these existing programs are under-serving the targeted <br /> population of your program. <br /> This program is the only program of this nature serving the targeted population of youth <br /> and young adults ages 13 -23 in the foster care system . <br /> 5 <br />