Top 5Resources for Independent Living Skills in California

Regional Centers

There are 21 regional centers located throughout the state of California.

Services include but are not limited to:

  • Information and referral
  • Assessment and diagnosis
  • Counseling
  • Lifelong individualized planning and service coordination
  • Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan
  • Resource development
  • Assistance in finding and using community and other resources
  • Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights
  • Family support
  • Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care
  • Training and educational opportunities for individuals and families

Centers for Independent Living (CIL)

There are 58 centers located throughout the state of California.

Services include but are not limited to:

CIL's fee-for-service ILS program is called Toward Independent Living (or just TIL, for short).TIL serves consumers of Regional Center and/or the Department of Rehabilitation, and the availability of TIL services is subject to the approval of Regional Center and/or the Department of Rehabilitation; TIL services are provided free of charge to consumers (all fees are paid by Regional Center and/or the Department of Rehabilitation).
Note: people who are not eligible for TIL services may still be able to receive ILS training from CIL through one of CIL's Independent Living Peer Counselors.

TIL provides ILS trainees with a one-on-one ILS Instructor who will work with the trainee to identify goals and to develop and carry out plans for achieving those goals. A typical ILS goal involves learning (or improving) a skill that will enable the trainee to more successfully live on his/her own (i.e., without relying on others for help). Common ILS goals include:

  • Money Management
  • Meal Preparation
  • Medical/Dental Care
  • Personal Health & Hygiene
  • Public Transportation
  • Self-Advocacy
  • Home & Community Safety
  • Community Resource Awareness
  • Independent Recreation

Residential Skills Training

There are residential programs for young adults that increase independent living skills in a college-type setting.

Services and programs include but are not limited to:

  • Casa de Amma is a unique apartment community fostering growth and independence in young adults with special needs. Located in San Juan Capistrano, California and licensed by the State of California - staffed 24/7 - the main objective is for increased development of independent living skills and social involvement with others. For more information, please visit their website or contact Andrea Erickson, Executive Director at (949) 496-9001.
  • Independence Center, located in Los Angeles, California, is a transitional residential program for young adults (18-30) with learning disabilities. Program highlights include training in independent living, social and vocational skills, counseling, and more. For more information, call (310) 202-7102.
  • Taft College: Transition to Independent Living Program is a 22-month program for individuals with developmental disabilities. Located on the Taft Community College Campus in California, this program allows those 18 years of age or older to move into a residence hall so that they can begin independent living skills training. The skills training areas include meal preparation, money management, shopping, housekeeping, appliance use, safety, communication, transportation, personal care and interpersonal relationships. There is a rental fee that will cover all meals and utilities. Some eligibility requirements apply. For more information, visit the informational web page or call the college at (661) 763-7700.
  • College Living Experience (CLE) has been providing post-secondary supports to students with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, and other varying exceptionalities. Dedicated to providing the highest quality of individualized services in the areas of academics, independent living, social skills, and career development, CLE supports are tailored to each young adult we serve. It is through personalized services, our team celebrates the uniqueness of students in such a way that we are able to make a lasting impact in their lives and in their communities. There are programs located in Monterrey and Costa Mesa in California.

Independent Living Program (ILP)

The Independent Living Program (ILP) was authorized by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999(Public Law 106-169). Independent Living Program Policy Unit , Child & Youth Permanency Branch, 744 P Street, MS 14-78, Sacramento, CA 95814

The ILP provides training, services and programs to assist current and former foster youth achieve self-sufficiency prior to and after leaving the foster care system.

Who is eligible?

Youth are eligible for ILP services up to the day before their 21st birthday provided one of the following criteria is met:

  • The youth was/is in foster care at any time from their 16th to their 19th birthday.
  • The youth was/is between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age and participating in the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP).
  • What are the services?

Some of the services provided through ILP include:

  • Daily living skills
  • Money management
  • Decision making
  • Building self-esteem
  • Financial assistance with college or vocational schools
  • Educational Resources
  • Housing (Transitional Housing)
  • Employment

Casey Life Skills Assessment

No cost online assessment that has living skills assessment questions related to the youth’s age. They assess daily living, self-care, relationships and communication, housing and money management, work and study life, career and education planning and looking forward.

This is an easy and effective tool to assess the current needs of the youth and then be able to assess them again at a later time. The website is It takes less than five minutes to create a user account for the CSC and less than a minute to create an account for the youth.