Independent living services were implemented as a means to help foster care youth better prepare to live on their own. There are a variety of Independent Living Services that may be provided for youth ages 13 to 23 years old. Types of services available include: Pre-Independent Living Services, Life Skills Services, Subsidized Independent Living, Aftercare Support Services, Road to Independent Scholarship, and Transitional Support Services. Actual program eligibility is delineated by Florida Statutes (409.1451, F.S.). The specific goals of independent living are to:

Help children likely to remain in foster care to make the transition to self-sufficiency, and Complement the efforts of young adults formerly in foster care to achieve self- sufficiency.

DISC Village, Inc is contractually responsible for providing Independent Living services for the local area under Big Bend Community Based Care (BBCBC). DISC Village employs Independent Living Specialists who provide training in the home of targeted child and their foster parents. The foster parents are trained along with the child so they can enforce the child’s independent living skills in between Independent Living training sessions.

Participating youth identify a vocational or educational goal or track they want to accomplish for their road to independence. DISC Village offers an array of vocational trainings and transitional housing opportunities. The DISC Village, Inc motto is to ensure that each youth exiting foster care will have a marketable skill.