§ 532-d. Residential transitional independent living support programs.
Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, pursuant to
regulations of the office of children and family services, residential
facilities operating as transitional independent living support programs
are authorized to and shall:

1. (a) (i) provide shelter to homeless youth who are at least age
sixteen.

(ii) Provided, however, that shelter may be provided to a homeless
youth under the age of sixteen if the municipality has notified the
office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of
subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four
hundred twenty of this chapter.

(b) Shelter may be provided to a homeless youth in a transitional
independent living program for a period of up to eighteen months, or up
to twenty-four months when authorized in the applicable municipality's
approved comprehensive plan;

(c) A homeless youth who entered a transitional independent living
program under the age of twenty-one may continue to receive shelter
services in such program beyond the applicable period authorized by
paragraph (b) of this subdivision, if the municipality has notified the
office of children and family services in accordance with clause (iv) of
subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision two of section four
hundred twenty of this chapter;

2. work toward reuniting such homeless youth with his or her parent,
guardian or custodian, where possible;

3. provide or assist in securing necessary services for such homeless
youth, and where appropriate, his or her family, including but not
limited to housing, educational, medical care, legal, mental health, and
substance and alcohol abuse services. Where such program concludes that
such homeless youth would be eligible for assistance, care or services
from a local social services district, it shall assist such youth in
securing such assistance, care or services;

4. for a homeless youth whose service plan involves independent
living, provide practical assistance in achieving independence, either
through direct provision of services or through written agreements with
other community and public agencies for the provision of services in the
following areas; high school education or high school equivalency
education; higher education assessment; job training and job placement;
counseling; assistance in the development of socialization skills;
guidance and assistance in securing housing appropriate to needs and
income; and training in the development of skills necessary for
responsible independent living, including but not limited to money and
home management, personal care, and health maintenance; and

5. provide residential services to a youth in need of crisis
intervention or respite services, as defined in this article;

6. continue to provide services to a homeless youth who is not yet
eighteen years of age but who has reached the maximum time period
provided by paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, until he
or she is eighteen years of age or for an additional six months if he or
she is still under the age of eighteen; and

7. contact the appropriate local social services district if it is
believed that the youth may be a destitute child, as such term is
defined in section one thousand ninety-two of the family court act. The
office of children and family services shall provide appropriate
guidance to the residential transitional independent living support
program on how to accurately identify a youth that may be a destitute
child;

8. provide information to eligible youth about their ability to
re-enter foster care in accordance with article ten-B of the family
court act, and in appropriate cases, refer any such youth who may be
interested in re-entering foster care to the applicable local social
services district. The office of children and family services shall
provide the residential transitional independent living support program
with the appropriate educational materials to give to eligible youth
regarding their ability to re-enter foster care. The office of children
and family services shall also provide appropriate guidance to the
residential transitional independent living support program on how to
accurately identify youth that may be eligible to re-enter foster care
and how to refer such youth to the applicable local social services
district if appropriate; and

9. provide such reports and data as specified by the office of
children and family services.