DCF YPLP Referral Process

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) will place any parent under 22 that the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) refers for placement in a Young Parent Living Program (YPLP) when they do not have a safe place to stay or cannot reside with their parents. For parents under 18, placements in a YPLP may be necessary to meet the living arrangement rules.

Responsibility for Coordinating the YPLP Referral

Self-Sufficiency Specialists (SSS) work closely with a DCF Young Parent Liaison to coordinate the YPLP referral process. 

For the referral, the SSS must:

1. explain to the parent under 22 that a referral will be made to DCF for placement in a YPLP
2. complete the DTA Young Parent Living Program Referral form and print a copy of the completed form. If you are working remotely, you must send an email to your office management with the completed form attached, as well as the client’s name, APID, address, and copy your supervisor. The management team will determine which in-office staff will be responsible for mailing the DTA Young Parent Living Program Referral form to the client.
3. have the parent under 22 sign the Authorization to Release Information section of the Young Parent Referral form if the client is in the office.  If the client is not in the local office to sign the form, the form will need to be printed in the local office and mailed to them .
4. copy the completed and signed DTA Young Parent Living Program Referral form
5. give a copy of the signed DTA Young Parent Living Program Referral form to the parent, and
6. email the DCF Liaison, typing SECURE: in the Subject line, attach the completed DTA Young Parent Living Program Referral form and DV Recommendations and copy your supervisor and the TAO management team. The DCF Liaison will work with the DCF YPLP Clinical Coordinator to secure a placement in a YPLP 

   1. Important: For YPLP placement, the parent under 22 must have an active TAFDC case or be pending release for an approval.

7. annotate the Narrative tab that a referral has been made to DCF for YPLP placement

   1. Important: A referral for placement cannot be made unless the parent under 22 signs the Young Parent Referral form. A wet signature is mandatory for this form.

The DCF YPLP Clinical Coordinator will:

• contact the parent under 22 by phone within 2 hours to schedule an intake ; and
• make the referral for placement to the YPLP.

  • Note: If the client does not have an available phone number and/or has Heightened Level of Security restriction, a face to face appointment will be scheduled.

The SSS will:

• receive an intake verification form the DCF YPLP Clinical Coordinator by email when the young parent enters the program;
• receive a discharge verification from the DCF YPLP Clinical Coordinator by email when they leave the program; and
• receive notification from the DCF YPLP Clinical Coordinator by email if the parent refuses placement.

  • Important: If the parent under 22 refuses to enter the YPLP, the SSS must request verification of the parent under 22’s current living situation by generating a Verification Checklist (VC-1) and giving it to the  parent or sending it to the parent’s last known address.