Chair Stevens on TIL 24-month maximum stay regulation
Stevens questions why TIL programs have a 24-month maximum stay and what happens when youth can't find housing. Thorne explains it's an OCFS state regulation, and providers can exit and re-enroll youth under the age limit. Stevens calls the process senseless and asks if DYCD is pushing OCFS to change it; Thorne confirms ongoing discussions.
I have a question around the TIL program.
And I feel like sometimes I just, maybe my brain don't work.
But the two programs allow young people to remain in a shelter for 24 months while they're working towards securing permanent housing.
Why is there a minimum length, I mean a maximum length of stay for 24 months?
And what happens when a young person reaches 24 months limit, but they have been unable to...
Find permanent housing.
The 24 months is part of OCFS regulations.
So that's the time.
Regulation.
The regulation is that you can be in the till for up to 24 months.
If the youth is still under the age, the provider can always exit and reenter the youth.
So that youth doesn't have to leave, but the max time.
So they would, what do you mean they have to leave?
So they would have to like unregister and then register again to stay in this whole program?
Absolutely, if they're under the age.
But what does that, what sense does that make?
Well, because we have to follow the regulations, right?
So,
It's like the regulations.
Are we pushing to change this at the state level?
Because that sounds good.
Yes, we are.
Okay, because I haven't heard about it.
Nobody told me.
We've been working with OCFS to discuss it.
Tell me so I can advocate too.
Okay.
Because that doesn't make sense.
So we make the kid walk out the door and come back in and be like, fill out the paperwork again?
We don't actually do it like that, Cher.
We just say, oh, she's coming up to her time.
Let's just re-enroll her.
And so they would have to, like, refill the paperwork out.
No, well, PTS keeps up with the job.
It's not real?
I don't like stuff that don't make sense.
I just hate it.
It's real.
We have to.
Because we're listening to the regulation, but it sounds like it's weird.
So, like, why are we not just telling OCFS this is stupid?
Let's figure something else out.
I don't like stupid stuff, so.
Right, but we are working with OCFS.
They're in the process of redoing their regulations, and that's part of the discussions, the length of stay in Tilsen crisis.
Let me add that to my list of things to advocate at the state for because I don't like stupid stuff and that doesn't sound like it makes sense.