Transitional Living Services (TLS)

Transitional Living Services, programs, and benefits help foster care youth and young adults make the transition to adulthood smoother and help them identify and achieve long-term education, career, and life goals.  Transitional Living Services begin at age 14 and may continue until age 23.

Learn more about Transitional Living Services and how it helps with employment, education, and housing.

Transitional Programs for Young Adults over 18:

Youth Take Flight Instagram

Find current resources, benefits and other information on the Youth Take Flight Instagram. It's a great chance to stay connected with DFPS and your friends.

Permanency Planning for Older Youth

The Texas Foster Care Handbook helps children and youth in foster care to better understand how the foster care system works and to address many of the questions and concerns they have regarding foster care.

A youth driven transition plan is developed with all youth ages 16 and older and identifies services for each youth to accomplish goals and to assist them in transitioning from foster care.

Aging-out seminars allow youth ages 15 ½ to 18 to meet in interactive groups to learn more about DFPS Transitional Living Services, programs, benefits, community resources, and other important life skills topics.

PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) helps older youth in foster care prepare leave DFPS care and support and live as adults.  Eligible youth up to age 21 receive services and benefits that help them become self-sufficient and productive adults. PAL services include life skills assessments, life skills trainings, a transitional living allowance, aftercare room and board, and case management services. PAL regional staff can help you with these services.

Youth and young adults in the PAL program are referred by PAL staff, CPS staff, and providers to local Workforce Solutions offices for help with the following:

Youth who are turning age 16 or who are transitioning to adulthood at 18 need to have documents to help them with daily activities like finding a job, leasing an apartment, opening a bank account, setting up utility services, getting a driver’s license, and accessing other resources.

Information about College Benefits

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program serves eligible youth or young adults, ages 16 up to age 23 and are enrolled in a college, university or a vocational or technical program.  Eligible youth may receive up to $5,000 in financial assistance per academic year to help pay for basic living expenses while attending school.

Foster youth, adopted youth, and youth where DFPS permanent managing conservatorship was granted to a non-parent on or after September 1, 2009 are exempt from tuition and fees at state-supported colleges and universities.

Texas’ institutions of higher education must help full-time students who were formerly in DFPS conservatorship or who have been legally emancipated to find temporary housing during breaks between academic terms.

Medical Benefits

Healthcare coverage is available to youth or young adults who are transitioning or age out of Texas foster care.

Other Services

Other Transitional Resources