Living on your own in a healthy space is something everyone deserves. But it takes work to get there. For one, in most cases, you must be 18 before you can get access to important documents, set up financial accounts, and do other things without parental involvement.
If you haven’t had anyone teach you basic life skills, that can hold you back and make you feel like you depend on other people. This site will not give you everything you need, but it will give you some ideas and some direction so you can round out what you need. Look at the checklist below and see what you can learn or improve on.
Life Skills Checklist: Not all of the items on this list will apply, but it’s a comprehensive resource to give you an idea of the things you should know how to do.
Additional Resources:
- Life Skills Training & Support Materials (It’s My Move)
- Resources to Inspire Guide (Casey Family Programs)
- Consumer.gov
- Top Ten Move-out Skills
Safe Places to Go After School
Libraries can be invaluable to anyone who needs a place to go to do homework or to just be someplace quiet and away from the house. But did you know that 87% of libraries offer services and programs for teens, including career planning and computer skills? Check out Teens Need Libraries page by the Young Adult Library Services Association to learn more.
Hug a Teen has an amazing list of ideas on where you can hang out after school if home is too hard.
Your local community may have some great programs, like homework clubs, to check into as well. The additional resources below range in cost, but if there’s something that seems out of reach financially, reach out to see if you could volunteer there!
Additional Resources:
- 4-H Programs
- Afterschool Alliance Clearinghouse by State
- After-School All-Stars
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Camp Fire
- Girls Who Code
- Junior Achievement
- National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. (PAL)
- Outschool
- Salvation Army Youth Services
- TeenLife School Year Enrichment Programs
- YMCA
- YWCA
Documents You Should Have
Documents you will need to have include a certified copy of your birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a state identification card, which may be a driver’s license. Access to these important documents is almost always necessary to gain employment, pursue education, and enroll in support programs. You should also maintain copies of your health care and education records. The tricky part is that to get some of these documents, you need to either be at least 18 or to have your parents’ involvement. Each state has its own rules. This page may help you figure out whether you might actually have more proof of residency than you think you have.
Finding a Job
Having income you can count on is one of the most important steps to living on your own. If you are still in school, set up an appointment to talk to your guidance counselor about opportunities for jobs, apprenticeships, and internships. Finding work can be challenging, but there are several organizations that may be able to help.
Additional Resources:
- Career OneStop: Get My Future (U.S. Department of Labor)
- Youth.gov
- My Future
- Resources by State
Finding a Place to Live
A place of your own will help you feel independent. Once you have a job and can afford to move out on your own, you can begin to feel healthy and stable.
Additional Resources:
Banking and Finances
It’s important to have your own money that you decide how to spend. Setting up a bank account without a joint owner usually requires you to be at least 18 and have two forms of identification.
Additional Resources:
Health Care
Most young people are eligible to stay on their parents’ health insurance until they are 26 years old. Eligible foster care youth receive Medicaid insurance up to 26 years old. Because of this limit, it’s important to plan on getting a job before you turn 26. It is also important to identify someone to make health care treatment decisions for you if you become unable to do so.
Additional Resources:
Registering for Selective Service System
If you are a male U.S. citizen living in the U.S. or abroad or a male immigrant (permanent resident alien) residing in the U.S., and you are age 18 through 25, you are required to register with the Selective Service System.
Once registered, you must notify Selective Service within 10 days of any changes in the information you submitted at the time of registration, including address changes. Changes must be reported until January 1 of the year you turn 26. To report an address change:
- Update online
- Complete a change of address form (SSS Form 2) at the post office
- Call 1-888-655-1825 (toll-free)
Please see Disclaimers page.
More Than Messy 