DCS Talks with Independent Living Specialist, Katie Butler and former foster youth, Kayla about navigating life after being in foster care - a podcast by DCSTalks

Katie Butler, MSSW serves 8 counties in the East region as the Independent Living Program Specialist. Ms. Butler works with youth ages 14-23 that were in foster care to promote their safety and well-being as they transition into adulthood. Ms. Bulter is a social worker who started with DCS in 2006 as a member of one of the first cohorts of the DCS Title IV Tuition Assistance program after graduating from the University of Tennessee. She served in Anderson County Foster Care from June 2008- February 2012 and has served in her current role as ILPS since.

Kayla is a former foster youth that has accessed Opportunity Passport, Federal IL Wrap Funding, Educational Training Voucher as well as Youth Villages LifeSet and Extension of Foster Care Services from the time she was 16 to now 21. While learning how to navigate life outside of foster care, Kayla has started her post-secondary education in the medical field, while always maintaining employment, stable transportation and housing. Kayla has faced ongoing barriers after 18, but has never given up and proves this by her positive presence to this day.

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