Minnesota divides its Title IV-E-IL allocation among three components of a statewide program titled Support for Emancipation and Living Functionally (SELF). SELF is a state-supervised, county-implemented program based on the premise that youth in substitute (foster) care are at significant risk of not making a successful transition to independent living as young adults. SELF program activities address these youths' unique need to develop the practical and interpersonal skills required to attain critical educational and vocational goals. Direct services provided through SELF range from skill building sessions on budgeting to development of interpersonal competence through a variety of formal and informal learning environments and techniques designed to engage youth. Indirect services include training foster parents and group home workers, purchasing resource materials, and recruiting mentors. Significant 1999 program highlights include the following: addition of state-funded transitional housing services to five Title IV-E-IL-funded regional independent living skills programs; addition of a third day to the annual Youth in Transition Conference; work with three metropolitan counties to guide expansion or revision of their SELF programming; and longitudinal follow-up of 911 clients served by the program in 1991. (Thirty-five tables/figures are included. Appended are state data collection and evaluation forms and three SELF newsletters.) (MN)