{ "id": "RL34499", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL34499", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 599051, "date": "2019-05-29", "retrieved": "2019-12-20T19:02:25.555320", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": "While many young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in foster care and those who are emancipated from care often lack such security. This can be an obstacle for them in developing independent living skills and building supports that might ease their transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or lack supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on measures such as education and employment. \nThe federal government recognizes that older youth in foster care and those who have been emancipated, or aged out, are vulnerable to negative outcomes and may ultimately return to the care of the state as adults through the public welfare, criminal justice, or other systems. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers the primary federal programs that are targeted to these youth. These include the federal foster care program and the John H. Chafee Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood program (\u201cChafee program\u201d), both of which are authorized under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. \nFoster care is a temporary living arrangement intended to ensure a child\u2019s safety and well-being until a permanent home can be re-established or newly established. Under the Title IV-E foster care program, a public child welfare agency must work to ensure that each child who enters foster care is safely returned to his/her parents, or, if this is determined not to be possible or appropriate (by a court), to find a new permanent home for the child. Jurisdictions (states, territories, and tribes) may seek reimbursement for youth to remain in care up to age 21. Approximately half of all states extend care to that age. In addition, the foster care program has certain protections for older youth. For example, jurisdictions must annually obtain the credit report of each youth in care who is age 14 and older. They must also assist youth with developing a transition plan that is in place 90 days before aging out. The law requires that a youth\u2019s caseworker\u2014and as appropriate, other representative(s) of the youth\u2014assist and support him/her in developing the plan. The law requires that the plan be guided by the youth, and should include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors, and other supports.\nThe Chafee program provides supports and services to youth ages 14 to 21 who are or were in foster care (with some exceptions). Youth in states that extend foster care to age 21 can be served under the program until age 23. The program authorizes funds to be used for providing assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, and preventive health activities, among other purposes. States must meet certain requirements, including that not more than 30% of Chafee funds are used for room and board expenses. The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) provides funding for Chafee-eligible youth to attend institutions of higher education. Youth can receive up to $5,000 annually for up to five years (consecutive or nonconsecutive) until they reach age 26. The Chafee law directs HHS to collect outcome and other information for current and former foster youth, and HHS established the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) for this purpose. \nAlong with the foster care and Chafee programs, other federal programs are intended to help youth currently and formerly in foster care make the transition to adulthood. Federal law authorizes funding for states and local jurisdictions to provide workforce support and housing to older foster youth and youth emancipating from care. Further, beginning on January 1, 2014, eligible young people who were in foster care at age 18 are covered under a mandatory Medicaid pathway until age 26. Youth in foster care or recently emancipated youth are also specifically eligible for certain educational supports.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL34499", "sha1": "14ac0a62eaef6da92dbcc451831bf69395a7dca5", "filename": "files/20190529_RL34499_14ac0a62eaef6da92dbcc451831bf69395a7dca5.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=RL/html/RL34499_files&id=/0.png": "files/20190529_RL34499_images_4f35415e7d0e411cfe26956a1dde54315a015c53.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=RL/html/RL34499_files&id=/1.png": "files/20190529_RL34499_images_27f06b1195829b21f8598a409517c573c89bb9ef.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL34499", "sha1": "50f42bce9281fa007e0c999848d47288c54ddd77", "filename": "files/20190529_RL34499_50f42bce9281fa007e0c999848d47288c54ddd77.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4864, "name": "Youth & Transition to Adulthood" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 586026, "date": "2017-09-08", "retrieved": "2019-04-18T15:30:47.509219", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": "While many young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in foster care and those who are emancipated from care often face obstacles to developing independent living skills and building supports that ease the transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or lack supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on several outcome measures.\nThe federal government recognizes that older youth in foster care and those aging out are vulnerable to negative outcomes and may ultimately return to the care of the state as adults, either through the public welfare, criminal justice, or other systems. Under the federal foster care program, states may seek reimbursement for youth to remain in care up to the age of 21. In addition, the federal foster care program has certain protections for older youth. For example, states must annually obtain the credit report of each child in care who is age 14 and older. States must also assist youth with developing what is known as a transition plan. The law requires that a youth\u2019s caseworker, and as appropriate, other representative(s) of the youth, assist and support him or her in developing the plan. The plan is to be directed by the youth, and is to include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors, workforce supports, and employment services. Other protections require states to ensure that youth age 14 and older are consulted about the development and revisions to their case plan and permanency plan, and that the case plan includes a document listing certain rights for these youth. \nSeparately, the federal government provides funding for services to assist in the transition to adulthood through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The law enables states to provide these services to youth who are (1) likely to age out of foster care (with no lower age limit), (2) youth who age out of care, and (3) youth age 16 or older who left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. Independent living services may include assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, and preventive health activities, among other services. The CFCIP requires that states ensure youth in independent living programs participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living, and further that they \u201caccept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.\u201d \nThe Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program separately authorizes discretionary funding for education and training vouchers for Chafee-eligible youth to cover their cost of postsecondary education (until age 23). A recent evaluation of independent living programs, such as those that provide mentoring and life skills, shows mixed results. One promising independent living program has social workers who oversee a small caseload and have regular, ongoing interactions with the youth. The youth in this program are more likely to attend college and stay enrolled than their peers not in the program.\nAlong with the CFCIP, other federal programs are intended to help current and former youth in foster care make the transition to adulthood. Federal law authorizes funding for states and local jurisdictions to provide workforce support and housing to older foster youth and youth emancipating from care. Further, the law that established the CFCIP created an optional Medicaid eligibility pathway for youth who age out of foster care; this pathway is often called the \u201cChafee option.\u201d Beginning on January 1, 2014, eligible young people who were in foster care at age 18 are covered under a mandatory Medicaid pathway until age 26. In addition, youth in foster care or recently emancipated youth are specifically eligible for certain education and other services.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL34499", "sha1": "325530f903c54cbfafe29155a508b5fa6280b979", "filename": "files/20170908_RL34499_325530f903c54cbfafe29155a508b5fa6280b979.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=RL/html/RL34499_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170908_RL34499_images_4782bb07a80d5e15ddfdabaae05aaebc7f560408.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL34499", "sha1": "3dbdbc71aebb672811222307d9546e5f04125dd7", "filename": "files/20170908_RL34499_3dbdbc71aebb672811222307d9546e5f04125dd7.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4864, "name": "Youth & Transition to Adulthood" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 456935, "date": "2016-11-08", "retrieved": "2016-11-28T21:10:46.553985", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": "While most young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in foster care and those who are emancipated from care often face obstacles to developing independent living skills and building supports that ease the transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or lack supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on several outcome measures.\nThe federal government recognizes that older youth in foster care and those aging out are vulnerable to negative outcomes and may ultimately return to the care of the state as adults, either through the public welfare, criminal justice, or other systems. Under the federal foster care program, states may seek reimbursement for youth to remain in care up to the age of 21. In addition, the federal foster care program has certain protections for older youth. For example, states must annually obtain the credit report of each child in care who is age 14 and older. States must also assist youth with developing what is known as a transition plan. The law requires that a youth\u2019s caseworker, and as appropriate, other representative(s) of the youth, assist and support him or her in developing the plan. The plan is to be directed by the youth, and is to include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors, workforce supports, and employment services. Other protections require states to ensure that youth age 14 and older are consulted about the development and revisions to their case plan and permanency plan, and that the case plan includes a document listing certain rights for these youth. \nSeparately, the federal government provides funding for services to assist in the transition to adulthood through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The law enables states to provide these services to youth who are (1) likely to age out of foster care (with no lower age limit), (2) youth who age out of care, and (3) youth age 16 or older who left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. Independent living services may include assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, and preventive health activities, among other services. The CFCIP requires that states ensure youth in independent living programs participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living, and further that they \u201caccept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.\u201d The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program separately authorizes discretionary funding for education and training vouchers for Chafee-eligible youth to cover their cost of postsecondary education (until age 23). A recent evaluation of independent living programs, such as those that provide mentoring and life skills, shows mixed results. One promising independent living program has social workers who oversee a small caseload and have regular, ongoing interactions with the youth. The youth in this program are more likely to attend college and stay enrolled than their peers not in the program.\nAlong with the CFCIP, other federal programs are intended to help current and former youth in foster care make the transition to adulthood. Federal law authorizes funding for states and local jurisdictions to provide workforce support and housing to older foster youth and youth emancipating from care. Further, the law that established the CFCIP created an optional Medicaid eligibility pathway for youth who age out of foster care; this pathway is often called the \u201cChafee option.\u201d Beginning on January 1, 2014, eligible young people who were in foster care at age 18 are covered under a mandatory Medicaid pathway until age 26. In addition, youth in foster care or recently emancipated youth are specifically eligible for certain education and other services.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL34499", "sha1": "97a547404657e24657ef2d43d6ab82401303f753", "filename": "files/20161108_RL34499_97a547404657e24657ef2d43d6ab82401303f753.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL34499", "sha1": "5a02edb3efa40372a88b126948541a5294d5802a", "filename": "files/20161108_RL34499_5a02edb3efa40372a88b126948541a5294d5802a.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4864, "name": "Youth & Transition to Adulthood" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 445436, "date": "2015-09-18", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:21:35.803392", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": "While most young people have access to emotional and financial support systems throughout their early adult years, older youth in foster care and those who are emancipated from care often face obstacles to developing independent living skills and building supports that ease the transition to adulthood. Older foster youth who return to their parents or guardians may continue to experience poor family dynamics or a lack of emotional and financial supports, and studies have shown that recently emancipated foster youth fare poorly relative to their counterparts in the general population on several outcome measures.\nThe federal government recognizes that older youth in foster care and those aging out are vulnerable to negative outcomes and may ultimately return to the care of the state as adults, either through the public welfare, criminal justice, or other systems. Under the federal foster care program, states may seek reimbursement for youth to remain in care up to the age of 21. In addition, the federal foster care program has certain protections for older youth. For example, states must annually obtain the credit report of each child in care who is age 14 and older. States must also assist youth with developing what is known as a transition plan. The law requires that a youth\u2019s caseworker, and as appropriate, other representative(s) of the youth, assist and support him or her in developing the plan. The plan is to be directed by the youth, and is to include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors, workforce supports, and employment services. Other protections require states to ensure that youth age 14 and older are consulted about the development and revisions to their case plan and permanency plan, and that the case plan includes a document listing certain rights for these youth. \nSeparately, the federal government provides funding for services to assist in the transition to adulthood through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP). The law enables states to provide these services to youth who are (1) likely to age out of foster care (with no lower age limit), (2) youth who age out of care, and (3) youth age 16 or older who left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. Independent living services may include assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, and preventive health activities, among other services. The CFCIP requires that states ensure youth in independent living programs participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living, and further that they \u201caccept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.\u201d The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program separately authorizes discretionary funding for education and training vouchers for Chafee-eligible youth to cover their cost of postsecondary education (until age 23). A recent evaluation of independent living programs, such as those that provide mentoring and life skills, shows mixed results. One promising independent living program has social workers who oversee a small caseload and have regular, ongoing interactions with the youth. The youth in this program are more likely to attend college and stay enrolled than their peers not in the program.\nAlong with the CFCIP, other federal programs are intended to help current and former youth in foster care make the transition to adulthood. Federal law authorizes funding for states and local jurisdictions to provide workforce support and housing to older foster youth and youth emancipating from care. Further, the law that established the CFCIP created an optional Medicaid eligibility pathway for youth who age out of foster care; this pathway is often called the \u201cChafee option.\u201d Beginning on January 1, 2014, eligible young people who were in foster care at age 18 are covered under a mandatory Medicaid pathway until age 26. In addition, youth in foster care or recently emancipated youth are specifically eligible for certain education and other services.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL34499", "sha1": "b8259fc4f6c8338470eb3677dbb5d78ea1b8dc92", "filename": "files/20150918_RL34499_b8259fc4f6c8338470eb3677dbb5d78ea1b8dc92.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL34499", "sha1": "2054c156dd5d23676e7923226ba20540ae076efd", "filename": "files/20150918_RL34499_2054c156dd5d23676e7923226ba20540ae076efd.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2651, "name": "Child Well-Being" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc820451/", "id": "RL34499_2014Oct08", "date": "2014-10-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20141008_RL34499_6f9f3d25d08a95da5dcde2d730bfcbdb8e567181.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20141008_RL34499_6f9f3d25d08a95da5dcde2d730bfcbdb8e567181.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821702/", "id": "RL34499_2012Oct01", "date": "2012-10-01", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": "This report provides background on young people in and exiting from foster care, and the federal support that is available to these youth as they transition to adulthood. It begins with a discussion of the characteristics of youth who have had contact with the child\r\nwelfare system, including those who entered care, as well as those who exited care via emancipation. The report then provides an overview of the federal foster care system, including the Chafee Foster Care Independence program (CFCIP), and provisions in federal foster care law that are intended to help prepare youth for adulthood. The report goes on to discuss other federal support\u2014through other programs\u2014for youth aging out of care in the areas of education, health care, employment, and housing.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20121001_RL34499_532a92a5697f6ffb573c4005dc2a6927b1019036.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20121001_RL34499_532a92a5697f6ffb573c4005dc2a6927b1019036.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foster home care", "name": "Foster home care" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Adoption", "name": "Adoption" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Adoptive parents", "name": "Adoptive parents" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc815352/", "id": "RL34499_2011Aug01", "date": "2011-08-01", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110801_RL34499_3fd3d85cc2aad60613138e4d66501ea48e2541b0.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110801_RL34499_3fd3d85cc2aad60613138e4d66501ea48e2541b0.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814554/", "id": "RL34499_2008Sep05", "date": "2008-09-05", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080905_RL34499_7349bfe707fa1b6938c26f649aa68299d225aaf7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080905_RL34499_7349bfe707fa1b6938c26f649aa68299d225aaf7.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc463410/", "id": "RL34499_2008May21", "date": "2008-05-21", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Youth Transitioning From Foster Care: Background, Federal Programs, and Issues for Congress", "summary": "This report begins with a discussion of the characteristics of older foster youth in care and the types of outcomes experienced by youth who have recently emancipated. The report then provides an overview of the federal foster care system, including the Chafee Foster Care Independence program, and provisions in federal foster care law that are intended to help prepare youth for adulthood. The report goes on to discuss other federal support -- through other programs -- for youth aging out of care in the areas of education, health care, employment, and housing. The report seeks to understand how states vary in their approaches to serving older youth in care and those who are recently emancipated. The report also intends to demonstrate that, despite negative outcomes for the group on average, many former foster youth are engaged in decisions about the services they receive and display resiliency. The report concludes with a discussion of issues that Congress may wish to consider, as well as pending legislation relevant to each of the issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080521_RL34499_ebcfe77bf99e20a9632ac51b57b7bd2fa7b0bc93.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080521_RL34499_ebcfe77bf99e20a9632ac51b57b7bd2fa7b0bc93.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foster home care", "name": "Foster home care" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Child welfare", "name": "Child welfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Youth", "name": "Youth" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Federal aid to youth services", "name": "Federal aid to youth services" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Domestic Social Policy" ] }