The following resources provide more information on Federal and State efforts to support youth in out-of-home care past age 18. Resources include State and local examples.
Extended Foster Care
Brevard Family Partnership (2017)
Describes requirements for youth to remain in the foster care system beyond age 18 while planning for their future in terms of education, a job, or another life skills program.
Extended Foster Care Housing, Services, and Supports (PDF - 692 KB)
University of Florida, Center for Child Welfare (2013)
Overviews the extended foster care housing and services programs in 18 states that currently have federally funded extended foster care. The report also examines the types of availability for housing programs and supports.
Extending Foster Care Beyond 18
National Conference of State Legislatures (2017)
Explains the provision of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 that allows states the option to continue providing foster care payments for children up to 21. The resource also provides statutory or administrative code and agency policy provision for states that have taken advantage of this provision.
Implementation of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008: Working Document
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Provides a reference for stakeholders interested in locating Children's Bureau policy, guidance, and other implementation activities related to the Fostering Connections Act, including the option to extend eligibility for title IV-E payments to age 21.
Success Beyond 18: Extending Foster Care Beyond 18: Getting Started (PDF - 430 KB)
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2013)
Helps state leaders explore their options for expanding foster care support to age 21. The brief includes information on questions to ask, what data to review, and who to involve in the planning process while navigating the Fostering Connections Act and designing effective programs for youth in foster care.
Success Beyond 18: Extending Foster Care Beyond 18: Housing Options for Young Adults (PDF - 471 KB)
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2014)
Highlights housing options that states can consider as they plan to extend foster care beyond age 18. Ensuring that young adults transitioning from foster care have access to housing is especially critical given the high rates of homelessness that these young people experience.
Success Beyond 18: Re-examining the Foster Care Review Process: Extended Foster Care as a Catalyst for Improved Practices and Better Outcomes (PDF - 471 KB)
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2013)
Provides guidance on implementing quality oversight and review processes for young adults in extended foster care. The brief focuses on establishing case oversight and review processes that include youth in developmentally appropriate ways, maximizing their opportunity for success as they transition out of care.
Supporting Youth in Foster Care: Research-Based Policy Recommendations for Executive and Legislative Officials in 2017 (PDF - 570 KB)
Child Trends (2017)
Explores the state of foster care and provides recommendations to policymakers interested in supporting youth in foster care. This brief includes a section on the extension of foster care beyond 18 and states that youth who extend past 18 have better outcomes, which translates into cost benefits for society.
State and local examples
Do the Benefits of Extending Foster Care to Age 21 Outweigh the Costs? Evidence from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin (PDF - 493 KB)
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2015)
Examines extended foster care for youth through age 21 in Illinois as compared to programs in Iowa and Wisconsin that at the time served youth until age 18. Results showed with the extended program, youth were more likely to attend college, less likely to become pregnant or homeless, and less likely to become involved with the criminal justice system.
Extended Foster Care
Florida Department of Children and Families (2014)
Outlines requirements for participation in Florida's Extended Foster Care program that allows youth in care to remain in the system beyond age 18. The information includes details on possible living arrangements and provides additional links and resources to learn about extending care.
Extended Foster Care
Texas Department of Health and Human Services
Describes the extended foster care program in Texas, which allows youth in foster care to remain in the system beyond age 18. Includes requirements to stay in care, forms, and other information foster youth might need to know if they're planning on participating in the extended program.
Extended Foster Care in California: Youth and Caseworker Perspectives (PDF - 695 KB)
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2015)
Examines attitudes towards and knowledge about California's extended foster care program, which allows youth to remain in foster care until age 21. The issue brief looks at youths' motivations to participate in the program, caseworker perceptions of their motivations, youths' knowledge of the extended program, and caseworker perceptions of their knowledge and attitudes toward the extended care program.
Extended Foster Care Program
Independence for Washington State Foster Youth
Reviews Washington State's program for extended foster care, which provides an opportunity for youth to continue receiving foster care services beyond age 18. The site lists services, such as transitional living services, case management, and referrals that may be available and includes eligibility information and how to apply.
Extended Foster Care to Age 21
Minnesota Department of Human Services (2016)
Explains Minnesota's extended foster care program for youth up to age 21, including an overview, eligibility, benefits, and links to additional resources and more.
Extension of Foster Care
Tennessee Department of Children's Services
Provides information about Tennessee's Extension of Foster Care program, which allows youth to remain in care up to age 21. The site gives information on reasons to extend care, benefits available such as education vouchers and living allowance, and other supports and services provided by the program.
Foster Care Extension Overview
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Describes Michigan's extended foster care program and discusses eligibility, support services, and how to apply.
Housing for Extended Foster Care
Know Before You Go
Discusses housing for youth who remain in foster care in California under the state's extended care program and provides information on where youth can live and what kinds of assistance is available to youth who extend care.
Keeping Your DYFS Case Open Until 21 in New Jersey: The Experiences of Young People Like You [Video]
New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services
Features interviews of youth talking about the benefits of keeping their case open past age 18 and receiving voluntary services, including housing, financial, transportation, life skills, employment, education, Medicaid, and other services.
Youth at Risk of Homelessness: Identifying Key Predictive Factors Among Youth Aging Out of Foster Care in Washington State (PDF - 377 KB)
Shah, Liu, Mancusco, Marshall, Felver, Lucenko, & Huber (2015)
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Research and Data Analysis Division
Summarizes the results of a study that identified key risk and protective factors associated with youth homelessness in the year after youth age out of foster care. This report uses a predictive model that involved input from subject matter experts, various data elements, and a refinement of the current statistical model in Washington State.