Extension of Foster Care Beyond Age 18

Young people leaving foster care are often at different levels of development in their transition to adulthood. With the growing recognition that most young people are not fully prepared for self-sufficiency at age 18, States offer a variety of programs, including foster care, to this population. This publication presents State laws and policies regarding services and assistance that support youth in making the transition to successful adulthood and that provide youth the ability to voluntarily extend their placement in out-of-home care. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law. Summaries of laws on this topic for all individual States and U.S. territories are available from the State Statutes Search page.

Suggested Citation: Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2022). Extension of foster care beyond age 18. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau. https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/extension-foster-care-beyond-age-18/

This publication is a product of the State Statutes Series prepared by Child Welfare Information Gateway. While every attempt has been made to be as complete as possible, additional information on these topics may be in other sections of a State's code as well as agency regulations, case law, and informal practices and procedures.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway