Covering Extended Foster Care DC 2 states extend foster care to age 22 41 states and DC extend foster care to age 21 3 states extend foster care to age 20 3 states extend foster care to age 19 1 states end foster care at age 18 Conditions and criteria to remain in extended Federal funding State funding Blended funding foster care beyond age 18 vary state by state. June 2018
Age Limit of Foster Care 22 21 State Massachusetts Texas Funding Mechanism Blended State funding for services between ages 21 and 22. Blended State funding for services between ages 21 and 22. Requirements for Extended Foster Care Services The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families may choose to continue to serve youth on a case by case basis up to the age of 22. The choice to continue foster care services is based on the youth s education and/or rehabilitative needs, the youth s willingness to enter into a voluntary care agreement with the department, and the availability of state resources. Regularly attending high school or a program leading to a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED). Alabama Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Alaska State The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services can apply to the court for 1 year extensions of foster care for youth up to the age of 21. Arizona State Youth can sign a voluntary agreement to remain in foster care until the age of 21. Arkansas Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; California Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
Colorado State The court shall determine if the youth is prepared to transition out of foster care or would benefit from remaining in foster care up to the age of 21. In making this determination, the court shall examine whether the youth is: Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; or Employed for at least 80 hours per month. If a youth's medical condition makes him or her incapable of engaging in any of the activities listed above, the applicable county department shall maintain information about the youth's condition in the youth's case plan. Connecticut State Full-time attendance in secondary school, technical school, college or state-accredited job training program and consents to remain in care. Voluntary requests to continue/reenter in foster care and the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families determines the youth will benefit from remaining in foster care. Delaware State The Delaware of Services for Children, Youth, and Families may petition the court to extend jurisdiction over a youth until age 21. District of Columbia Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Florida State Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
Unable to participate in programs or activities listed above due to a physical, intellectual, emotional, or psychiatric condition that limits participation. Any such barrier to participation must be supported by documentation in the child s case file or school or medical records of a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric condition that impairs the child s ability to perform one or more life activities. Georgia State Youth are eligible to sign themselves back into foster care and remain until the age of 21. Hawaii Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Illinois Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Kansas State If a court approved plan to transition out of foster care has not been approved, the youth may remain in foster care until a transition plan has been approved or the youth reaches the age of 21. Kentucky State Youth may, before the age of 19, request to the court to remain in foster care until the age of 21. Louisiana State If funding is available, youth, up to age 21, who are currently enrolled as a full time high school student or seeking an equivalent credential are eligible to remain in foster care.
Maine Federal Is enrolled in secondary school or its equivalent or is enrolled in postsecondary or career and technical school; Is participating in a program or activity that promotes employment or removes barriers to Is employed for at least 80 hours per month; or Is found to be in special circumstances, including but not limited to being incapable of qualifying under the activities listed above due to a documented medical or behavioral health condition. Maryland Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution that provides post-secondary or vocational education; incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the child. Massachusetts Blended Federal funding for services between ages 18 and 21. Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Michigan Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education; Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to Incapable of doing any part of the activities listed above due to a medical condition. This assertion of incapacity must be supported by regularly updated information in the youth's case plan. Minnesota Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education;
Incapable of doing any of the activities listed above due to a medical condition. Mississippi State The Mississippi Division of Family may petition the court to retain jurisdiction over a youth until the age of 21. Missouri State The Missouri Children s Division, a juvenile officer, or a youth may petition the court to retain jurisdiction over said youth until the age of 21. Montana State Youth may remain in state funded foster care beyond up the age of 21 if the youth is currently at grade level, but will not graduate from high school until after their 18 th birthday; is at current grade level but is having academic difficulties or missing credits and will not graduate before their 18th birthday; or is below grade level (one or more years behind his or her age group) and is more likely to graduate from high school if they remain in the foster care setting Nebraska Federal Completing secondary education or an educational program leading to an equivalent credential; Employed for at least eighty hours per month; Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to or incapacity is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the young adult. Nevada State Upon reaching the age of 18, youth may enroll in the state s Court Jurisdiction Program and continue to remain in state custody and receive foster care services until the age of 21. New Jersey State The youth is in a supervised or funded out of home placement and agrees to continue in foster care until age 21. The youth has not completed a high school diploma or GED or is receiving post-secondary education or vocational training and the department deems it in the youth s best interested to remain in foster care until age 21. The youth has need of special services, such a teen parent. New York Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution which provides post secondary or vocational education;
incapability is supported by regularly updated written or recorded information in the case plan of the child. North Carolina State Youth is less than 21 years of age and is a full-time student or has been accepted for enrollment as a full-time student for the next school term pursuing a high school diploma or its equivalent; a course of study at the college level; or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit him for gainful employment. Youth must sign a voluntary Continuing Residential Support (CARS) agreement to remain in foster care with a county department of social services. North Dakota Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution which provides post secondary or vocational education; incapability is supported by regularly updated written or recorded information in the case plan of the child. Ohio Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Enrolled in an institution which provides post secondary or vocational education; incapability is supported by regularly updated written or recorded information in the case plan of the child. Oregon Federal Is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Is enrolled in an institution or program that provides post-secondary or vocational education; Is participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, Is employed for at least 80 hours per month; or Is incapable of doing any of the activities listed above due to a medical condition, which incapability is supported by regularly updated documentation.
Pennsylvania Federal Completing secondary education or an equivalent credential; Participating in a program actively designed to promote or remove barriers to Employed for at least eighty hours per month; or Incapable of doing any of the activities listed above due to a medical or behavioral health condition, which is supported by regularly updated information in the permanency plan of the child. Rhode Island State Youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) or functional developmental disabilities (DD), as defined by the state, may remain in foster care until age 21. South Carolina State Youth are eligible to remain in foster care under court jurisdiction for the purposes of education and/or correctional efforts up to the age of 21. South Dakota State Youth may be allowed to continue in placement until completion of the 12 th grade if the child is regularly attending school full-time. This placement shall terminate on completion of the twelfth grade or when the child attains age 21, whichever occurs first. Tennessee Federal Is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; Is enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education; Is not capable of doing any of the activities listed above due to a medical condition, including a developmental or intellectual condition, which incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the Family Permanency Plan of the young adult. Texas Blended Federal funding for services between ages 18 and 21. Attending high school or a program leading to a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED); Attending college or other institutions of higher learning; Participating in a program or activity that promotes or removes barriers to Employed for at least 80 hours a month or Are incapable of doing any of the allowed activities listed above due to a documented medical condition. Utah State Youth can remain in foster care up to age 21 if court ordered. Virginia State A local department of social services or child placement agency, may, with a court order, arrange for a youth to remain in permanent foster care until the age of 21. Youth can enter into a voluntary agreement to remain in in the care of a county/local social services board or child placement agency until the age of 21. Washington Federal Enrolled in a secondary education program or a secondary education equivalency program;
Enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program, or has applied for and can demonstrate that he or she intends to timely enroll in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program; Participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to Employed for eighty hours or more per month; or Not able to engage in any of the activities listed above due to a documented medical condition. West Virginia Federal Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential; or Enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education Wisconsin State Youth can remain in foster care if enrolled in secondary education seeking a high school diploma or equivalent or has an individualized education program and is enrolled in secondary or vocational school until age 21. Wyoming State Youth may remain in foster care until the age of 21 by court order. 20 19 Indiana Federal Employed; Attending school or a vocational or educational certification or degree program; or Incapable of performing any of the activities listed above due to a medical condition documented by regularly updated information in the older youth's current case plan. New Hampshire State Youth may remain in state funded foster care up to the age of 20 to complete a high school diploma or GED/equivalent. Oklahoma State Youth may remain in voluntary foster care when the parent or legal guardian requests the youth remain in care, or when the youth requests to remain in care up to age 20. Idaho State The youth must have already been found to be IV-E eligible prior the youth s 18th birthday; and The youth must be working full-time towards a secondary education. This can be accomplished in the form of traditional high school, alternative high school or a GED/Equivalency; and Youth must be on track to graduate by age 19; and Youth must remain in a licensed foster care home or facility; and
18 Youth must complete and sign a Mutual Agreement for Youth Turning 18 Years of Age form immediately upon reaching their 18th birthday. (Youth are unable to sign legal agreement prior to the 18th birthday). Iowa State Is in full-time attendance at an accredited school pursuing a course of study leading to a high school diploma; Is attending an instructional program leading to a high school equivalency diploma; or Has been identified by the director of special education of the area education agency as a child requiring special education. Vermont State Youth may remain in foster care if they are completing a secondary education or attending vocational training up to the age of 19. New Mexico 6/18/2018