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1 1 (April 19, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedas0001 and id is 1 raw text is: C I Sos aarch Service rif laws tiebaw ~ Updated April19, 2021 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Background Children enter fos ter care after experiencing abuse or neglect, or due to some other circumstance thatprevents themfrom safely remaining with their families. In FY2019, about 155,000 teens and young adults spent at least one day in foster care. Ofthosewho left care during that year, more than 20,000 aged out or were emancipated Generally this means these youthreached a state's legal age of adulthood, usually 18, without having been reunited with their families or placed in new permanent families. The John H. Chafee Foster Care Programfor Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee program) provides funds to states, territories, and Indian tribal entities (states) to address poor education, employment, and other outcomes experienced by many such foster youth as they transition to adulthood. The Chafeeprogramis authorized under Title IV-E, Section 477 of the Social Security Act (SSA). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers the Chafee program. Formerly known as the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, it was established by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-169), and succeeded a s imilar programcreated in 1985. The Chafee statute has been amended five times, notably in 2002 (Title II, P.L. 107-133) to include the Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program and in 2018 (Title VII, Division E of P.L. 115-123) to focus supports more clearly on youth who spend time in foster care at age 14 or older even if they do not emancipate. Supports The Chafee programprovides funds to states to assistthem in offering supportive services for youth who experience foster care at age 14 or older, including former foster youth up to age 21. States are expected to use Chafee funds to provide a fullrange of services and supports intended to help eligible youth, such as educational as sistance, career exploration, mentoring, andpreventive health activities, among other services. States can dedicate as much as 30% of their funding towardroomor board for youth ages 18 to 21 (and up to age 23 in states thathave extended foster care). This includes roomor board for youth who attend institutions ofhigher education. Room or board is not defined in statutebuttypically includes shelter and food. Education and Training Voucher Program The Chafee statute includes a separate authorization for the ETV program. States may use ETV funding to provide a voucher-worth up to $5,000 each year or the cost of attendance (whichever is less)-for aChafee-eligible youth to attend an institution ofhigher education, as these terms are defined by the Higher Education Act (HEA). HEA defines costofattendance as the costs for tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, and child care, among other expenses. HEA defines institution ofhigher education to include traditionalhigher education institutions (e.g., public or private nonprofit colleges) as well as other postsecondaiy institutions (e.g., postsecondary vocational schools). Further, the Chafee statute directs state child welfare agencies to take steps to prevent duplicating benefits under the ETV programand other federal programs. Youth are eligible to receive ETVs for as many as five years (up to age 26) so long as they are making satisfactory progress toward completing their education and regardless of whether they attend in consecutive years. Youth may attend on either a full-time or part-time basis. Between approximately 16,500 and 17,000 youth have received a voucher in each year from2011 to 2017. A forthcoming HHS study of the ETV programexamines how nine states administer the program. Initial findings indicate that former foster youth with an ETV are more likely to enroll and persist in college comparedto peers without an ETV. Eligibility The Chafee statute's purpose areas outline eligibility for the program. (See Table 1.) The programis available to current and former foster youth ages 14 to 21, and the statute specifies that states extending foster care to age 21 may provide Chafee supports to age 23. The law also specifies that supports under the programare to be made available to Indian children on the same basis as other children. As noted, eligible youth may receive EIVs until age 26. Table I. Eligibility for the Chafee Program Eligibility Categories . Children and youth in foster care between ages 14-21. . Youth who aged out of foster care and are between 18 and 21 (or 23 in states that extend foster care to 21). . Children and youth who left foster care at 16 or older for kinship guardianship or adoption, until they reach 21 (or 23 in states that extend foster care to 21). . Children and youth who had been in foster care between 14 and 21 and left it for some other reason besides aging out of foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoption. . Children likely to remain in care until 18, pertaining to the Chafee purpose area of providing regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally- appropriate activities. Source: Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act and HHSguidance. 9

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