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1 1 (March 13, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveopp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congre &conaI fles hnfarming Ih leg ilive deba 3rch Service since 1914 0 Updated March 13, 2024 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Children are removed from families and placed into foster care due to incidents of abuse, neglect, or other family crisis. In FY2021, about 147,000 young people ages 14 or older spent at least one day in foster care. More than 19,000 young people emancipated (or aged out) in FY2021, meaning they reached the state legal age of adulthood or end of foster care-typically age 18 or an older age, up to 21, if the state extends care-without having been reunited with family or placed in a new permanent family. The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (hereinafter, Chafee program) provides funds to states, territories, and Indian tribal entities (hereinafter, states) to address poor education, employment, and other outcomes experienced by many such young people as they transition to adulthood. The Chafee program is 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 similar program created in 1985. The Chafee statute has been amended five times, most recently in 2018 (Title VII, Division E of P.L. 115-123) to expand eligibility to more children and youth. Supports The Chafee program provides states with flexible funding for the purpose of helping young people who experienced foster care at age 14 or older (see Table 1). States have considerable discretion in administering the program, but they are expected to provide an extensive range of supports and services, such as educational assistance, career services, life skills training, and preventive health activities. States may dedicate as much as 30% of their funding toward room or board for youth ages 18 to 21 (or until age 23 in states that have extended foster care). This includes room or board for youth pursuing higher education. Education and Training Voucher (ETV) 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 a Chafee-eligible youth to attend an institution of higher education, as these terms are defined by the Higher Education Act (HEA). HEA defines cost of attendance as the costs for tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and child care, among other expenses. HEA defines institution of higher education to include many public or nonprofit, for- profit, and vocational institutions of higher education. Table I. Chafee Program Federal Eligibility Criteria Federal Eligibility Categories Children and youth in foster care at age 14 or older. Youth who aged out of foster care and are ages 18-21 (or until 23 in states that extend foster care to 21). Children and youth who exited foster care at age 16 or older for kinship guardianship or adoption, until they reach age 21 (or 23 in states that extend care to 21). Children and youth who had been in foster care at age 14 or older and exited foster care for a reason besides aging out, kinship guardianship, or adoption, until they reach age 21 (or 23 in states that extend foster care to 21). Children likely to remain in foster care until age 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 HHS guidance. Young people are eligible to receive ETVs for as many as five years (until 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. States have considerable flexibility in implementing the ETV program (e.g., adding extra eligibility or application requirements). The Chafee statute directs state child welfare agencies to take steps to prevent duplicating benefits under the ETV program and other federal programs. Funding The Chafee statute authorizes $143 million annually in mandatory funding for the general Chafee program. ETV funding is authorized separately on a discretionary basis at up to $60 million annually, though the appropriated amount has generally been less (e.g., about $44 million in FY2023). The Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act (enacted as Division X of P.L. 116-260) provided program flexibilities and an additional $400 million for the Chafee program in FY2021, $50 million of which was to be used for the purposes of the ETV program. To receive funds, a state must submit a five-year plan (and annual plan updates) to HHS that describes how it intends to carry out its Chafee-funded program and affirms that it meets the law's requirements. The Chafee statute authorizes tribal entities with an approved Title IV-E plan to similarly apply for funding. As of FY2023, the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and seven tribes were receiving Chafee or ETV funds.

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