This bill lets States choose to extend foster care support and services for young people past 18. States may allow youth to stay in care or re-enter care until an age the State picks (19, 20, 21, or 22). The bill changes parts of the Social Security Act (title IV, part E) to add these options. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must give guidance and technical help to States. HHS must also issue guidance, in consultation with the Department of Labor, so caseworkers can connect eligible youth to workforce programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
No publicly available information on federal costs or savings is included in the bill text.
The bill includes findings that each extra year in extended foster care is linked to better outcomes. The findings say extra years are associated with: about an 8% higher chance of finishing high school; a 5–12% higher chance of enrolling in college; about 1.5 more months employed between ages 21–23; an average of about $650 more in bank accounts; lower food insecurity (about 21% less); higher earnings of about $2,300–$3,200 between ages 21–23; about 19% lower odds of homelessness or couch-surfing at ages 21–23; lower likelihood of pregnancy at ages 19 and 21 (7% and 12% less); and about 28% lower odds of recent arrest.
No publicly available information on opponents' views or objections is included in the bill text.