OLYMPIA — Legislation passed late today by the Senate would improve access to extended foster care support to ages 18-21 for older youths who are aging out of the traditional foster care system.
“Youth who are aging out of traditional foster care face major obstacles like finding stable housing and dealing with food insecurity, during what might be the most pivotal years of their lives,” said Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Auburn), sponsor of SB 5908. “During these make-or-break years, when youth must learn to live on their own and by their own means, support services are critically urgent, more now than ever before.”
SB 5908 eases and promotes access to the extended foster care program by requiring DCYF to fully inform youths who are aging out of traditional foster care of the availability of extended support, from range of benefits to incentives and requirements for eligibility and transforms the program’s current opt-in requirement to opt out, providing automatic eligibility unless a youth chooses to decline it. The bill also creates an incentive program to encourage young people to continue or pursue education and employment.
“The state has long recognized the importance of providing life-changing support for those in foster care,” Wilson said. “The state should likewise recognize the folly of arbitrarily suspending or limiting such vital support at an age when it may be needed most.”
