Extending foster care recognizes the development of youth and the arbitrary nature of assigning age 18 as the departure date. For many youth who have extensive experience in foster care or severely compromised relationships with family; the options are limited. Extending foster care provides the kinds of support that many youth experience as they transition into adulthood such as financial support, a place to live, guidance and mentoring, and planning for the future. Most importantly, it provides a safety net for youth to ease into adulthood or to experience it and come back for more support.
Topics include:
- Eligibility for extended foster care
- Legal processes for extended foster care, including findings and orders for court reports
- Focus on developmental needs of transition-age youth and emerging adults
- Practice growth working with voluntary youth and emerging adults
- Effects of trauma and foster care
Probation officers will be better positioned to execute the technical requirements of extended foster care and meet the needs of transition-age youth and emerging adults.