Adds the following to the list of information that must be provided to emancipating foster youth: any known information regarding the child’s Indian heritage or tribal connections; any nonforensic photographs of the child or his or her family that the county possesses; and a letter that includes the child’s name and birth date, the dates during which the child was under the jurisdiction of the court and a statement that the child was a foster youth.
2008 Colo. Sess. Laws, SB 99, Chap. 329
Extends Medicaid eligibility for persons who are in the foster care system prior to emancipation. Allows a person younger than age 21 for whom the state made subsidized adoption payments when the person attained age 18 to continue to be eligible for Medicaid.
2008 Conn. Acts, SB 2, P.A. 123
Increases the number of units of affordable housing that the Next Steps Initiative shall provide for eligible households, which includes transitional foster care adults age 18 to 23, from 500 to 1,000 units.
2008 Ind. Acts, HB 1290, P.L. 143
Provides that an individual who received youth foster care may choose to receive older youth foster care until the individual reaches age 21 if he or she is working or attending a vocational program or educational program. Establishes that the Division of Family Resources may implement a transitional services plan for an individual receiving older youth foster care.
La. Acts 2008, HB 366, Act 352
Authorizes the Department of Health and Hospitals to extend to independent foster care adolescents who are not otherwise Medicaid eligible an alternative benefits package or regular Medicaid benefits under the Medical Assistance Plan. Authorizes the department to choose whether participants receive regular or alternative benefits.
2008 Mich., Pub. Acts, HB 4481, Act 215
Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a foster care independence program for young adults age 14 to 21 in foster care. The program will be designed to help them make the transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency. Requires the program to include services such as help in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, daily living skills training, training in budgeting, substance abuse prevention, smoking avoidance, nutrition education and pregnancy prevention. Provides stipends for utility deposits, security deposits and first month’s rent.
2008 Miss. Laws, SB 2601, Chap. 541
Allows continued Medicaid benefits for children adopted through a state-supported adoption agency through age 18. Authorizes the continuation of benefits until the child’s 21st birthday if benefits are found to be in the best interest of the child.
2008 N.H. Laws, HB 537, Chap. 273
Establishes a task force to study the issue of homeless teens. The task force is to investigate the number of homeless youth in the state; investigate the extent of any current or prior relationship to the Division of Children, Youth and Families; and examine the needs of homeless youth for employment, education, transportation, housing, nutrition, mental health services, medical and dental care, legal services and other support services for adults. The task force also will (1) assess the current availability and accessibility of such services, (2) research the transitional services available to young people who are moving from foster care or other service systems to adult care systems, (3) review the youth development
center master plan and identify resources or services of the center that are appropriate for homeless teenagers and (4) solicit information and testimony from youth and young adults who are or have been homeless and from agencies and organizations that provide services to homeless youth and young adults. These include school assistance and other educational programs, runaway and homeless youth programs, mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and New Hampshire Legal Assistance.
2008 N.H. Laws, HB 702, Chap. 274
Allows the court to retain jurisdiction in an abuse and neglect case up to a child’s 21st birthday, but the case shall close at the request of the child.
2008 Va. Acts, HB 149, Chap. 483
Defines an independent living arrangement as placement of a child who is at least age 16 and is in custody of a local board or licensed child-placing agency that does not include parental supervision. An independent living arrangement also includes provision of services and activities to a child in foster care who is age 16 or older but not yet age 21. Requires, for children age 14 and older, that the child’s needs and goals in specified areas be included in the written foster care plan for the child.
2008 Va. Acts. HB 1141, Chap. 187
Provides that any person committed to a local board or licensed child-placing agency may choose to discontinue receiving independent living services anytime before his or her 21st birthday. The local board shall restore independent living services at the request of that person, provided that the person has not yet reached age 21 and has entered into a written agreement with the local board or licensed child placing agency, less than 60 days after independent living services have been discontinued, regarding the terms and conditions of his or her receipt of independent living services.
Tribes
2008 Kan. Sess. Laws, SB 435, Chap.2008-169
Revises the state juvenile justice code and the state code for care of children to include in its definition of “interested party” an Indian tribe seeking to intervene in the care of the child and to include in the definition of “party” an Indian child’s tribe intervening pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Allows a person or persons designated by an Indian tribe access to the official file of a child in need of care.
Workforce
2008 Va. Acts, SB 493, Chap. 277
Requires the Department of Social Services to establish minimum training requirements and to provide educational programs for foster and adoption workers and their supervisors. Costs associated with the training requirements are to be absorbed by the department within the funds appropriated for training and assistance to local staff. Requires the Board of Social Services to approve, in foster care policy, the language of the written agreement to be entered into by local boards and licensed child-placing agencies. Also provides that such agreements shall include at a minimum a Code of Ethics and mutual responsibilities for all parties to the agreement.
2008 Va. Acts, HB 825, Chap. 133
Requires the Department of Social Services to establish minimum training requirements and to provide educational programs for foster and adoption workers.
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entered into by local boards and licensed child-placing agencies. Also provides that such agreements shall include, at a minimum, a Code of Ethics and mutual responsibilities for all parties to the agreement.