Increasing Awareness of Support for Older Foster Youth
The Imprint is highlighting each of the policy recommendations made this year by the participants of the Foster Youth Internship Program, a group of eight former foster youth who have completed congressional internships.
The annual program is overseen by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that raises awareness about the needs of children without families. Each of the participants crafted a policy recommendation during their time in Washington, D.C.
Today we highlight the recommendation from Nadia Goforth, a graduate of the University of Washington.
The Proposal
Goforth proposes that Congress and the executive branch work to ensure that older youth in foster care are aware of federal support available to them under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, which can include help with affordable housing, the cost of college and more.
She asks that Congress require states to “notify youth about available Chafee services” every year starting at age 14, and that the Department of Health and Human Services work with people who have experienced foster care to develop a report advising states on the best practices for notifying youth about Chafee support.
The Argument
Less than 25% of eligible youth receive Chafee independent living services and just over one third of eligible youth received Chafee college aid, Goforth notes. Recent testimony before Congress suggests that these services are underutilized because many older foster youth are unaware of them.
In Their Own Words
“When I graduated high school, the adults I relied on vanished, and I couldn’t attend my chosen college due to a lack of funds. I was unaware of Extended Foster Care and transitional supports, and social workers did not respond to my requests for financial assistance.”
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