Extended Foster Care Program

1. Extended Foster Care Program Hennepin County

2. Legislation Minnesota regulations have allowed youth in foster care at age 18 the option to remain in foster care to age 21. Local funds have been the primary funding source for extended foster care. Amendments to state law passed during the 2010 legislative session ensure that extended foster care statutes conform to new federal requirements for Title IV-E claiming for this population. Changes were effective August 1, 2010.

3. Eligibility for Continued Foster Care Six months prior to the 18th birthday of a youth in foster care under Chapter 260C or 260D, counties remain required to advise youth, their parent or legal guardian, and foster parents of the availability of continued foster care benefits up to age 21.

4. Client must meet atleast one of the following conditions on an ongoing basis: • 1. Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential • 2. Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education. Youth must earn a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. • 3. Participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment • 4. Employed for at least 80 hours per month, or • 5. Incapable of doing any of the activities described above due to a documented medical condition.

5. Case Planning, Reasonable Efforts, and Verification • Social workers have responsibility to collaborate with client to create a case plan for extended care • Case plan includes an OHP and an ILS Plan *See attachment • A YTC may take the place of the ILS Plan • The plan will address: employment, vocational, education, social, and maturational needs, and to finalize the agreed upon permanency plan with the youth. • Verification of each eligibility condition must be maintained in case file and documented in SSIS.

6. Client turns 18 • The agency must have legal responsibility to place or maintain anyone over age 18 in foster care. • Court ends custody but may have jurisdiction of the plan until the client is 21.

7. Required Judicial Reviews and Determinations • When a client is in extended foster care, there is a need for court reviews and judicial determinations. • The agency must ask the court to review and make findings on the agency’s reasonable efforts to: • Ensure that foster care is the best legal arrangement for a client • Whether there is another legal option that would better meet the needs of a client for a life-long family • Assist a client in building life-long relationships with family, siblings, and other caring, safe and supportive individuals • Plan with a client to utilize supports and services that develop an appropriate set of skills necessary for successful independence after foster care.

8. Court Reviews, Administrative Reviews, and SSIS • When a client is in continuous foster care, the court must conduct court reviews of reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for a client at least every 12 months. • Administrative Reviews are completed within 180 days of the most recent court review. • Court and Administrative Reviews are documented in SSIS

9. Exit and Re-entry to Care After Age 18 • Client who cease to meet one of the eligibility conditions after attaining age 18 may be discharged from foster care. • Notice of termination of benefits and of the client’s rights to appeal under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.045, must be given to a client upon discharge.

10. Exit and Re-entry to Care After Age 18, con’t. • Under certain conditions, a client over age 18 may request return to care after they have been discharged from placement. • The client is expected to provide supporting documentation of the condition for extended foster care. • For Non-State Wards, this is to the extent funds are available and client must have been in out-of-home placement for 6 consecutive months prior to turning 18.

11. Requirements for Case Work • All ongoing case work responsibilities applicable to youth under age 18 in foster care continue for all clients in extended foster care. These requirements continue regardless of a client’s Title IV-E eligibility determination. All clients in extended care will be included in federal Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSR).

12. Transition Plans • The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 requires that, for youth who will be discharged from foster care at age 18 or older, the caseworker develop a personalized transition plan, as directed by the youth.

13. Transition Plan … • The transition plan must be developed and executed during the 90-day period immediately prior to the date a client will be discharged. The transition plan must be as detailed as the client may elect and include specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services, work force supports and employment services. *See attachment • Hennepin County must also provide the client with appropriate contact information if they need more information or need help with a crisis situation through age 21.

14. Health Care Directive, POA, Proxies Effective October 1, 2010, a client’s transition plan must also include information on the importance of designating someone to make health care treatment decisions on behalf of a client in foster care if the client is unable to do so and does not have or want a relative who would otherwise be designated under state law to make such decisions. Client also must be given information about how to execute a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar documents recognized under state law.