Assistance for Foster Children Aging Out of the System

Foster care is supposed to be a program that will provide care for children until they can get back with their family of origin, or be adopted before the age of 18.  However, some young people don't get back with their families, and some "age out" of the system.  What's available for them?

The John Chafee Foster Care Program is a federal program to help kids transition from 18 till 21.  The money does not go to individuals, but to states through block grant programs, and the states take the money and create programs to support their young people.  This means that housing, medical and other transitional help can take different forms in different places.  There may be statewide initiatives, or local programs set up to help transitional young people.  Where do you look?

One place is the Camellia Network's searchable database of programs. Another national listing--although not complete--is one by the Child Welfare League.  Perhaps the most comprehensive is the wikispace Foster Care to Adulthood, which has links to wiki entries on foster care and aging out to each of the 50 states and some Indian tribes.  Also check the scholarship opportunities through the Orphan Foundation of America.  If you are googling for information in your state, try using the terms chaffee funds and the name of your state.


 If you live in Michigan, Julie's List provides a listing of several resources for foster kids and those aging out, and Save Our Children has a whole list of aging out resources. 

In Ohio, the wikispace Life After Foster Care outlines some useful resources.  Here's a link on Medicaid for aging out fostered young people in Ohio. 

 

Money to Help You Raise Your Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews

What is “subsidized guardianship?” It is money received to help raise children that you are fostering, as opposed to birth children or adopted children. Once, there was only money to help raise foster children that weren’t your relatives. Now, the federal and many state governments realize that grandparents, aunts and uncles need financial help when stepping into foster parenting shoes. Towards that end, the federal government passed the Kinship Caregiver Support Act, which authorizes foster care money for relatives who are raising children. Many states have adopted this, and provide money for relatives raising children.  In Ohio, you apply through the Office of Jobs and Family Services link. (866-866-3537).  There is also a Kinship Care Permancy Incentive program for extra help for poorer families (not over 300% of the poverty level). 
The Child Welfare League, AARP and others have worked together to create information for every state about the laws and financial aid available to relatives who foster their grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The Grandfact page has a drop-down menu of states on the right-hand side of the page that you can click to find financial aid and legal information for kinship fostering, and organizations in your state that can help you.

Some states have also instituted the Kinship Navigator Program, which helps relatives find out how to apply for the money and provides other types of support for child rearing, like support groups. To find out if your state has such a program, go to google and put in: “kinship navigator program” or "kinship care" (remember to use the quote marks) and the name of your state. If your state has this program, you should be able to find a link to it for more information.