FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6222

C 34 L 18

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning expansion of extended foster care eligibility.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Carlyle, O'Ban, Frockt, Darneille, Walsh, Zeiger, Palumbo, Hasegawa, Billig, Hunt and Kuderer).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

House Committee on Appropriations

Background: The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) operates the Extended Foster Care (EFC) program, which allows an individual who is dependent and in foster care at age 18 to receive services if that individual is:

• enrolled in a secondary education program or equivalent program;

• enrolled and participating in a postsecondary academic or postsecondary vocational program, or has applied for and can demonstrate an intention to timely enroll in a postsecondary academic or vocational program;

• participating in a program or activity designed to promote employment or remove barriers to employment;

• engaged in employment for 80 or more hours per month; or

• not able to engage in the above activities due to a documented medical condition.

Continued participation in the EFC program is subject to continuing eligibility in one of these five categories. Participants may transition between categories.

The dependency court action will continue for an eligible youth who chooses to participate in the EFC program on their 18th birthday. An eligible youth may choose to participate in the EFC program after their 18th birthday and until they turn 19 years old through a voluntary placement agreement with DSHS.

A youth who has received EFC services, but lost their eligibility, may reenter the EFC program one time through a voluntary placement agreement when they meet the criteria again.

The services that youth may receive through the EFC program include foster care placement or supervised independent living setting placement, medical—including mental health, dental, independent living skills, case management through DSHS, and referrals to community resources.

In October 2017, 615 youth were receiving EFC services.

Summary: A requirement for non-minor dependents to have been in foster care at the age of 18 to be eligible for EFC services is eliminated.

The maximum age of eligibility for EFC services is increased from 19 to 21 years of age for non-minor dependents whose dependency cases are dismissed by the court.

Non-minor dependents may unenroll and re-enroll in, and foster youth may re-enter, the EFC program through a voluntary placement agreement an unlimited number of times if certain criteria are met.

Votes on Final Passage: