Extended Foster Care
Family Partnerships strives to help our youth transition smoothly into adulthood. Following legislation to improve the opportunities for success for youth in foster care, children turning 18 years of age may continue to remain in extended foster care until age 21. As long as the youth is making progress toward an agreed-upon plan, whether to continue their education, obtain a job or participate in a program designed to give them job skills, the young adults are welcome to stay in foster care beyond their 18th birthday.
To remain in foster care, youth must have lived in licensed foster care on their 18th birthday and be doing one of the following activities:
- Attending high school or working on obtaining a GED.
- Enrolled in college or vocational education program.
- Employed at least 80 hours per month.
- Participating in a program designed to promote or eliminate barriers to employment.
- Have a diagnosed and documented disability that would prevent the young adult from participating in these programs.
Additional Requirements
- Lead transition planning meetings designed to help map out their goals for the future along with steps to accomplishing those goals
- Live in a supervised living arrangement.
- Meet monthly with a caseworker.
Sometimes our youth will leave this system of support after they turn 18. Any youth who qualified for extended foster care when they were 18 can return until they are 21, or in the case of a youth with a disability, eligibility ends when they reach age 22.
To determine your eligibility for extended foster care, please call 321-752-4650, extension 3025 or 3028. To submit a request for extended foster care, email Intake and Placement at intake@brevardfp.org or contact us.
