It’s a common question for those navigating the landscape of child welfare: is a foster program the same as foster care? The terms are often used interchangeably, yet understanding the nuances is crucial, especially when considering programs like Extended Foster Care. This article aims to clarify this distinction, focusing on how initiatives like California’s Extended Foster Care program, established through Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12), build upon and extend traditional foster care to better serve young adults.
Foster care, at its core, is a system designed to provide temporary homes and support for children and teenagers who cannot safely remain with their biological families. This can be due to various reasons, including parental challenges, neglect, or abuse. Foster care offers a safe and nurturing environment with trained caregivers, aiming to provide stability and support while efforts are made to reunify children with their families or find alternative permanent solutions.
The term “foster program,” however, is broader and often refers to specific initiatives or frameworks within the larger foster care system. These programs are designed to address particular needs or age groups within the foster care population. Extended Foster Care, like that implemented by California’s AB 12, is a prime example of such a program.
Assembly Bill 12, enacted in California, demonstrates how a “foster program” functions as an extension of traditional foster care. Driven by the Federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, AB 12 allows eligible youth in California’s child welfare and probation systems to continue receiving foster care benefits and support up to the age of 21. This is a significant expansion from the previous age limit, recognizing the unique challenges faced by young adults transitioning out of foster care at 18.
Key aspects of Extended Foster Care (EFC) under AB 12 include:
- Extended Age Range: Youth who meet eligibility criteria can remain in foster care and receive support until age 21. This provides a safety net during a critical transitional period into adulthood.
- Re-entry Option: Recognizing that the path to independence isn’t always linear, AB 12 allows youth to leave EFC and re-enter the program later, as long as they are under 21 and still meet eligibility requirements.
- Participation Criteria: To remain eligible for EFC, young adults must engage in certain activities, such as employment, education, vocational training, or programs designed to remove barriers to employment. This encourages self-sufficiency and skill-building.
- Extended Financial Assistance: AB 12 also extended Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments (Kin-GAP) and Adoption Assistance Payments (AAP) up to age 21 for eligible youth, providing continued financial support for those in kinship or adoptive placements.
Therefore, to answer the initial question, a “foster program” is not fundamentally different from “foster care” but rather represents a focused and often specialized approach within the broader foster care system. Extended Foster Care is a specific program designed to address the needs of older youth in care, extending the duration and support mechanisms of traditional foster care to ease the transition to adulthood. It’s a testament to the evolving understanding of youth development and the recognition that continued support beyond age 18 can significantly improve outcomes for young people with foster care experience.
For further information and details about Extended Foster Care in California, resources like the Extended Foster Care County Contact List and publications like ACL11-69 Extension of Foster Care Beyond Age 18: Part One from the California Department of Social Services offer valuable insights and guidance.
