HB 2818 Summary

• Establishes an extended foster care comprehensive service model fund to provide supportive services and case management for young adults ages 17.5 to 21 in the extended foster care program, with weekly engagement, life skills training, housing assistance, and employment planning.

• Requires extended foster care success coaches with caseloads of no more than 20 young adults, with coaches needing at least an associate's degree (or equivalent experience) and age 26 or older, to support youth permanency, education, employment, and health needs.

• Mandates the Department of Child Safety establish a quality review committee to confirm eligible participants have permanent family connections, person-centered case plans, and are developing skills for independence.

• Requires the Department of Economic Security to screen and test TANF cash benefits recipients for controlled substance use during FY 2023-2024, with positive tests resulting in one-year ineligibility for unmet prescriptions.

• Establishes a homeless shelter and services fund administered by the Arizona Department of Housing to award grants to counties, cities, towns, tribes, and nonprofits for shelter and services programs for unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness in FY 2023-2024 through FY 2026-2027.