HB18-1319 Summary

• Establishes services for former foster care youth ages 18-21 to support their transition to self-sufficient adulthood, including assistance with education, employment, housing, mental health care, and financial management.

• Allows county departments to coordinate extended services for former foster care youth who request support and may redirect existing child welfare funding to create a "Services for a Successful Adulthood" fund.

• Creates a Former Foster Care Youth Steering Committee to develop a long-term implementation plan by January 1, 2020, with recommendations for sustainable service delivery through age 21 or potentially later.

• Authorizes the Department of Local Affairs to help secure housing vouchers and security deposits for eligible former foster care youth experiencing homelessness, and requires higher education institutions to explore tuition assistance and fee waivers.

• Appropriates $30,000 for fiscal year 2018-19 to the Department of Human Services Division of Child Welfare for administration and implementation.