Senator Boxer: Working to Extend Foster Care

June 22 , 2007

Today in America, there are about 513,000 children in foster care.  This is a system of last resort for many of these children, offering a home or safe environment when there is nowhere else to turn, or providing a family when children have been separated from their own.

Each year, about 23,000 foster youth turn 18 and their foster care services end.  Too many have no place to go and end up leaving school or becoming unemployed. A frightening number face becoming homeless.  We need to do a better job watching out for these young people who depend on foster care so that they can have the best chance possible at a safe and productive future.

A few states have offered a model to let young people remain in foster care until they are better able to become productive adults.  I want to make this program available nationwide.  I recently introduced the Foster Care Continuing Opportunities Act, legislation that would provide federal funding to States to continue providing essential foster care services such as food, housing, and advocacy in casework to youth over the age of 18. 

My bill would help improve the services for foster care youth to help them better transition from childhood to adulthood, and it would put federal funds behind the services.  It would allow states to access federal funding to match state and county funds to provide foster care payments and related costs for foster youth 18 to 21, in the same fashion as youth under age 18. 

The legislation is a first step towards making sure that young adults who still need foster care services can get them, and that they have the resources to transition into positive and productive adulthood. 

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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