What Happens Next? Life after
Aging-Out of Foster Care
Tymothy L. Belseth—ETV/Youth Specialist
Jennifer J. Elizalde—Region 8 Youth Specialist
Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
Where are they?
 More likely to live in the least “family-like” settings
 Many have “goal” of “APPLA”
 More than 28,000 do “emancipate” each year
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1,577 emancipated from Texas in FY 2012
 12-22% become homeless from day one
From: AFCARS Data, and studies by Courtney, Wulczyn, Hislop, Casey
Educational Outcomes
 One study found that 37% had not finished high
school nor a GED
 Used GED to complete education at 6 times the rate
of general population
(NW Alumni Study, Casey Family Programs)
 Experienced 7 or more school changes
 Only 1.8% completed a bachelors degree
Other Outcomes
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Less likely to be employed
Poverty level incomes
No Heath Insurance
More likely to have children out of marriage
Post traumatic stress rate double war veterans
Serious untreated health conditions
Higher rate of becoming victims of crime, or engaging in
criminal activity—over 270,000 American prisoners were
once in foster care
Tools for Upward Mobility: Transitional Living
Services, Resources, and Benefits for Individuals 14-23
Transitional Living Services include:
Medicaid Healthcare Coverage (up to age 26)
Youth Leadership Councils and Activities
Driver’s Education
Tuition and Fee Waivers
Post Secondary Education Partnerships
Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)
Extended Care/Return to Care
Supervised Independent Living Programs
Transition Centers
DFPS and Texas Workforce Commission Partnership
Employment Preference Letter for Former Foster Care Youth
Healthcare Coverage
Former Foster Care Children Program (FFCC)
Former Texas foster youth who age of care at age18 are
eligible for the Former Foster Care Children Program
which is Medicaid healthcare coverage. This healthcare is
available until the month of their 26th birthday and is part of
the federal Affordable Care Act.
Youth must have received Medicaid in Texas in order to
qualify. The FFCC Program is administered by HHSC.
Young Adults may call 2-1-1 for assistance or visit
www.yourtexasbenefits.com to apply.
Youth Leadership and
Development Activities
 Local, state, and national youth leadership
activities
 Youth and alumni serve as advisors/partners in
all efforts
 Youth specialists in all regions (alumni of care)
 Youth leadership council (statewide/regional)
Education: Tuition and Fee
Waiver
State College Tuition and Fee Waiver, enacted 1993 and
1997, revised 2009.
Foster Youth Eligibility: Must be in DFPS conservatorship on or after:
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The day preceding the student's 18th birthday;
The day of the student's 14th birthday, if also eligible for adoption on or after
that day;
The date the student graduates from high school or receives the equivalent of
a high school diploma
Must enroll in an institution of higher education at a state supported
college or university as an undergraduate no later than the student's
25th birthday
The waiver is also available to students who enroll in a dual credit
course or other course in which they may earn joint high school and
college credit. Must be in DFPS conservatorship on the day of
enrollment.
Education: Tuition & Fee
Waiver-cont.
Adopted Youth:
 Adoption from DFPS occurred on or after September 1,
2009.
 Adopted from DFPS and subject of an adoption assistance
agreement for monthly financial assistance and Medicaid
(there is no age limit to enroll in higher education).
Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC)
 PMC of a youth (from DFPS) was granted to an individual
other than the student’s parent on or after Sept 1, 2009.
Education: Post Secondary
Partnerships
 College partnerships
 Scholarships for residential housing
 University of Texas at Arlington
 University of Texas-Pan American
 Texas State University
 Sam Houston State University
 Mentoring for PAL students
 Austin Community College
 Texas State University
 Leadership camps and conferences
 Statewide
 PAL Teen Conference
 PAL College Conference (TAMU Commerce)
Education: Education and
Training Vouchers (ETV)
 Education Training Voucher (ETV) Program
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Federally funded program that provides up to $5,000 a year to:
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Youth in foster care who are at least 16 and likely to remain in care until
18
Youth who aged out of foster care but are not yet age 21
Youth who are not yet age 21 and adopted after age 16
Youth not yet age 21 and enter into Permanency Care Assistance at age
16
Students must be enrolled at least 6 hours per semester
 ETV pays for the cost of attendance (determined by the school) and
includes housing, tuition and fees, (if applicable) transportation,
books, supplies, computers, child care, etc.
 ETV is available to youth who enroll in dual credit courses or other
courses in which they may earn joint high school and college credit.
 ETV is contracted to Baptist Child and Family Services to process ETV
applications and payment vouchers. The website is
www.texasETV.com and the main phone # is 1-877-268-4063
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Extended Care Program
The Extended Foster Care Program is a voluntary
program and is available to Young Adults:
 Ages 18 up to age 22 and regularly attending high school
or a GED program; or
 Ages 18 to 21 years of age and attending or participating
in:
 An institution of higher education, postsecondary
vocational or technical program;
 A program or activity that promotes or removes
barriers to employment;
 Employed at least 80 hours a month; or
 If the youth is incapable of performing all of the above
activities due to a documented medical condition
Supervised Independent Living
(SIL)
 SIL is a component of the Extended Foster Care Program
 Must agree to one of the activities required for the Extended
Foster Care program
 Less Restrictive/Non-Traditional Living Arrangement
 Receives minimal case management & support services
 Allowed increased responsibility and less supervision
 Application & approval processed through State SIL
Coordinator.
Supervised Independent Living
(SIL)
 Eligibility
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Will age out of foster care & agrees to remain or return to the
Extended Foster Care program.
Must demonstrate a reasonable level of responsibility
After aging-out of care, return from a Trial Independence period
before age 21
 SIL Settings (Contract Providers)
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Apartments
College Dorms
Non-College Dorms
Shared Housing
Host Homes
Return for Extended Care
 Young adults may return for the Extended Foster Care
program, including SIL, during the Trial Independence
period or afterwards up until they turn age 21
 Contact regional state PAL staff for information.
Transition Centers
17 One-Stop Youth Transition Centers
 Services vary from region to region and may provide co-location
opportunities for local community partners such as local workforce,
community colleges and universities. A list of Centers is available
on the Texas Youth Connection website at:
https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/txyouth/resources/local/default.asp#ce
nters
Transition Center Services may include
 Employment Assistance
 Food and Housing Assistance
 Education Support
 Case Management
 Counseling
 Access to additional resources
Workforce Partnership
DFPS and Texas Workforce Commission/Local Workforce
Board Agreement
 Share regional labor market information;
 Coordinate priority of workforce services for foster youth
to help achieve PAL education and employment
objectives;
 Access summer youth employment opportunities;
 Career exploration, job readiness, and job search classes;
 Apprenticeship and internship opportunities;
 Housing referrals
Employment Preference for
Former Foster Youth
 State agencies are required to give employment
preference to former foster youth who were in PMC
of DFPS on the day preceding their 18th birthday.
Employment preference is over other applicants for
the same position who do not have greater
qualifications.
 The employment preference is only available to
youth age 25 and younger.
More Information…
 Transitional Living Services
www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Transit
ional_Living/default.asp
 DFPS Youth-Friendly website
www.texasyouthconnection.org
 Lead PAL Staff Contact List
www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Youth_and_Young_Adults/Prepar
ation_For_Adult_Living/PAL_coordinators.asp
 Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)
www.texasETV.com
 Facebook
www.facebook/TexasYouthConnection