Service
The Extended Foster Care program provides an opportunity for young adults who were a dependent of Washington State at age 18, to voluntarily agree to continue receiving foster care services, including placement services, while working on their goals towards independence.
The dependency action will continue if the eligible youth elects to participate in the program on their 18th birthday. Eligible youth who do not elect to participate in the Extended Foster Care program on their 18th birthday will have until their 21st birthday to voluntarily request to participate in the Extended Foster Care program. Eligible youth may enter and exit the program as needed between the ages of 18-21 years old.
Services may include:
- Foster Care placement or Supervised Independent living setting placement (shared living, apartment, college dormitory)
- Medical (including mental health)
- Dental
- Transitional Living services (if available)
- Case management by DCYF
- Referrals to community resources (as appropriate)
- See independence.wa.gov for further services
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Extended Foster Care program, youth must meet the following criteria on their 18th birthday:
- Dependent; and
- Enrolled in high school or a high school equivalency program;
- Enrolled, applied for, or can show intent to timely enroll in a post-secondary academic or post-secondary vocational certification program;
- Participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment, including part-time employment;
- Employed 80 hours or more a month; or
- Unable to engage in any of the above activities due to a documented medical condition
Continued participation in Extended Foster Care is subject to continuing eligibility in one of the five categories listed above. Participants can transition between categories.
How to Apply
- To be a part of this program, talk to your worker or call 1-800-562-5624