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Once you turn 18, you are legally considered an adult and can choose to leave foster care. CPS no longer has control over you. However, leaving foster care may not be the best thing to do. Most young adults, even those who did not age out of foster care, find it very difficult to live on their own. When you live on your own, you have to be able to pay for everything and handle all of the responsibilities. Most young adults really struggle to do this. There is limited, short-term financial assistance available to aged out foster youth. See Housing Benefits for Youth Leaving Foster Care for more information about the Transitional Living Allowance and Aftercare Room and Board. Without a stable job and careful planning, you will not be able to pay for important things like rent and utilities.
If you do choose to stay in foster care, or to return to foster care after turning 18, it is called extended foster care. When you are in extended foster care, you will have to follow the rules of the place you live. CPS will no longer have legal control over you; you will get to make your own decisions but must follow the requirements of extended foster care.
There must also be an available placement. See Limited Placement Options for Older Foster Youth. If a placement is lost, CPS might not be able to find you another one.
You can stay in extended foster care from the age of 18 until the last day of the month you turn 22 if (1) you regularly attend high school OR (2) you are enrolled in a program leading to a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED).
You can stay in extended foster care from the age of 18 until the last day of the month you turn 21 if you:
- Attend high school or a program leading to a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate (GED).
- Attend college or another institute of higher education, or a post-secondary vocational program or technical program. You must be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours per semester.
- Participate in an employment program or activity that removes barriers to or promotes employment. This category can include a lot of activities. Talk to your caseworker and PAL staff about what things you could do that would help you improve your employment skills.
- Work at a job at least 80 hours a month.
- Are on vacation or breaks between school semesters. You can stay in extended foster care after graduation from high school or completion of a GED program before you start college or another post-secondary program for up to 3.5 months, but you must have plans to start school the next regular session. You can also return to extended foster care during vacation or breaks of your school program that are one to four months long. These breaks are a good time to get jobs, internships, and volunteer experience. You have to begin classes once the next session starts.
- Cannot do any of the above activities because of a documented medical condition. You have a documented medical condition if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to a disability.
You must continue to do these required activities to stay in extended foster care; if you don’t, you will have to leave foster care. Your caseworker should be meeting with you at least once a month and discussing what you need to do to stay in extended foster care and there should be written plans in place. Let your caseworker and PAL staff know ASAP if you need help getting a job, enrolling in school or a program, or doing one of the above activities.
Extended Foster Care Agreement
You must sign an extended foster care agreement to stay in foster care after you turn 18 or return to extended foster care. This agreement explains what you must do to be in extended foster care and that it is your choice to stay in foster care. You are not agreeing to stay in until you turn 21! If you are trying to return to extended foster care, you must be given an opportunity to sign an extended foster care agreement. CPS cannot say you are not eligible to return to extended foster care just because you did not sign the agreement before you were 18.