A new temporary program using supplemental Chafee funds to support older former foster youth will be available until June 30, 2022 (as long as funds are available). You may be eligible for up to $2000 in housing subsidy and funding for other needs! To be eligible, you must be:

• Ages 18 to 23

• Not currently in care

• STAY-eligible (30 or more consecutive days of out-of-home placement after age 14)

The $2,000 payment occurs through step-down monthly housing subsidy payments: first month $800, the second month $600, third month $400, fourth month $200. There may also be a one-time payment for transportation, employment, and education needs.

To apply, send referral information, including worker name, youth name, age, date of birth, address, phone, email, and other contact information to Angie Mateski, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, at angela.mateski@lssmn.org, 1601 Hwy 12 #6, Willmar, Minnesota 56201, or call her office at 320-231-7075, ext. 1, or cell number at 320-444-0974

The Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7947) expired September 30th, 2021.

Because Minnesota did not take state action to extend these supports, 100s of transition-age Fosters between the ages of 21-23 lost extended foster care services, as the federal moratorium on aging-out of care ended. And 1,000s of Fosters between the ages of 23-27 lost guaranteed support for maintaining housing, transportation, and other basic needs.

Read one Minnesota Foster’s call for action from early September.

A coalition of advocates has called on Congress to pass new legislation — H.R.5167 — that would extend pandemic relief for older Fosters through September 2022. There is still time to pass this bipartisan bill, introduced by Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs, Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK).

Contact your representatives today to support H.R. 5167

Questions? Contact info@fosteradvocates.org

Past updates on Minnesota implementation

• 9/30/2021: H.R. 7947 expired, ending 1) the moratorium on aging out, 2) cash payments from DHS, and 3) extended eligibility for STAY funds and services in Minnesota.

• 7/1/2021: Survey for $200 direct cash payments from DHS released.

• 5/5/2021: DHS issued Bulletin 21-68-15, directing $2.5 million dollars to counties and tribal social service agencies to support the Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth (STAY) programs. These funds can be used for Fosters age 14-27 for direct financial assistance, housing, education, employment supports, as well as for costs for obtaining a drivers license. Counties will be determining priority levels among their eligible youth and assessing need. Fosters are encouraged to reach out to their current or former case worker to alert county staff of your needs. If you do not know who to contact, reach out to: dhs_csp_adolescents@state.mn.us

• 5/3/2021: DHS issued Bulletin 21-68-14, providing guidance on the distribution of $983,759 of additional federal funding for the MN Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. Current 2020-2021 ETV recipients will receive a one-time payment of $2,000 and may be eligible for more. Some funds are expected to supplement 2021-2022 ETV awards (applications will open July 1st) and all funds must be awarded by September 30th.

• 4/3/2021: DHS issued Bulletin 21-68-11, directing counties and tribal social service agencies to allow any Foster who aged out or exited extended foster care since January 27th, 2020 to voluntarily re-enter care, in line with federal law. Fosters should contact their former caseworker or other county staff to initiate re-entry process. If you do not know who to contact, reach out to: dhs_csp_adolescents@state.mn.us

• 3/9/2021: Federal guidance was released for states with instructions on how to implement aging out moratorium, reentry, and more. We expect MN to release a bulletin about re-entry process shortly following this federal program instruction.

• 3/5/2021: DHS issued waiver CV. 113 and Bulletin 21-68-08, directing counties to halt aging out Fosters through September 2021 and temporarily suspend work and education requirements for extended foster care, in line with federal law.

• 2/25/2021: Minnesota received $6,768,259 in additional federal Chafee funds to support implementation. Summary of state allocations here.

• 12/27/2020: Congress passed the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7947).

Overview of federal law

• H.R. 7947 made adjustments through federal law to help older Fosters during the pandemic. For example:

  • During this pandemic (through 9/30/21), the state cannot terminate services to youth because of age (e.g. end EFC at age 21) OR for not meeting extended foster care work, education, or training requirements.

  • The state must allow youth to re-enter foster care (up until age 22) if they age out of foster care between 1/27/20-9/30/21.

  • There are possible emergency cash resources available for young people over age 14 and up to age 26 who are or were in foster care. The new law set aside $400 million nationally in additional Chafee funds with flexibility in how these funds are used.