Tomorrow, thousands of young people across the nation are at risk of aging out of foster care and being cut off from supports and services.
The Youth Law Center has released a new report, in partnership with Think of Us, urging Congress to act immediately to extend all provisions of Division X of the Consolidated Appropriations Act until September 30, 2022, and to increase funding for youth with experience in foster care.
The report, A Call to Action for Transition-Aged Youth During the Pandemic: Fulfilling the Promise of the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act and Building a Bridge to a Thriving Recovery, notes that the pandemic has intensified every inequity for youth exiting foster care to crisis levels - homelessness, unemployment, physical and mental health crises, and poverty.
While targeted assistance was provided through Division X of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, many young people have not yet received that aid and still have significant needs. In addition to calling for Congress to meet the immediate needs of young people with experience in foster care, the Report also urges legislators to gear up for far-reaching post-pandemic reforms to better support young people transitioning to adulthood from foster care.
The full report can be viewed here. Recommendations from this report can also be viewed in a summary resource here.
