Extending foster care to age 23 in the state of Ohio

Extending Foster Care to 23 discussion, facilitated by Dorothy Striker of ODJFS, OHIO YAB ambassador Raven Grice and foster care alumna Kim Rhyan

During the recent statewide OHIO YAB meeting, youth recommended that the state of Ohio extend foster care supports to age 23. They felt that extension of supports to age 21 was a good start, and that prolonging supports for two additional years would be a helpful steppingstone to create long-lasting change. 

Challenges that youth with a foster care history currently face when turning 21, and “aging out” eligibility for Chafee supports or the Bridges program include the following:

a.) Concerns about money and budget:

• Rising costs of food and transportation
• Driver’s license, parking fees, parking pass, how to find a care
• Unsure of where to live during dorm breaks

b.) Loss of caseworker support:

• Abandonment issues
• Quote: “It takes time to develop trust with Bridges worker.”
• Quote: “We rely on the system because we cannot rely on our family. Family isn’t always blood.”

c.) Concerns about lack of readiness and preparation: 

• Individual development accounts are only available in some counties
• Quote: “We have a lack of natural supports.”
• Quote: “There is a lot of stuff that no one teaches us.”
• Quote: “We don’t have everything figured out by age 21.”
• Quote: “We don’t have a lot of time to make mistakes and learn from them” in a safe environment that allows youth to learn by experience.

d.) Desiring two years of additional time to receive support with:

• Being able to afford food, clothes, a place to live, furniture, and utilities 
• Emergency funds when needed
• Help applying for things, including maintaining access to medical care
• Helping to find a college or university
• Making a summer plan
• Completing college before losing support
• Finding a job, including finding a job after completing college (this can be scary)
• Disabilities services
• Filing taxes
• Adapting to life as an adult
• Learning how to be a parent
• Reuniting with family and/or developing emotional supports
• Connecting with individual or family counseling services

Youth felt that extending this period of transition would help them to be more successful in young adulthood.  

Youth also talked about inflation, and asked, “Could there be increased funding through Bridges, due to increased cost of living?  Rent and utilities are super expensive, due to the inflation rate of over 9%. Could this lead to increased funding for Bridges?”