42 U.S. Code § 677 - John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood

(a) Purpose

The purpose of this section is to provide States with flexible funding that will enable programs to be designed and conducted—

(1) to support all youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through transitional services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma and post-secondary education, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training and opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as financial literacy training and driving instruction), substance abuse prevention, and preventive health activities (including smoking avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention);

(2) to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent connections with a caring adult;

(3) to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities, positive youth development, and experiential learning that reflects what their peers in intact families experience;

(4) to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to former foster care recipients between 18 and 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with such subsection) to complement their own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to assure that program participants recognize and accept their personal responsibility for preparing for and then making the transition from adolescence to adulthood;

(5) to make available vouchers for education and training, including postsecondary training and education, to youths who have aged out of foster care;

(6) to provide the services referred to in this subsection to children who, after attaining 16 years of age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption; and

(7) to ensure children who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age have regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally-appropriate activities as defined in section 675(11) of this title.

(b) Applications

(1) In general

A State may apply for funds from its allotment under subsection (c) for a period of five consecutive fiscal years by submitting to the Secretary, in writing, a plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) and the certifications required by paragraph (3) with respect to the plan.

(2) State plan

A plan meets the requirements of this paragraph if the plan specifies which State agency or agencies will administer, supervise, or oversee the programs carried out under the plan, and describes how the State intends to do the following:

(A) Design and deliver programs to achieve the purposes of this section.

(B) Ensure that all political subdivisions in the State are served by the program, though not necessarily in a uniform manner.

(C) Ensure that the programs serve children of various ages and at various stages of achieving independence.

(D) Involve the public and private sectors in helping youth in foster care achieve independence.

(E) Use objective criteria for determining eligibility for benefits and services under the programs, and for ensuring fair and equitable treatment of benefit recipients.

(F) Cooperate in national evaluations of the effects of the programs in achieving the purposes of this section.

(3) Certifications

The certifications required by this paragraph with respect to a plan are the following:

(A)

(i) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age.

(ii) If the State has elected under section 675(8)(B) of this title to extend eligibility for foster care to all children who have not attained 21 years of age, or if the Secretary determines that the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under this part and part B uses State funds or any other funds not provided under this part to provide services and assistance for youths who have aged out of foster care that are comparable to the services and assistance the youths would receive if the State had made such an election, the certification required under clause (i) may provide that the State will provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.

(B) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal year will be expended for room or board for youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii)).

(C) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that none of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) will be expended for room or board for any child who has not attained 18 years of age.

(D) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will use training funds provided under the program of Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance to provide training including training on youth development to help foster parents, adoptive parents, workers in group homes, and case managers understand and address the issues confronting youth preparing for a successful transition to adulthood and making a permanent connection with a caring adult.

(E) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has consulted widely with public and private organizations in developing the plan and that the State has given all interested members of the public at least 30 days to submit comments on the plan.

(F) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will make every effort to coordinate the State programs receiving funds provided from an allotment made to the State under subsection (c) with other Federal and State programs for youth (especially transitional living youth projects funded under part B of title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 [34 U.S.C. 11221 et seq.]), abstinence education programs, local housing programs, programs for disabled youth (especially sheltered workshops), and school-to-work programs offered by high schools or local workforce agencies.

(G) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that each Indian tribe in the State has been consulted about the programs to be carried out under the plan; that there have been efforts to coordinate the programs with such tribes; that benefits and services under the programs will be made available to Indian children in the State on the same basis as to other children in the State; and that the State will negotiate in good faith with any Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium in the State that does not receive an allotment under subsection (j)(4) for a fiscal year and that requests to develop an agreement with the State to administer, supervise, or oversee the programs to be carried out under the plan with respect to the Indian children who are eligible for such programs and who are under the authority of the tribe, organization, or consortium and to receive from the State an appropriate portion of the State allotment under subsection (c) for the cost of such administration, supervision, or oversight.

(H) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that youth participating in the program under this section participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living and that the youth accept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.

(I) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and will enforce standards and procedures to prevent fraud and abuse in the programs carried out under the plan.

(J) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State educational and training voucher program under this section is in compliance with the conditions specified in subsection (i), including a statement describing methods the State will use—

(i) to ensure that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this section and under other Federal and Federally supported programs does not exceed the limitation specified in subsection (i)(5); and

(ii) to avoid duplication of benefits under this and any other Federal or Federally assisted benefit program.

(K) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that a youth participating in the program under this section are [1] provided with education about the importance of designating another individual to make health care treatment decisions on behalf of the youth if the youth becomes unable to participate in such decisions and the youth does not have, or does not want, a relative who would otherwise be authorized under State law to make such decisions, whether a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar document is recognized under State law, and how to execute such a document if the youth wants to do so.

(4) Approval

The Secretary shall approve an application submitted by a State pursuant to paragraph (1) for a period if—

(A) the application is submitted on or before June 30 of the calendar year in which such period begins; and

(B) the Secretary finds that the application contains the material required by paragraph (1).

(5) Authority to implement certain amendments; notification

A State with an application approved under paragraph (4) may implement any amendment to the plan contained in the application if the application, incorporating the amendment, would be approvable under paragraph (4). Within 30 days after a State implements any such amendment, the State shall notify the Secretary of the amendment.

(6) Availability

The State shall make available to the public any application submitted by the State pursuant to paragraph (1), and a brief summary of the plan contained in the application.

(c) Allotments to States

(1) General program allotment

From the amount specified in subsection (h)(1) that remains after applying subsection (g)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State with an application approved under subsection (b) for the fiscal year the amount which bears the ratio to such remaining amount equal to the State foster care ratio, as adjusted in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Hold harmless provision

(A) In general

The Secretary shall allot to each State whose allotment for a fiscal year under paragraph (1) is less than the greater of $500,000 or the amount payable to the State under this section for fiscal year 1998, an additional amount equal to the difference between such allotment and such greater amount.

(B) Ratable reduction of certain allotments

In the case of a State not described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the amount allotted to the State for the fiscal year under paragraph (1) by the amount that bears the same ratio to the sum of the differences determined under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the fiscal year as the excess of the amount so allotted over the greater of $500,000 or the amount payable to the State under this section for fiscal year 1998 bears to the sum of such excess amounts determined for all such States.

(3) Voucher program allotment

From the amount, if any, appropriated pursuant to subsection (h)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may allot to each State with an application approved under subsection (b) for the fiscal year an amount equal to the State foster care ratio multiplied by the amount so specified.

(4) State foster care ratio

In this subsection, the term “State foster care ratio” means the ratio of the number of children in foster care under a program of the State in the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available to the total number of children in foster care in all States for the most recent fiscal year.

(d) Use of funds

(1) In general

A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c) may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section.

(2) No supplantation of other funds available for same general purposes

The amounts paid to a State from its allotment under subsection (c) shall be used to supplement and not supplant any other funds which are available for the same general purposes in the State.

(3) Two-year availability of funds

Payments made to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be expended by the State in the fiscal year or in the succeeding fiscal year.

(4) Reallocation of unused funds

If a State does not apply for funds under this section for a fiscal year within such time as may be provided by the Secretary or does not expend allocated funds within the time period specified under subsection (d)(3), the funds to which the State would be entitled for the fiscal year shall be reallocated to 1 or more other States on the basis of their relative need for additional payments under this section, as determined by the Secretary.

(5) Redistribution of unexpended amounts

(A) Availability of amounts

To the extent that amounts paid to States under this section in a fiscal year remain unexpended by the States at the end of the succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary may make the amounts available for redistribution in the second succeeding fiscal year among the States that apply for additional funds under this section for that second succeeding fiscal year.

(B) Redistribution

(i) In general

The Secretary shall redistribute the amounts made available under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year among eligible applicant States. In this subparagraph, the term “eligible applicant State” means a State that has applied for additional funds for the fiscal year under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that the State will use the funds for the purpose for which originally allotted under this section.

(ii) Amount to be redistributed

The amount to be redistributed to each eligible applicant State shall be the amount so made available multiplied by the State foster care ratio, (as defined in subsection (c)(4), except that, in such subsection, “all eligible applicant States (as defined in subsection (d)(5)(B)(i))” shall be substituted for “all States”).

(iii) Treatment of redistributed amount

Any amount made available to a State under this paragraph shall be regarded as part of the allotment of the State under this section for the fiscal year in which the redistribution is made.

(C) Tribes

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “State” includes an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that receives an allotment under this section.

(e) Penalties

(1) Use of grant in violation of this part

If the Secretary is made aware, by an audit conducted under chapter 75 of title 31 or by any other means, that a program receiving funds from an allotment made to a State under subsection (c) has been operated in a manner that is inconsistent with, or not disclosed in the State application approved under subsection (b), the Secretary shall assess a penalty against the State in an amount equal to not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the amount of the allotment.

(2) Failure to comply with data reporting requirement

The Secretary shall assess a penalty against a State that fails during a fiscal year to comply with an information collection plan implemented under subsection (f) in an amount equal to not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the amount allotted to the State for the fiscal year.

(3) Penalties based on degree of noncompliance

The Secretary shall assess penalties under this subsection based on the degree of noncompliance.

(f) Data collection and performance measurement

(1) In general

The Secretary, in consultation with State and local public officials responsible for administering independent living and other child welfare programs, child welfare advocates, Members of Congress, youth service providers, and researchers, shall—

(A) develop outcome measures (including measures of educational attainment, high school diploma, employment, avoidance of dependency, homelessness, nonmarital childbirth, incarceration, and high-risk behaviors) that can be used to assess the performance of States in operating independent living programs;

(B) identify data elements needed to track—

(i) the number and characteristics of children receiving services under this section;

(ii) the type and quantity of services being provided; and

(iii) State performance on the outcome measures; and

(C) develop and implement a plan to collect the needed information beginning with the second fiscal year beginning after December 14, 1999.

(2) Report to Congress

Not later than October 1, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the National Youth in Transition Database and any other databases in which States report outcome measures relating to children in foster care and children who have aged out of foster care or left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. The report shall include the following:

(A) A description of the reasons for entry into foster care and of the foster care experiences, such as length of stay, number of placement settings, case goal, and discharge reason of 17-year-olds who are surveyed by the National Youth in Transition Database and an analysis of the comparison of that description with the reasons for entry and foster care experiences of children of other ages who exit from foster care before attaining age 17.

(B) A description of the characteristics of the individuals who report poor outcomes at ages 19 and 21 to the National Youth in Transition Database.

(C) Benchmarks for determining what constitutes a poor outcome for youth who remain in or have exited from foster care and plans the executive branch will take to incorporate these benchmarks in efforts to evaluate child welfare agency performance in providing services to children transitioning from foster care.

(D) An analysis of the association between types of placement, number of overall placements, time spent in foster care, and other factors, and outcomes at ages 19 and 21.

(E) An analysis of the differences in outcomes for children in and formerly in foster care at age 19 and 21 among States.

(g) Evaluations

(1) In general

The Secretary shall conduct evaluations of such State programs funded under this section as the Secretary deems to be innovative or of potential national significance. The evaluation of any such program shall include information on the effects of the program on education, employment, and personal development. To the maximum extent practicable, the evaluations shall be based on rigorous scientific standards including random assignment to treatment and control groups. The Secretary is encouraged to work directly with State and local governments to design methods for conducting the evaluations, directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.

(2) Funding of evaluations

The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent of the amount specified in subsection (h) for a fiscal year to carry out, during the fiscal year, evaluation, technical assistance, performance measurement, and data collection activities related to this section, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with appropriate entities.

(h) Limitations on authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section and for payments to States under section 674(a)(4) of this title, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year—

(1) $140,000,000 or, beginning in fiscal year 2020, $143,000,000, which shall be available for all purposes under this section; and

(2) an additional $60,000,000, which are authorized to be available for payments to States for education and training vouchers for youths who age out of foster care, to assist the youths to develop skills necessary to lead independent and productive lives.

(i) Educational and training vouchers

The following conditions shall apply to a State educational and training voucher program under this section:

(1) Vouchers under the program may be available to youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section who have attained 14 years of age.

(2) For purposes of the voucher program, youths who, after attaining 16 years of age, are adopted from, or enter kinship guardianship from, foster care may be considered to be youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section.

(3) The State may allow youths participating in the voucher program to remain eligible until they attain 26 years of age, as long as they are enrolled in a postsecondary education or training program and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program, but in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive).

(4) The voucher or vouchers provided for an individual under this section—

(A) may be available for the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education, as defined in section 1002 of title 20; and

(B) shall not exceed the lesser of $5,000 per year or the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 1087ll of title 20.

(5) The amount of a voucher under this section may be disregarded for purposes of determining the recipient’s eligibility for, or the amount of, any other Federal or Federally supported assistance, except that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this section and under other Federal and Federally supported programs shall not exceed the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 1087ll of title 20, and except that the State agency shall take appropriate steps to prevent duplication of benefits under this and other Federal or Federally supported programs.

(6) The program is coordinated with other appropriate education and training programs.

(j) Authority for an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium to receive an allotment

(1) In general

An Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with a plan approved under section 679c of this title, or which is receiving funding to provide foster care under this part pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract with a State, may apply for an allotment out of any funds authorized by paragraph (1) or (2) (or both) of subsection (h) of this section.

(2) Application

A tribe, organization, or consortium desiring an allotment under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary to directly receive such allotment that includes a plan which—

(A) satisfies such requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) as the Secretary determines are appropriate;

(B) contains a description of the tribe’s, organization’s, or consortium’s consultation process regarding the programs to be carried out under the plan with each State for which a portion of an allotment under subsection (c) would be redirected to the tribe, organization, or consortium; and

(C) contains an explanation of the results of such consultation, particularly with respect to—

(i) determining the eligibility for benefits and services of Indian children to be served under the programs to be carried out under the plan; and

(ii) the process for consulting with the State in order to ensure the continuity of benefits and services for such children who will transition from receiving benefits and services under programs carried out under a State plan under subsection (b)(2) to receiving benefits and services under programs carried out under a plan under this subsection.

(3) Payments

The Secretary shall pay an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with an application and plan approved under this subsection from the allotment determined for the tribe, organization, or consortium under paragraph (4) of this subsection in the same manner as is provided in section 674(a)(4) of this title (and, where requested, and if funds are appropriated, section 674(e) of this title) with respect to a State, or in such other manner as is determined appropriate by the Secretary, except that in no case shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium receive a lesser proportion of such funds than a State is authorized to receive under those sections.

(4) Allotment

From the amounts allotted to a State under subsection (c) of this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with an application and plan approved under this subsection for that fiscal year an amount equal to the tribal foster care ratio determined under paragraph (5) of this subsection for the tribe, organization, or consortium multiplied by the allotment amount of the State within which the tribe, organization, or consortium is located. The allotment determined under this paragraph is deemed to be a part of the allotment determined under subsection (c) for the State in which the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium is located.

(5) Tribal foster care ratio

For purposes of paragraph (4), the tribal foster care ratio means, with respect to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium, the ratio of—

(A) the number of children in foster care under the responsibility of the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium (either directly or under supervision of the State), in the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available; to

(B) the sum of—

(i) the total number of children in foster care under the responsibility of the State within which the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium is located; and

(ii) the total number of children in foster care under the responsibility of all Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal consortia in the State (either directly or under supervision of the State) that have a plan approved under this subsection.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 477, as added Pub. L. 99–272, title XII, § 12307(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 294; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title VIII, § 8104(a)–(d), (f), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3796, 3797; Pub. L. 101–239, title VIII, § 8002(a), (b), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2452; Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5073(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–233; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13714(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 657; Pub. L. 105–89, title III, § 304, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2130; Pub. L. 106–169, title I, § 101(b), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1824; Pub. L. 107–133, title II, §§ 201(a)–(e), 202(a), Jan. 17, 2002, 115 Stat. 2422, 2423, 2425; Pub. L. 110–351, title I, § 101(e), title III, § 301(b), (c)(1)(B), Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3953, 3967, 3969; Pub. L. 111–148, title II, § 2955(b), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 352; Pub. L. 113–183, title I, § 111(c), Sept. 29, 2014, 128 Stat. 1925; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VII, § 50753(a)–(d), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 263–265.)

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[1]  So in original. Probably should be “is”.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(F), is Pub. L. 93–415, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1109. Part B of title III of the Act is classified generally to part B (§ 11221 et seq.) of subchapter III of chapter 111 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1974 Act note under section 10101 of Title 34 and Tables.

Codification

December 14, 1999, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original “the date of the enactment of this section” which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 106–169, which amended this section generally, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(1), substituted “Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood” for “Independence Program” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(A), substituted “support all youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through transitional services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma and post-secondary education, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training and opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as financial literacy training and driving instruction)” for “identify children who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age and to help these children make the transition to self-sufficiency by providing services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(B), substituted “who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent connections with a caring adult” for “who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age receive the education, training, and services necessary to obtain employment”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(C), substituted “who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities, positive youth development, and experiential learning that reflects what their peers in intact families experience” for “who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age prepare for and enter postsecondary training and education institutions”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(D), redesignated par. (5) as (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “to provide personal and emotional support to children aging out of foster care, through mentors and the promotion of interactions with dedicated adults;”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(D), redesignated par. (6) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (4).

Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(a)(1), inserted “(or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with such subsection)” after “21 years of age”.

Subsec. (a)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(2)(D), redesignated pars. (6) to (8) as (5) to (7), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(3)(A), substituted “youth” for “adolescents”.

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(a)(2), designated existing provisions as cl. (i), substituted “youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age.” for “children who have left foster care because they have attained 18 years of age, and who have not attained 21 years of age.”, and added cl. (ii).

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(a)(3), substituted “youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii)).” for “children who have left foster care because they have attained 18 years of age, and who have not attained 21 years of age.”

Subsec. (b)(3)(D). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(3)(B)(i), inserted “including training on youth development” after “to provide training” and substituted “youth preparing for a successful transition to adulthood and making a permanent connection with a caring adult.” for “adolescents preparing for independent living, and will, to the extent possible, coordinate such training with the independent living program conducted for adolescents.”

Subsec. (b)(3)(H). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(3)(B)(ii), substituted “youth” for “adolescents” in two places.

Subsec. (b)(3)(K). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(3)(B)(iii), substituted “a youth” for “an adolescent” and, wherever appearing, “the youth” for “the adolescent”.

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(b)(1), inserted “or does not expend allocated funds within the time period specified under subsection (d)(3)” after “provided by the Secretary”.

Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(b)(2), added par. (5).

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(d)(4), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Within 12 months after December 14, 1999, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report detailing the plans and timetable for collecting from the States the information described in paragraph (1) and a proposal to impose penalties consistent with paragraph (e)(2) on States that do not report data.”

Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(c)(2), inserted “who have attained 14 years of age” before period at end.

Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50753(c)(1), substituted “to remain eligible until they attain 26” for “on the date they attain 21 years of age to remain eligible until they attain 23” and inserted before period at end “, but in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive)”.

2014—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 113–183, § 111(c)(1), added par. (8).

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 113–183, § 111(c)(2), inserted “or, beginning in fiscal year 2020, $143,000,000” after “$140,000,000”.

2010—Subsec. (b)(3)(K). Pub. L. 111–148 added subpar. (K).

2008—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 110–351, § 101(e)(1), added par. (7).

Subsec. (b)(3)(G). Pub. L. 110–351, § 301(c)(1)(B), substituted “tribes; that” for “tribes; and that” and inserted “; and that the State will negotiate in good faith with any Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium in the State that does not receive an allotment under subsection (j)(4) for a fiscal year and that requests to develop an agreement with the State to administer, supervise, or oversee the programs to be carried out under the plan with respect to the Indian children who are eligible for such programs and who are under the authority of the tribe, organization, or consortium and to receive from the State an appropriate portion of the State allotment under subsection (c) for the cost of such administration, supervision, or oversight” before period at end.

Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 110–351, § 101(e)(2), substituted “who, after attaining 16 years of age, are adopted from, or enter kinship guardianship from, foster care” for “adopted from foster care after attaining age 16”.

Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 110–351, § 301(b), added subsec. (j).

2002—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(a), added par. (6).

Subsec. (b)(3)(J). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(c), added subpar. (J).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(e)(1), in heading substituted “General program allotment” for “In general” and in text substituted “From the amount specified in subsection (h)(1)” for “From the amount specified in subsection (h)”, “which bears the ratio” for “which bears the same ratio”, and “equal to the State foster care ratio, as adjusted in accordance with paragraph (2).” for “as the number of children in foster care under a program of the State in the most recent fiscal year for which such information is available bears to the total number of children in foster care in all States for such most recent fiscal year, as adjusted in accordance with paragraph (2).”

Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(e)(2), added pars. (3) and (4).

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 107–133, § 202(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(d), substituted “there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year—” and pars. (1) and (2) for “there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $140,000,000 for each fiscal year.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107–133, § 201(b), added subsec. (i).

1999—Pub. L. 106–169 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which had authorized payments to States and localities for establishment of programs designed to assist children who have attained age 16 in making transition from foster care to independent living, and set forth provisions relating to administration of programs, assurances, types of programs, amounts of entitlement, and provisions requiring annual report and promulgation of regulations.

1997—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–89 inserted before comma at end “(including children with respect to whom such payments are no longer being made because the child has accumulated assets, not to exceed $5,000, which are otherwise regarded as resources for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits under this part)”.

1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13714(a)(1), struck out at end “Such payments shall be made only for the fiscal years 1987 through 1992.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13714(a)(2), substituted “any succeeding fiscal year” for “any of the fiscal years 1988 through 1992”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13714(a)(3), substituted “fiscal year 1987 and any succeeding fiscal year” for “each of the fiscal years 1987 through 1992”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13714(a)(4), substituted “fiscal year 1991 and any succeeding fiscal year” for “fiscal years 1991 and 1992”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(C)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 103–66, § 13714(a)(5), substituted “any succeeding fiscal year” for “fiscal year 1992”.

1990—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 101–508 inserted “who has not attained age 21” after “also include any child” and struck out before semicolon “, but such child may not be so included after the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of discontinuance of such payments or care”.

1989—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(a)(1), substituted “through 1992” for “, 1988, and 1989”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(a)(2), substituted “any of the fiscal years 1988 through 1992” for “the fiscal year 1988 or 1989”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(b)(1), (2), (4), (5), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted “The basic amount” for “The amount” and “the basic ceiling for such fiscal year” for “$45,000,000”, and added subpars. (B) and (C).

Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(b)(3), which directed amendment of subpar. (A) by substituting “1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992” for “and 1989” could not be executed because the words “and 1989” did not appear after execution of amendment by Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(a)(1), see below.

Pub. L. 101–239, § 8002(a)(1), substituted “through 1992” for “, 1988, and 1989”.

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(a)(1), substituted “1987, 1988, and 1989” for “1987 and 1988”.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(c), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “children described in paragraph (2) who have attained age 16” for “children, with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are being made by the State under this part and who have attained age 16,” and added par. (2).

Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(d), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(a)(2), substituted “for the fiscal year 1988 or 1989, such description and assurances must be submitted prior to February 1 of such fiscal year” for “for fiscal year 1988, such description and assurances must be submitted prior to January 1, 1988”.

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(a)(1), substituted “1987, 1988, and 1989” for “1987 and 1988”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(f), inserted at end “Amounts payable under this section may not be used for the provision of room or board.”

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(b), inserted at end “Notwithstanding paragraph (3), payments made to a State under this section for the fiscal year 1987 and unobligated may be expended by such State in the fiscal year 1989.”

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(a)(3), (4), substituted “Not later than the first January 1 following the end of each fiscal year, each State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs carried out during such fiscal year” for “Not later than March 1, 1988, each State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs carried out”.

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 8104(a)(5), (6), substituted:

“(A) Not later than July 1, 1988, the Secretary shall submit an interim report on the activities carried out under this section.

“(B) Not later than March 1, 1989,”

for “Not later than July 1, 1988,” and substituted “fiscal years 1987 and 1988” for “fiscal year 1987” in subpar. (B).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–183 effective on the date that is 1 year after Sept. 29, 2014, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 111(d) of Pub. L. 113–183, set out as a note under section 671 of this title.

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–148 effective Oct. 1, 2010, see section 2955(d) of Pub. L. 111–148, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by section 301(b), (c)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 110–351 effective Oct. 1, 2009, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, see section 301(f) of Pub. L. 110–351, set out as a note under section 671 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–351 effective Oct. 7, 2008, except as otherwise provided, and applicable to payments under this part and part B of this subchapter for quarters beginning on or after effective date of amendment, with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 601 of Pub. L. 110–351, set out as a note under section 671 of this title.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–133 effective Jan. 17, 2002, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 301 of Pub. L. 107–133, set out as a note under section 629 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13714(b), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 657, provided that:

“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to activities engaged in, on, or after October 1, 1992.”

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5073(b), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–233, provided that:

“The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to payments made under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.] for fiscal years beginning in or after fiscal year 1991.”

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 effective Oct. 1, 1989, see section 8002(e) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 674 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–647, title VIII, § 8104(g), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3797, provided that:

“(1) The amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (e) [amending this section and section 675 of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 1988.

“(2) The amendments made by subsections (c), (d), and (f) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988].”

Regulations

Pub. L. 106–169, title I, § 101(d), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1828, provided that:

“Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 14, 1999], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 674 of this title].”

Construction of 2008 Amendment

For construction of amendment by section 301(b), (c)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 110–351, see section 301(d) of Pub. L. 110–351, set out as a note under section 671 of this title.

Continued Safe Operation of Child Welfare Programs and Support for Older Foster Youth

Pub. L. 116–260, div. X, § 3, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2409, provided that:

“(a) Funding Increases.—

“(1) Increase in support for chafee programs.—

Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to carry out section 477 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 677], in addition to any amounts otherwise made available for such purpose.

“(2) Education and training vouchers.—

Of the amount made available by reason of paragraph (1) of this subsection, not less than $50,000,000 shall be reserved for the provision of vouchers pursuant to section 477(h)(2) of the Social Security Act.

“(3) Applicability of technical assistance to additional funds.—

“(A) In general.—

Section 477(g)(2) of the Social Security Act shall apply with respect to the amount made available by reason of paragraph (1) of this subsection as if the amount were included in the amount specified in section 477(h) of such Act.

“(B) Reservation of funds.—

“(i) In general.—

Of the amount to which section 477(g)(2) of the Social Security Act applies by reason of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall reserve not less than $500,000 to provide technical assistance to a State implementing or seeking to implement a driving and transportation program for foster youth.

“(ii) Provider qualifications.—

The Secretary shall ensure that the entity providing the assistance has demonstrated the capacity to—

     “(I) successfully administer activities in 1 or more States to provide driver’s licenses to youth who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State; and

     “(II) increase the number of such foster youth who obtain a driver’s license.

“(4) Inapplicability of state matching requirement to additional funds.—

In making payments under subsections (a)(4) and (e)(1) of section 474 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 674] from the additional funds made available as a result of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the percentages specified in subsections (a)(4)(A)(i) and (e)(1) of such section are, respectively, deemed to be 100 percent.

“(5) Maximum award amount.—

The dollar amount specified in section 477(i)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act through the end of fiscal year 2022 is deemed to be $12,000.

“(6) Inapplicability of nytd penalty to additional funds.—

In calculating any penalty under section 477(e)(2) of the Social Security Act with respect to the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) for April 1, 2020, through the end of fiscal year 2022, none of the additional funds made available by reason of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be considered to be part of an allotment to a State under section 477(c) of such Act.

“(b) Maximum Age Limitation on Eligibility for Assistance.—

During fiscal years 2020 and 2021, a child may be eligible for services and assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 677] until the child attains 27 years of age, notwithstanding any contrary certification made under such section.

“(c) Special Rule.—

With respect to funds made available by reason of subsection (a) that are used during the COVID–19 public health emergency period to support activities due to the COVID–19 pandemic, the Secretary may not require any State to provide proof of a direct connection to the pandemic if doing so would be administratively burdensome or would otherwise delay or impede the ability of the State to serve foster youth.

“(d) Programmatic Flexibilities.—

During the COVID–19 public health emergency period:

“(1) Suspension of certain requirements under the education and training voucher program.—

The Secretary shall allow a State to waive the applicability of the requirement in section 477(i)(3) of the Social Security Act that a youth must be enrolled in a postsecondary education or training program or making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program if a youth is unable to do so due to the COVID–19 public health emergency.

“(2) Authority to use vouchers to maintain training and postsecondary education.—

A voucher provided under a State educational and training voucher program under section 477(i) of the Social Security Act may be used for maintaining training and postsecondary education, including less than full-time matriculation costs or other expenses that are not part of the cost of attendance but would help support youth in remaining enrolled as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

“(3) Authority to waive limitations on percentage of funds used for housing assistance and eligibility for such assistance.—

Notwithstanding section 477(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act, a State may use—

“(A) more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under section 477(c)(1) of such Act for a fiscal year, for room or board payments; and

“(B) any of such amounts for youth otherwise eligible for services under section 477 of such Act who—

“(i) have attained 18 years of age and not 27 years of age; and

“(ii) experienced foster care at 14 years of age or older.

“(4) Authority to provide driving and transportation assistance.—

“(A) Use of funds.—

Funds provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act may be used to provide driving and transportation assistance to youth described in paragraph (3)(B) who have attained 15 years of age with costs related to obtaining a driver’s license and driving lawfully in a State (such as vehicle insurance costs, driver’s education class and testing fees, practice lessons, practice hours, license fees, roadside assistance, deductible assistance, and assistance in purchasing an automobile).

“(B) Maximum allowance.—

The amount of the assistance provided for each eligible youth under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $4,000 per year, and any assistance so provided shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the recipient’s eligibility for, and the amount of, any other Federal or federally-supported assistance, except that the State agency shall take appropriate steps to prevent duplication of benefits under this and other Federal or federally-supported programs.

“(C) Report to the congress.—

Within 6 months after the end of the expenditure period, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the extent to which, and the manner in which, the funds to which subsection (a)(3) applies were used to provide technical assistance to State child welfare programs, monitor State performance and foster youth outcomes, and evaluate program effectiveness.”

[For definitions of terms used in section 3 of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260, set out above, see section 2 of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 629h of this title.]

Temporary Extension of Availability of Independent Living Funds

Pub. L. 107–133, title II, § 202(b), Jan. 17, 2002, 115 Stat. 2425, extended the availability of payments made to a State under this section for fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2002.

Findings

Pub. L. 106–169, title I, § 101(a), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1823, provided that:

“The Congress finds the following:

“(1) States are required to make reasonable efforts to find adoptive families for all children, including older children, for whom reunification with their biological family is not in the best interests of the child. However, some older children will continue to live in foster care. These children should be enrolled in an Independent Living program designed and conducted by State and local government to help prepare them for employment, postsecondary education, and successful management of adult responsibilities.

“(2) Older children who continue to be in foster care as adolescents may become eligible for Independent Living programs. These Independent Living programs are not an alternative to adoption for these children. Enrollment in Independent Living programs can occur concurrent with continued efforts to locate and achieve placement in adoptive families for older children in foster care.

“(3) About 20,000 adolescents leave the Nation’s foster care system each year because they have reached 18 years of age and are expected to support themselves.

“(4) Congress has received extensive information that adolescents leaving foster care have significant difficulty making a successful transition to adulthood; this information shows that children aging out of foster care show high rates of homelessness, non-marital childbearing, poverty, and delinquent or criminal behavior; they are also frequently the target of crime and physical assaults.

“(5) The Nation’s State and local governments, with financial support from the Federal Government, should offer an extensive program of education, training, employment, and financial support for young adults leaving foster care, with participation in such program beginning several years before high school graduation and continuing, as needed, until the young adults emancipated from foster care establish independence or reach 21 years of age.”

Study and Report Evaluating Effectiveness of Programs

Pub. L. 101–239, title VIII, § 8002(d), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2453, provided that:

“(1) Study.—

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall study the programs authorized under section 477 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 677] for the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the programs. The study shall include a comparison of outcomes of children who participated in the programs and a comparable group of children who did not participate in the programs.

“(2) Report.—

Upon completion of the study, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.”