Foster care; local departments to provide independent living services to person between age 18 & 21. (SB415)
Introduced By
Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Winchester)
Progress
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Introduced |
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Passed Committee |
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Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
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Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Description
Foster care and independent living services. Requires local departments and child-placing agencies to provide independent living services to any person between 18 and 21 years of age who requests such services and is in the process of transitioning from foster care to self-sufficiency. The bill also extends the time period during which a person between the ages of 18 and 21 may request restoration of independent living services if they previously terminated such services. Local departments are required to provide a person who chooses to leave foster care or terminate independent living services written notice of their right to restore independent living services. View Full Text »
Outcome
Bill Has Passed
View Bill's History
Comments
This is an outstanding idea to allow children aging out of foster care a second chance to receive services they need. Teenagers and young adults make bad decisions all the time, but former foster youth are struggling enough with the little help they receive, they need an opportunity to change their minds without losing the option of accessing this help and support. Everybody knows somebody who thought they could make it on their own, then only a month or two later realized they still needed help. This is a great, common sense bill that will support former foster youth as they complete school and training while learning to live independently. It will save money in the long run by helping the youth become truly financially independent slowly so as to possibly avoid a lifetime of government support or worse.
I am a social work graduate student and before this bill was introduced or passed I was advocating for change to allow for more time for re-entrance. The expanded allotted time would be more beneficial to serve the population of the foster youth transitioning into independence. By extending the allotted time it may cause a decrease of persons experiencing homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and criminal activity. Foster care youth transitioning into independence are at a disadvantage compared to their peers due to not having a permanent support system, consequently leaving them at high risk for being incapable of succeeding and reaching their potential goals.
I understand that at the present time our state is experiencing a budget crisis however the state independent living programs is one hundred percent funded by federal monies. By implementing this change it will not cause an increase to Virginia state spending.
As an agent for social change I ask that Gov. McDonnell sign this bill to ensure that persons transitioning out of Virginia’s foster care system have the best future possible and are able to contribute to society.