Increasing Access to Foster Care Through Age 21 Act
Sponsored By: Representative Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Introduced
Summary
Extend federal foster care support to age 21 and allow voluntary re-entry for young adults. The bill clarifies who counts as a youth for extended care and requires states to get help linking eligible young people to job and training programs.
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- Youth: Young people can stay in or return to foster care until age 21. The bill cites research tying each extra year in care to about an 8% higher chance of a high school credential and a 5–12% higher chance of college enrollment.
- Eligibility: States may elect age ranges up to age 22 for extended care in some cases. The bill says a youth’s eligibility for extended foster care cannot depend on parents’ Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) status.
- State supports and jobs: The Department of Health and Human Services must provide guidance and technical assistance to states and outreach to newly eligible youth. The agency must also coordinate with the Department of Labor to connect eligible youth to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I job and training programs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More foster care help up to 22
If enacted, the bill would let States include certain young people in extended foster care after they turn 18 and up to an upper age the State picks (19, 20, 21, or 22). Youth for whom an adoption assistance or kinship guardianship agreement took effect after they were 16 could also be included if the State chooses. States that choose the option would have to permit eligible 18+ youth to voluntarily re-enter foster care and help them return. Some program language that now says “the child” would also apply to these eligible 18+ youth.
Guidance to reach and employ youth
If enacted, HHS would give States and caseworkers guidance and technical help on outreach to two groups: youth newly eligible because of the law and youth who left care but could re-enter. Within 90 days of enactment, HHS, working with Labor, would also issue guidance on how caseworkers can connect foster youth to job training and employment programs under WIOA Title I. This is administrative guidance to support outreach and job connections; it does not itself provide new money.
When changes would take effect
If enacted, the bill's amendments would take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after enactment and apply to Part E payments for calendar quarters starting on or after that date. If HHS finds a State needs new State laws (other than new funding) to meet the changes, HHS would not treat the State plan as failing until the first calendar quarter after the State's next regular legislative session. For States with two‑year legislative sessions, each year of the session would count as a separate regular session for that delay rule.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov