What Happens When You Age Out of Foster Care During a Pandemic?

Jessica Suriano - The Nation

This article describes some of the challenges facing young people as they age out of foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic and notes that several U.S. states have "announced plans to extend the aging-out guideline past the age of 21 for young adults in care during the pandemic."

"In California, this extension is valid through June 30, and young adults will still remain eligible for extended foster care even if they have lost their jobs or their education programs have been disrupted because of the pandemic. In Illinois, the 104 young adults in foster care who would be aging out of the system from April through June are also allowed to stay in their placement homes “until the pandemic crisis is declared over.” At the end of April, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state would cover the costs for over 200 young adults who would have aged out over the next few months to stay in care until the pandemic ends."