EXTENDED FOSTER CARE CARRIES BENEFITS TO YOUNG ADULTS
By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor
18-year-olds in foster care can opt in to continue receiving support — including life skills training, financial assistance, and one-on-one guidance — until age 21
Let’s face it — adulting is hard. Even the word “adult” is vague. At some point, society decided that turning 18 magically transforms you into a full-fledged adult who’s supposed to have it all figured out. But life doesn’t come with an owner’s manual— and for many, especially youth aging out of foster care, the leap into adulthood can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, there’s help. Extended Foster Care is a program designed to support youth who are aging out of the foster care system, offering continued guidance, life skills training, and financial support to ease the transition into adulthood from age 18 until age 21.
Jamie Rancour, HHS Strategic Initiatives Project Coordinator, explained that the program offers approximately $1,000 in monthly payments and provides emotional support through regular check-ins and casual interactions — often over lunch outings with staff members.
Extended Foster Care is a voluntary program. When a youth in foster care is about to turn 18, their social worker informs them they have the option to continue. To participate, they must opt in by signing paperwork, which is then filed with the court for approval.
Once approved, the county is notified and takes care of the financial part of the program. The foster care payments that were previously going to foster parents will begin going directly to the youth each month — as long as they remain in good standing with the program, up to age 21 or until they choose to opt out, whichever comes first.
Mille Lacs Band social workers continue to monitor youth through monthly meetings.
“We help monitor their financial situation to look out for their best interest — to ensure that no one is taking advantage of them financially,” said Judi Helmin, HHS Child Protection Supervisor. “We look out for their best interest to make sure they are doing well.”
Youth can choose where they live. Most do not remain in their foster homes. Some strike out on their own, while others choose to live with a relative. While the youth are free to decide their living arrangement, they must actively participate in their individualized plan to remain eligible for benefits.
Those who were participating in the Independent Living Skills (ILS) program will continue with that support — and that’s where Lynn Hudson comes in. Hudson is the Youth Transitions Coordinator and keeps in close contact with the youth throughout their time in extended foster care.
Hudson explained that there are specific requirements. Youth must create an Independent Living Plan that is filed with the court. They must demonstrate progress toward their goals, such as where they plan to live or continue their education. To stay eligible, they must be:
•Working at least 20 hours per week, or
•Actively looking for work 20 hours per week, or
•Volunteering 20 hours per week, or
•Caring for a family member, or
•Enrolled in high school or a postsecondary program.
They must also maintain regular contact with Hudson. If they fail to keep up communication, they may be removed from the program.
Monthly check-ins with Hudson are often informal —sometimes just lunch and conversation.
“We just talk about how they are doing, what they’re working on, and whether they’re experiencing any difficulties or
challenges,” Hudson said. “It can be anything they want to talk about — relationships, jobs, or just life in general.”
“Everyone just wants to go to lunch with Lynn,” Helmin added with a grin.
“We just try to keep supporting them and guiding them. Sooner or later, it clicks,” Hudson said. “Hopefully they reach that positive point where they realize, ‘I guess I do need to go to work this many hours a week,’ or ‘Yes, I really do need to find a place to live.’ They do need that extra push sometimes — but it’s not negative. They’re held accountable for their goals because they’re receiving support from the program.”
Hudson and Helmin both acknowledged the challenges of working with teens in foster care. Hudson focuses solely on the youth’s goals — she doesn’t visit homes or manage multiple children at once. Still, she said, it can be tough to connect with teens who often put up walls.
“All teenagers can be prickly. They just are. We all went through it,” she said with a laugh. Helmin agreed, adding that the foster care youth often need help building basic life skills and prioritizing their mental health.
“The challenge is when the youth aren’t following through with the guidance and struggle to move forward,” Helmin said. “It’s hard for us, because we don’t want to see them suffer. We want them to be safe, living well, and thriving. A lot of times, it comes down to consistency and repetition.”
Despite the challenges, both women emphasized the rewards — the joy of watching youth take those first steps into adulthood.
“I can think of one young woman who has been in the program for quite a while, so she knows the ropes,” Helmin said. “And when they get it — they really get it. You start hearing them say things like, ‘I paid my rent,’ or ‘I signed up for school.’ They’re doing it. It gives me chills to talk about it. It’s just a wonderful thing to see someone blossom and take charge of their life. Once they get it, they get it. That’s the best part.”
“Every time we meet with them, we’re planting a seed,” Hudson added. “We never really know when it’s going to sprout — but it will. We just have to keep watering them.” There’s a lot of noise in the world today — everything moves faster, and life can feel overwhelming. That’s especially true for young people aging out of foster care.
“We serve as a filter sometimes,” Hudson said. “Adulthood is overwhelming — especially for these kids. They come from tough backgrounds. They just need a little extra support.”