PUEBLO, Colo. ' The Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners approved submission of an application for Chafee Foster Youth Transition and Fostering Success grant funds on June 5 to support youth aging out of foster care.

Chris Reid, deputy director for Pueblo County Child Welfare, told commissioners the grant helps fund life-skills training, budgeting, job search assistance, internships with local businesses that can become paid apprenticeships, educational supports and efforts to strengthen family and mentor relationships. "The grant money will help fund our programs for our older youth and young adults as they age out of the foster care program," Reid said.

Reid said federal rules for the Chafee program require a 20% match for independent-living funds and that Pueblo County provides Chafee services for neighboring small counties (Artero, Crowley and Huerfano) as well. He described the population served as youth ages 14 up to 23 who have experienced foster care in their older teen years.

Staff said funding for the fostering-success vouchers has fallen because the number of vouchers in use is smaller: "...we have 5 young adults receiving the voucher. And, this year, they're gonna go on how many vouchers that we've given. So we're looking at 5, so it's gonna be cut about in half for that program," Reid said, adding the county anticipates cuts. Commissioners praised the program and approved the grant submission by voice vote.

No additional county match or appropriation was approved at the meeting; Reid said the match requirement and multi-county service arrangements are part of the application.