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Committee votes to codify extended foster care service model after youth and providers testify
Summary
The committee returned Senate Bill 13-03 with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would codify the extended foster care comprehensive service model and create an associated fund; witnesses, including a current participant, said the program improves housing stability and individualized coaching for youth aging out of foster care.
The House Committee on Health and Human Services voted to return Senate Bill 13-03 with a due-pass recommendation after testimony from Department of Child Safety staff, service providers and a young adult participating in the program.
Senate Bill 13-03 would codify into permanent law an extended foster care comprehensive service model and establish the extended foster care service model fund. The program provides weekly engagement with success coaches, life-skills training, and physical and mental health supports to young adults ages 17 to 21 who are in extended foster care; the bill also maintains an extended foster care quality review committee within the Department of Child Safety (DCS).
Chris Gustafson of DCS described the measure as a codification of a program that has been funded in biennial budget reconciliation bills and said the statutory change establishes the fund without creating an immediate appropriation. "This is just essentially taking what's in the budget and making it permanent law and establishing a fund," Gustafson said, adding that the program targets youth aging out without permanency and connects them with community-based coaches.
Providers and participants described the program as improving housing stability, health coverage use, education and employment outcomes through individualized coaching and lower caseloads for providers. Tiffany Fitzpatrick, a program provider, said coaches maintain lower caseloads of about 20 youth so they can provide weekly engagement and targeted supports. Monique Thomas, a program manager and former coach, testified that the program helps youth build trusting relationships after repeated moves in foster care.
A current participant, Emily Sanchez, testified in support and described the coach relationship as personal and practical. Sanchez said she has been in care since age 9 and that the EFC coach helped her pursue a driver's license and supports her apprenticeship plans. "The EFC program has enabled me to continue to make progress and reach my goals," she told the committee.
Committee members framed the bill as addressing known risks for youth who age out of foster care without permanency, noting higher rates of incarceration, lower educational attainment and housing instability. The committee approved the bill; the roll call recorded 10 ayes, 1 nay and 1 member absent.
Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 13-03 — motion: "SB 13-03 be returned with a due pass recommendation." Outcome: returned with due pass; tally reported by the committee: 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0 abstentions, 1 absent.
