§ 26-5-113 — Extended services for former foster care youth

Colorado § 26-5-113

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 26: Human
• Art.: Child Welfare Services

Text

(1) A county
department may coordinate certain services to former foster care youth who
request such services in order to support such former foster care youth in
becoming self-sufficient adults. This section is not meant to replace services for
foster care youth who remain in the custody of a county department. The
determination of whether a youth who is in foster care is ready to leave the custody
of the county department remains under the jurisdiction of the court.

(2) A county department may opt to serve former foster care youth who have
been in the custody of the division of youth services if such youth are included in
the plan for services for a successful adulthood.

(3) The department of local affairs may assist a county department in
securing available housing vouchers through programs offered by the department
of local affairs, such as the homeless solutions program, the housing choice
voucher program, or any other appropriate supportive housing program for former
foster care youth, specifically between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, who
are experiencing homelessness or imminent risk of homelessness. If appropriations
are available, the department of local affairs may assist former foster care youth
with security deposits related to housing.

(4) The managed care entity contracted with for the department of health
care policy and financing's statewide managed care system shall assist a county
department that opts to serve former foster care youth who are enrolled in
medicaid.

(5) State institutions of higher education and community colleges shall work
with the county departments to explore ways to support former foster care youth
both financially and through other supportive services. This support includes
reviewing the ability to provide tuition assistance and other fee waivers to former
foster care youth.

(6) A county department may support former foster care youth pursuant to
this section by developing a plan for services for a successful adulthood and
transferring an amount of money out of the county's core services funding and into
a fund for services for a successful adulthood.

(7) The state department of human services and the state department of
local affairs shall coordinate to implement, administer, and share data, to the
extent allowable by law, for the Colorado fostering success voucher program,
established pursuant to section 19-7-314.5. Administration of the voucher program
must consider the unique developmental and social needs of youth throughout
implementation, including case management, needs, the promulgation of rules, and
the creation of policies and procedures for voucher recipients.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (HB 18-1319), ch. 217, p. 1390, � 3, effective May 18. L. 2023: (7) added, (SB 23-082), ch. 346, p. 2077, � 5, effective June 5.