A.R.S. § 8-521.02: Extended Foster Care
Extended foster care program; requirements
What is Arizona's extended foster care program?
In Arizona, the child welfare department may run an extended foster care program for young adults who were in its custody as dependent children when they turned eighteen, are eighteen, nineteen or twenty years old, and sign a voluntary agreement with the department before turning twenty-one. To take part, the young adult must also be finishing school or enrolled in postsecondary or vocational education, working at least eighty hours a month, in a program that promotes employment or removes barriers to it, or unable to do those things because of a documented medical condition. The department must give a progress report every six months to a review panel that reviews each young adult's case plan at least every six months, and the department must develop educational case management plans to help participants finish school and pursue postsecondary education.
Full statute text
Official text last checked against azleg.gov:
8-521.02. Extended foster care program; requirements
A. The department may establish an extended foster care program for qualified young adults. To participate in the program, a qualified young adult must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Have been in the custody of the department as a dependent child when the young adult became eighteen years of age.
2. Be eighteen, nineteen or twenty years of age and be one or more of the following:
(a) Completing secondary education or an educational program leading to an equivalent credential or be enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education.
(b) Employed at least eighty hours a month.
(c) Participating in a program or activity that promotes employment or removes barriers to employment.
(d) Unable to be a full-time student or to be employed because of a documented medical condition.
3. Sign a voluntary extended foster care agreement with the department on or after the qualified young adult's eighteenth birthday and before the young adult's twenty-first birthday.
B. The department shall provide a progress report every six months to the young adult administrative review panel for each qualified young adult who participates in the extended foster care program.
C. The young adult administrative review panel shall review, at least once every six months, the qualified young adult's voluntary extended foster care case plan, including the services and supports provided and needed to assist the young adult in the young adult's successful transition to adulthood.
D. The department shall develop and coordinate educational case management plans for a qualified young adult participating in the extended foster care program to assist the qualified young adult to accomplish the following:
1. Graduate from high school.
2. Pass the statewide assessment to measure pupil achievement adopted pursuant to section 15-741.
3. Apply for postsecondary education financial assistance.
4. Apply for postsecondary education.
5. Complete postsecondary education classes.
Drafted by AI from the official text and checked sentence by sentence against azleg.gov. ClearStatute is run by David Bartlett, who is not an attorney. Legal information, not legal advice — consult a licensed attorney for your situation.