Open Congressional Research Service
Eight pending bills propose changes to the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, which allocates funds to states annually to assist older foster youth as they enter adulthood. This publication explains and discusses the proposed legislation, which aims to increase annual appropriations, widen the range of those eligible to receive services, provide youth with education and training vouchers, and permit eligible tribes to receive a part of Chafee funding. Other bills require states to distribute program funds to a range of qualified private social service providers, require states to inform all youth leaving care of the full range of available services, and require the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct evaluations of model independent living programs. Free, 82 pages. (202) 637-9800, http://opencrs.com.
