NCJ Number
211629
Date Published
2003
Length
74 pages
Annotation
This supplemental guide provides assistance to the Pennsylvania judiciary, specific to youth under the State’s care and aging out of the State’s foster care program with comprehensive information on current Federal and State law and the requirements, entitlements, and benefits under Federal and State laws ensuring an adolescent’s well-being at permanency review hearings.
Abstract
All adolescents experience important life changes and growing pains, however for young people in out-of-home care, there are unique challenges faced as they assume increasing levels of independence and responsibility. The juvenile court has an obligation to ensure that youth entrusted to the State’s care have the support necessary to age out of care as self-sufficient, healthy, and productive adults. This report is a supplemental guide from the Juvenile Law Center specific to dependent youth aging out of the State of Pennsylvania’s foster care program. The juvenile judiciary must be aware of the special needs of foster care youth who are making the transition to adulthood. This guide is designed to aid the juvenile court in planning for these foster care youth. The guide is divided into two main sections. The first focuses on current Federal and State law with specific reference made to the Foster Care Independence Act, Teenagers and the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), Pennsylvania law affecting older foster youth, and the court’s obligation to older non-foster youth seeking assistance. Lastly, requirements, entitlements, and benefits under Federal and State law particular to adolescents in foster care, as well as other entitlements applicable to qualified youth whether they are or are not in the child welfare system are explained in order to promote safety and permanency, as well as ensure the overall well-being for adolescents in foster care. References and Appendixes A-E