Ohio foster care youth and alumni are currently seeking to extend foster care to 23. Section 303(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the Family First Prevention Services Act gives states the option of extending the use of Chafee funding to serve former foster youth through the age of 23. Our state has not yet done so.

Testimonials from Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies:

• Raven’s testimony
• Kelsie’s testimony
• Kim’s testimony
• Ashley’s testimony
• Lisa’s testimony

Here is a template for you to submit a testimony of your own.

Links to Research:
State Approaches to Extending Chafee Services to Age 23

The following 31 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have opted to provide Chafee services to young people up to age 23: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.