Sec. 2.

(1) If this state receives federal money for the purposes described in this act and the federal money is not reduced below the level this state received on the effective date of this act and if public and private partners continue to provide the services they provided on the effective date of this act, the department shall establish the foster care independence program to offer education, training, employment, and financial support for eligible young adults leaving foster care.

(2) Subject to the availability of federal, state, and local funds, the program may include the following services:

(a) Identify young adults who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age and help these children make the transition to self-sufficiency by providing services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training in daily living skills, training in budgeting and financial management skills, substance abuse prevention, and preventive health activities, including smoking avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention.

(b) Help young adults who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age receive education, training, and services necessary to obtain employment.

(c) Help young adults who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age prepare for and enter postsecondary training and education institutions.

(d) Provide personal and emotional support to children aging out of foster care, through mentors and the promotion of interactions with dedicated adults.

(e) Provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to former foster care recipients between 18 and 21 years of age to complement their own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to assure that program participants recognize and accept their personal responsibility for preparing for and then making the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

History: 2008, Act 215, Imd. Eff. July 16, 2008