#aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gdcb ,,an ,,act ,to modernize section #dgg of part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act to improve connections to housing1 expand education and training opportunities1 and modernize services to improve outcomes for foster youth transitioning into adulthood4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,fostering the ,future ,act4 #b4 ,expansion of education and workforce training opportunities for youth who have experienced foster care ,section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#e71 by striking aged out of foster care and inserting experienced foster care at age #ad or older2 7#b7 in subsection 7h77#b71 by striking age out of foster care and inserting experience foster care at age #ad or older2 7#c7 in each of subsections 7a77#f7 and 7i77#b71 by striking #af and inserting #ad2 7#d7 in subsection 7i77#c71 by striking in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than #e years 7whether or not consecutive7 and inserting may not allow a youth to participate in the program for more than #e years 7or1 in the case of a youth who was involved in a remedial education activity referred to in paragraph 7#d77;,b71 for more than #f years71 whether or not consecutive2 7#e7 in subsection 7i77#d7-- 7,a7 by amending subparagraph 7,a7 to read as follows3 7,a7 may be available for the cost of attendance-- 7i7 at an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife1 including a community college or postsecondary vocational institution2 or 7ii7 at a short-term training program that is eligible for the ,workforce ,pell program under section #dja7k71 as described in section #dha7;b77#c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh7;b77#c771 as added by section #hcjjb7;b7 of ,public ,law #aai-ba2 2 7,b7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,b7 as subparagraph 7,c72 and 7,c7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,a71 as so amended1 the following3 7,b7 may be available for costs-- 7i7 associated with participation in an apprenticeship program2 7ii7 to obtain a general equivalency degree2 or 7iii7 to receive remedial education2 and 2 and 7#f7 in subsection 7i71 by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,in this section1 the term remedial education means education or skill training needed to support obtaining a high school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary education1 training1 or an apprenticeship that is-- 7,a7 not already available through the school district of the student or another free local1 ,state1 or ,federal program2 and 7,b7 is provided by an instructor with credentials relevant to the subject area of instruction1 as determined by the ,state4 4 #c4 ,increase in maximum education and training voucher amount and provision of greater support for foster youth pursuing postsecondary education 7a7 ,in general ,section #dgg7;i7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;i77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7,a7 by striking that program and inserting that education or training program1 7except that the ,state may establish a grace period to allow a youth to continue participation in activities described in paragraph 7#d77;,a71 after an assessment and consultation with the youth1 if the ,state determines that reasonable circumstances warrant the grace period72 and 7,b7 by striking the program and inserting the voucher program2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#d77;,c7 7as so redesignated by section #b7e77;,c7 of this ,act71 by striking #e1jjj and inserting #ab1jjj4 7b7 ,guidance ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with youth who have experienced foster care1 shall develop and issue model guidance to ,states and jurisdictions receiving allotments under section #dgg7;c7 of the ,social ,security ,act for implementation of the amendment made by subsection 7a77#a7 of this section4 #d4 ,improving accessibility and youth awareness of education and training vouchers 7a7 ,in general ,section #dgg7;i7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;i771 as amended by section #b7f7 of this ,act1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 ,the ,state shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that eligible youth are aware of potential benefits provided under this subsection1 including by coordinating with programs funded under subsection 7h77#a74 7#i7 ,the program shall include a simplified1 user-tested1 and standard form for youth to use to apply for vouchers under the program1 using standard terminology1 that is easily accessible and available electronically4 4 7b7 ,use of funds ,section #dgg7;d77#a7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;d77#a77 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection 7c77#a7 may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section1 including outreach related to subsection 7i77#h74 ,a ,state to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection 7c77#c7 may use the amount for any purpose related to the program described in subsection 7i77#h74 4 #e4 ,improving access to housing for foster youth ,section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a7-- 7,a7 by striking and preventive and inserting preventive2 and 7,b7 by inserting 1 and access to housing for youth age #ah or older before the semicolon2 7#b7 in subsection 7a77#d71 by inserting current and before former2 7#c7 in subsection 7b77#b77;,d71 by inserting 1 including by collaborating with public housing agencies that administer ,federal housing programs serving foster youth under section #h7x77#b77;,b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg and receive funding to partner with public child welfare agencies to serve youth who have experienced foster care before the period2 7#d7 in subsection 7b77#c77;,b71 by striking not more than #cj percent of the amounts paid to the ,state from its allotment under subsection 7c7 for a fiscal year and inserting an average of not more than #cj percent of the amounts paid to the ,state from its allotment under subsection 7c7 for the #e fiscal years covered by the application submitted by the ,state pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection2 7#e7 in subsection 7d71 by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,housing supportive services 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state may use amounts from its allotment under subsection 7c7 to provide supportive services to assist eligible youth who experienced foster care to obtain or retain suitable housing4 7,b7 ,definitions 7i7 ,eligible youth ,in this subsection1 the term eligible youth means an individual who receives assistance provided under section #h7x7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg4 7ii7 ,supportive services ,the term supportive services may include-- 7,i7 basic life skills information and counseling on financial literacy1 use of credit1 and money management2 7,,ii7 counseling on rental lease contracts and assistance with rental insurance2 and 7,,iii7 assistance with security deposits1 utility connection fees1 moving costs1 and other fees associated with establishing tenancy4 7,c7 ,exception ,expenditures in accordance with this paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for room and board for purposes of subsection 7b77#c77;,b74 7,d7 ,aligning age eligibility ,notwithstanding subsection 7b77#c77;,a77ii71 a ,state may use funds from its allotment under subsection 7c7 to provide supportive services to eligible youth who have not attained #bf years of age for the purpose of supporting continued access to housing4 2 and 7#f7 in subsection 7g77#a71 by inserting access to housing1 before and personal4 #f4 ,joint agency guidance 7a7 ,in general ,within #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 shall develop and issue joint guidance to ,state public child welfare agencies and public housing authorities to improve alignment and coordination of housing supportive services provided under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act and housing assistance provided under section #h7x7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg4 7b7 ,contents ,the joint guidance shall include the following3 7#a7 ,clarification and alignment of ,federal policies to improve access to housing for youth who have experienced foster care1 including youth who are in independent living arrangements while in extended foster care4 7#b7 ,guidance on ,state use of funds provided under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act for supportive services 7as defined in subsection 7d77#f7 of such section7 to improve access to housing programs administered by the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#c7 ,best practices for building partnerships between public child welfare agencies and public housing authorities1 including ways to improve access to supportive services4 7#d7 ,additional information the ,secretaries deem necessary to effectively coordinate ,federal programs serving current and former foster youth4 7c7 ,production ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall designate an official of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services to lead development of the joint guidance in collaboration with the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 #g4 ,report to ,congress ,within #c years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall submit to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means and the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,finance and the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate a report that sets forth-- 7#a7 aggregate data on the number of eligible youth who have experienced foster care who are receiving ,federal housing assistance2 7#b7 a description of the outcomes for the youth1 including the extent to which youth are able to access stable housing and rates of homelessness2 7#c7 the findings from any evaluations of ,state programs conducted pursuant to section #dgg7;g77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act2 and 7#d7 statutory recommendations for improving coordination between public child welfare agencies and ,federal housing programs4 #h4 ,legal consulting and access under the ,john ,h4 ,chafee ,foster ,care ,program for ,successful ,transition to ,adulthood ,section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#d71 by inserting legal counseling access1 after education12 and 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#c71 by adding at the end the following3 7,l7 ,a certification by the chief executive officer of the ,state that the relevant case planning and other processes employed by the ,state take into consideration certain legal issues affecting housing1 education1 entry into employment1 and family connections of current and former foster youth and the efforts required to address the issues1 including with respect to ,state court records1 legal recognition of family relationships1 and matters relating to custody and permanency4 4 #i4 ,ensuring expectant and parenting youth have access to services provided through the ,maternal1 ,infant1 and ,early ,childhood ,home ,visiting ,program 7a7 ,purpose ,section #dgg7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#f71 by striking and2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 to connect foster youth in eligible families 7as such term is defined in section #eaa7 who receive services under this part with evidence-based home visiting and support services provided under section #eaa4 4 7b7 ,applications ,section #dgg7;b77#c7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;b77#c77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,m7 ,a certification by the chief executive officer of the ,state that the ,state has processes in place to ensure that a youth participating in the program under this section who is in an eligible family 7as such term is defined in section #eaa7 is provided with information regarding evidence-based home visiting and support services provided in the ,state under section #eaa4 4 #aj4 ,tailored case management and resource coordination services for parenting and expectant youth who have experienced foster care ,section #dgg7;d77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;d77#a77 is amended to read as follows3 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection 7c77#a7 may use the amount-- 7,a7 to provide tailored case management and resource coordination services to youth otherwise eligible for services under the ,state program under this section who are expectant or parenting2 or 7,b7 in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section4 4 #aa4 ,updating the purposes of the ,john ,h4 ,chafee ,foster ,care ,program for ,successful ,transition to ,adulthood 7a7 ,updating of purposes ,section #dgg7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg7;a771 as amended by section #i7;a77#c7 of this ,act1 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking paragraph 7#b72 7#b7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#c7 through 7#h7 as paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#i71 respectively2 and 7#c7 by inserting after conducted-- the following3 7#a7 to help children who have experienced foster care at age #ad or older to develop and maintain sustained1 supportive relationships with adults 7including kin or fictive kin who are not serving as placement71 mentors1 and peers 7including peers who have experienced foster care71 with a goal of providing multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and ensuring that the youth develop lifelong connections and support networks2 7#b7 to support youth still in foster care who have experienced foster care at age #ad or older in exercising the rights referred to in section #dge;,a to participate in developing their permanency plan and receive written information about available services and steps the agency is taking to support the plan1 as well as to facilitate pre- and post-permanency peer support1 mentoring1 connections with kin1 and referrals to additional appropriate programs and services to help youth achieve their permanency goals2 4 7b7 ,guidance ,within #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act and after consulting with youth with lived experience in foster care1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall issue guidance to ,states and ,tribal child welfare agencies regarding the purposes set forth in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of section #dgg7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act1 that includes1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 examples of services and support eligible for ,federal funding under part ,b of title ,,iv of such ,act1 under part ,e of such title as part of completing and following the case plan requirements provided for in section #dge;,a of such ,act1 or under section #dgg of such ,act1 including individual youth support1 family support1 and peer support to engage youth during reunification1 guardianship1 or adoption proceedings2 7#b7 best practices for facilitating peer support1 mentoring1 and the development and maintenance of lifelong connections1 including practices that support sibling1 tribal1 and community connections1 including minimum qualifications and training for persons providing mentoring and peer support2 7#c7 standards of outreach to and notification of eligible youth1 including youth with a planned permanent living arrangement1 to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and services2 and 7#d7 protocols for documentation of support and relationship-building activities under section #dgg of such ,act that are required by section #dge;,a of such ,act to be included in a child's case plan1 sufficient to permit review under the case review system described in section #dge7e7 of such ,act4 #ab4 ,effective date 7a7 ,in general ,except as otherwise provided in this ,act1 this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act shall take effect on the date that is #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,delayed permitted if ,state legislation required ,if the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services determines that ,state legislation 7other than legislation appropriating funds7 is required in order for a ,state plan under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by sections #e7c71 #e7d71 #h7b71 and #i7;b7 of this ,act1 the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the #ast day of the #ast calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the ,state legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 ,for purposes of the preceding sentence1 if the ,state has a #b-year legislative session1 each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the ,state legislature4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,may #ai1 #bjbf4;,clerk4