House Hearing Highlights Older Youth Policy: “Aging Out is Not a Plan”
House Hearing Highlights Older Youth Policy: “Aging Out is Not a Plan”
At a June 12 hearing of the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, lawmakers examined how federal programs meant to support young people aging out of foster care often fall short.
Policy in Focus: the Chafee Program,1 which funds independent living support, employment services, and Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs) for postsecondary costs.
What the Hearing Surfaced: Chronic underutilization. In FY22 alone, states returned $8.9 million in unused funds, largely due to administrative hurdles and low youth awareness.
Who Testified:
Ramond Nelson– Lived Experience Leader, Foster Club
Lisa Guillette– Executive Director, Foster Forward
Maggie Stevens, Ed.D.– President and CEO, Foster Success
Kimberely Webb– Youth in Foster Care in Farmington, Missouri
Wonk Out and Go Deeper: Catch the full hearing or dive into witness testimony here.