transition to self-sufficiency and provide guidance on how 
to access services under the programs.’’. 
(b) DUTIES OF THE STATE.—Section 477(b)(3) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3)) is amended— 
(1) 
by 
redesignating 
subparagraphs 
(H) 
through (J) as subparagraphs (I) through (K), re-
spectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) A certification by the chief executive offi-
cer that, when or before a child leaves foster care 
under the responsibility of the State, the State will 
inform the child of the full range of available finan-
cial, housing, counseling, employment, and education 
services, and other appropriate support and services 
for which the child is eligible.’’. 
SEC. 4. DEVELOPING COMMON STANDARDS FOR FOSTER 
CARE. 
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
677), as amended by section 3(a) of this Act, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) DEVELOPING COMMON STANDARDS FOR FOS-
TER CARE.—To improve the ability of the Department of 
Health and Human Services to monitor the implementa-
tion by States of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Inde-
pendence Program, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall develop a standard reporting format for 
State Child and Family Service plans and progress reports 
and implement a uniform process regional offices can use 
to assess States progress in meeting the needs of youth 
in foster care and those recently emancipated from foster 
care. The format shall be developed to promote appro-
priate delivery of independent living services, by requiring 
the reporting of information on the following: 
‘‘(1) Availability of services within various geo-
graphic areas in States and foster care placement 
settings (such as kinship care, group home, and non- 
kin foster care) to ensure equitable service provision. 
‘‘(2) Clear delineation of various support serv-
ices for youth formerly in foster care, including but 
not limited to: health care, mental health care, hous-
ing, employment, assistance in obtaining a high 
school diploma, career exploration, vocational train-
ing, job placement and retention, access and transi-
tion to higher education programs, training in daily 
living skills, training in budgeting and financial 
management skills, substance abuse prevention, and 
preventive health activities. 
‘‘(3) Transition services offered to youth in fos-
ter care and to young adults who have left foster
care but have not attained 21 years of age, broken 
down by type of service and the age at which the 
services are offered. 
‘‘(4) Methods used by the State to ensure that 
youth are informed of all support and services for 
which they are eligible.’’. 
SEC. 5. MODIFICATION OF CASE PLAN REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 475(1)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 675(1)(D)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(D) Where appropriate, for a child who 
has attained 14 years of age (and, at State op-
tion, any other child), a written description of 
the programs and services that will facilitate 
the transition of the child from foster care to 
independent living, including a discussion of the 
appropriateness of the services that have been 
provided to the child under the plan. The plan 
for these youth shall also include documentation 
of the steps the agency is taking to find a per-
manent placement with a family or other adult 
connection for the youth.’’. 
SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF PROGRAM EVALUATIONS. 
Section 477(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 677(g)(1)) is amended—
(1) in the 1st sentence, by inserting ‘‘, and of 
model programs that focus on improving outcomes 
for youth aging out of care in the areas of youth 
education, employment, personal development, and 
housing’’ after ‘‘significance’’; 
(2) in the 2nd sentence, by inserting ‘‘mental 
and physical health,’’ after ‘‘employment,’’; and 
(3) in the 3rd sentence, by inserting ‘‘, where 
practicable,’’ before ‘‘random assignment’’. 
SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY. 
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
677) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘18’’ and 
inserting ‘‘14’’; and 
(2) in subsection (i)(2), by striking ‘‘youths 
adopted from foster care after attaining age 16’’ and 
inserting ‘‘youths in or exiting from foster care after 
attaining 14 years of age’’. 
SEC. 8. COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH IN TRANSI-
TION DATABASE. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) within 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, issue a notice of proposed rule-
making governing implementation of the plan re-
ferred to in section 477(f)(1)(C) of the Social Secu-
rity Act; 
(2) within 9 months after such date of enact-
ment, issue a final rule governing the implementa-
tion; 
(3) within 1 year after such date of enactment, 
implement the plan. 
Æ