I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7591 
To support the health and well-being of current and former foster care 
youth transitioning into adulthood. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2020 
Mr. LEWIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education 
and Labor, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To support the health and well-being of current and former 
foster care youth transitioning into adulthood. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Healthy 
Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to foster healthy adult out-
comes for current and former foster care youth aging out 
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of the foster care system and transitioning into adulthood. 
This Act also strengthens the direct responsibility of the 
Federal Government for foster care youth transitioning 
out of care. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Nearly 25,000 foster youth become too old 
to receive foster care assistance and benefits—or 
‘‘age out’’—every year. 
(2) Youth aging out of foster care and 
transitioning to independent living require consider-
able support from local, State, and Federal Govern-
ment to ensure a smooth transition into healthy, 
independent adulthood. 
(3) Foster youth are more likely to have been 
exposed to childhood and adolescent trauma, sub-
jected to multiple chronic health challenges, and di-
agnosed with poorer mental and physical health out-
comes than their peers. Additionally, foster youth 
are more vulnerable to suffer from persistent anx-
iety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and 
other severe challenges to their health. 
(4) As a result, youth aging out of foster care 
experience tremendous difficulty in completing edu-
cation, obtaining gainful employment, accessing and 
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receiving basic health care, maintaining stable hous-
ing, and avoiding the criminal justice system. 
(5) Studies indicate that more than 80 percent 
of foster youth transitioning into adulthood are un-
able to support themselves financially. 
(6) Only 4 percent of youth aging out of foster 
care earn a college degree by age 26, as compared 
to 36 percent of individuals who never experience 
foster care. 
(7) On average, youth aging out of foster care 
earn approximately half the income of their similarly 
educated peers and are employed at significantly 
lower rates. 
(8) Accordingly, individuals transitioning out of 
foster care are often linked with homelessness and 
housing instability. One national study estimated 
that approximately 66 percent of former foster 
youth experience a homeless episode within 6 
months after transitioning out of care. 
(9) Moreover, youth aging out of foster care are 
less likely to seek health and mental care services 
that are often desperately needed. 
(10) Nearly 60 percent of young men who have 
aged out of foster care and of emancipated young 
men have been convicted of a crime. 
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SEC. 4. MODIFICATIONS TO FEDERAL FOSTER CARE REIM-
BURSEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) EXPANSION OF AGE OF ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 475(8) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(8)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(8) The term ‘child’ means— 
‘‘(A) an individual who has not attained 18 
years of age; and 
‘‘(B) an individual who has attained 18 
years of age but has not attained 21 years of 
age, but only in the case of an individual— 
‘‘(i) who is in foster care under the 
responsibility of the State; 
‘‘(ii) with respect to whom an adop-
tion assistance agreement is in effect 
under section 473 if the child had attained 
16 years of age before the agreement be-
came effective; or 
‘‘(iii) with respect to whom a kinship 
guardianship assistance agreement is in ef-
fect under section 473(d) if the child had 
attained 16 years of age before the agree-
ment became effective.’’. 
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(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Part E of 
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 
et seq.) is amended— 
(A) by amending section 473(a)(4)(A)(i) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(4)(A)(i)) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(i) who has attained 21 years of 
age;’’; 
(B) in section 471(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(9)(C)(i)(I)), by striking 
‘‘18 years of age or such older age as the State 
has elected under section 475(8) of this Act’’ 
and inserting ‘‘21 years of age’’; 
(C) in section 472(c)(2) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 672(c)(2)), by striking ‘‘18’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘21’’; and 
(D) in section 475(5)(I) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 675(5)(I)), by striking ‘‘18 years of age 
or such greater age as the State has elected 
under paragraph (8)’’ and inserting ‘‘21 years 
of age’’. 
(b) PLACEMENT AND INTERACTION OF SIBLINGS IN 
FOSTER CARE.—Section 471(a)(31) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(31)) is amended— 
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(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘reasonable’’ and inserting ‘‘all avail-
able’’; and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) in the case of siblings removed from 
their home who are not so jointly placed— 
‘‘(i) to place each such sibling at a 
distance that is in close proximity to the 
placement location of, and permits fre-
quent, in-person contact with, all other sib-
lings; and 
‘‘(ii) to provide for frequent visitation 
or other ongoing interaction between the 
siblings, including by making available to 
each such sibling at all times detailed up- 
to-date contact information for each other 
sibling who is or has previously been in 
foster care in the State, 
unless the State documents that such placement 
or interaction would be contrary to the safety or 
well-being of any of the siblings; and 
‘‘(C) to provide adults who were formerly 
in foster care and removed from their homes 
with assistance in locating siblings and to facili-
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tate contact between siblings if both parties 
consent to contact.’’. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR OLDER FOSTER YOUTH.— 
Section 475(1)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
675(1)(D)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(D) For a child who has attained 14 
years of age or over, a written description, de-
veloped in consultation with the child, updated 
on an annual basis until the child attains 17 
years of age, and, if necessary, coordinated with 
a transition plan under subparagraph (5)(H), 
of the programs and services which will help 
such child prepare for the transition from foster 
care to a successful adulthood, including spe-
cific options on— 
‘‘(i) education, including identifying 
personalized goals for the child in terms of 
academic performance, course selection, 
and college admission as well as any coun-
seling, tutoring, or other support needed to 
meet those goals; 
‘‘(ii) extracurricular activities and op-
portunities, including those offered both at 
the child’s school and in the child’s com-
munity; 
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‘‘(iii) local opportunities for mentors 
and other continuing support services; 
‘‘(iv) behavioral or mental health serv-
ices, including trauma-informed counseling; 
and 
‘‘(v) assistance, if requested by the 
child, in finding a part-time job, that does 
not require more than 10 hours of work 
per week when school is in session or 20 
hours of work per week when school is not 
in session.’’. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSITION PLANNING.— 
Section 475(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
675(5)) is amended— 
(1) by amending subparagraph (H) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(H) on an annual basis during each year 
of the period beginning on the date the child at-
tains 17 years of age and ending on the date 
the child is discharged from foster care, a case-
worker on the staff of the State agency, and, as 
appropriate, other representatives of the child 
provide the child with assistance and support in 
developing a transition plan that— 
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‘‘(i) is personalized at the direction of 
the child and is as detailed as the child 
may elect; 
‘‘(ii) includes specific options on hous-
ing, health insurance, education, local op-
portunities for mentors and continuing 
support services, and work force supports 
and employment services; 
‘‘(iii) includes information about join-
ing the Armed Services, AmeriCorps, the 
Peace Corps, or Job Corps, or partici-
pating in any program under the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act or 
section 10 of the Fostering Healthy Tran-
sitions into Adulthood Act of 2020; 
‘‘(iv) includes information about the 
importance of designating another indi-
vidual to make financial and health care 
treatment decisions on behalf of the child 
if the child becomes unable to participate 
in such decisions and the child does not 
have, or does not want, a relative who 
would otherwise be authorized under State 
law to make such decisions; and 
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‘‘(v) provides the child with the option 
to execute a durable power of attorney for 
finances, and a health care power of attor-
ney, health care proxy, or other similar 
document recognized under State law; 
and’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (I), by inserting after 
‘‘REAL ID Act of 2005,’’ the following: ‘‘certified 
copies of any legal documents pertaining to custody 
of the child or the child’s status in foster care, bank-
ing and financial information related to any ac-
counts opened by the child or on behalf of the 
child,’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2020. 
SEC. 5. MODIFICATIONS TO CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDE-
PENDENCE PROGRAM. 
(a) EXPANSION OF AGE OF ELIGIBILITY.—Section 
477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ‘‘16’’ and 
inserting ‘‘14’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘18’’ each place it appears (ex-
cept in subsection (b)(3)(C)) and inserting ‘‘21’’; 
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(3) by striking ‘‘21’’ each place it appears (ex-
cept in subsection (f)) and inserting ‘‘26’’; and 
(4) by striking ‘‘23’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘28’’. 
(b) IN-STATE TUITION RATES
FOR QUALIFYING 
FOSTER YOUTH.—Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(L) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will not 
charge youths eligible for services under the 
State program of any State under this section 
tuition for attendance at a public institution of 
higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965) or a post-
secondary vocational institution (as defined in 
section 102(c) of such Act) in the State at a 
rate that is greater than the rate charged for 
residents of the State for such attendance.’’. 
(c) 
IMPROVED
SERVICES
FOR
TRANSITIONING 
YOUTH.—Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
677(b)(3)), as amended by subsection (b), is further 
amended— 
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(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘absti-
nence education programs’’ and inserting ‘‘com-
prehensive sexual education programs’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (K)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘financial and’’ before 
‘‘health care treatment’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘a durable power of attor-
ney for finances, and’’ before ‘‘a health care 
power of attorney’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(M) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will— 
‘‘(i) ensure that each youth partici-
pating in the program under this section is 
provided with— 
‘‘(I) a financial education that 
helps the youth understand basic fi-
nancial topics, including budgeting, 
managing bank accounts, interest 
rates, savings, credit, retirement, in-
vestment, insurance, mortgages, loans, 
and identity theft and protection; 
‘‘(II) assistance with establishing 
a checking account and a savings ac-
count at no cost to the youth; and 
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‘‘(III) information about partici-
pating, and assistance with enrolling, 
in an individual development account 
(as defined in section 404(5) of the 
Assets for Independence Act (42 
U.S.C. 604(5)); and 
‘‘(ii) designate at least 10 percent of 
the amount paid to the State from its al-
lotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal 
year to provide for an additional State 
match of the youth’s contributions to an 
individual development account (as so de-
fined). 
‘‘(N) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will ensure 
that each youth participating in the program 
under this section is provided with information 
about identifying and applying for public and 
private scholarships, grants, and loans to con-
tinue education or career training, including (if 
requested by the youth) individualized assist-
ance with completing the Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid. 
‘‘(O) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will ensure 
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that each youth participating in the program 
under this section is provided with information 
about the availability of various mental and be-
havioral health services in the youth’s commu-
nity and an explanation of how those services 
generally benefit youth who have experienced 
foster care. 
‘‘(P) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that, if the State has a 
voter registration requirement for any voter in 
the State with respect to an election for Federal 
office, the State will ensure that each youth 
participating in the program under this section 
who is a United States citizen and who meets 
the qualifications to be a voter under State law 
is, on an annual basis and not later than three 
months before the earlier of the date of the gen-
eral election or the date that is the deadline for 
registration for a general election, provided with 
written notice of the youth’s voter registration 
status and, if the youth is not registered to 
vote, provided with the opportunity to register 
to vote. 
‘‘(Q) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will ensure 
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that each youth participating in the program 
under this section who is not a citizen of the 
United States is provided with information 
about maintaining or acquiring legal status, in-
cluding information about how to begin or com-
plete the process of naturalization. 
‘‘(R) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will ensure 
that each youth participating in the program 
under this section has the opportunity to par-
ticipate, at no expense to the youth, in a men-
toring program or another program designed to 
build personal and emotional connections be-
tween adults and children aging out of foster 
care, and that each youth is provided with in-
formation about participating in such a pro-
gram on no less than an annual basis, which 
shall include an explanation of how such pro-
grams and connections generally benefit youth 
who have experienced foster care. 
‘‘(S) A certification by the chief executive 
officer of the State that the State will— 
‘‘(i) inquire of each individual con-
victed of a State offense (including juve-
niles), if such individual, at the time of 
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conviction, was in foster care, or was pre-
viously in foster care at any point; 
‘‘(ii) inquire of each individual con-
victed of a State offense who is or was in 
foster care the circumstances and duration 
of foster care; 
‘‘(iii) inform each individual convicted 
of a State offense who is or was in foster 
care of the right to decline to answer ques-
tions under clause (ii); and 
‘‘(iv) report to the Secretary on an 
annual basis, in such form as the Sec-
retary may require— 
‘‘(I) the number of individuals 
convicted of a State offense in the 
preceding year, disaggregated by type 
of conviction; 
‘‘(II) the number of individuals 
convicted of a State offense in the 
preceding year who are or were in fos-
ter care, disaggregated by type of con-
viction; 
‘‘(III) the number of individuals 
held in incarceration for a Federal of-
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fense 
in 
the 
preceding 
year, 
disaggregated by type of conviction; 
‘‘(IV) the number of individuals 
held in incarceration for a Federal of-
fense in the preceding year who are or 
were in foster care, disaggregated by 
type of conviction; 
‘‘(V) the total estimated cost of 
incarceration for each person who is 
or was in foster care; and 
‘‘(VI) such other information as 
the Secretary may require.’’. 
(d) INCREASED AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—Section 477(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(h)) 
is amended— 
(1) 
in 
paragraph 
(1), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$140,000,000, or, beginning in fiscal year 2021, 
$143,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$429,000,000’’; and 
(2) 
in 
paragraph 
(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$60,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$180,000,000’’. 
(e) EXPANSION
OF EDUCATIONAL
AND TRAINING 
VOUCHERS.—Section 477(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
677(i)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’; 
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(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘16’’ and inserting ‘‘14’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘may allow’’ and inserting 
‘‘shall allow’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘26’’ and inserting ‘‘28’’; 
and 
(C) by striking ‘‘, but in no event may a 
youth participate in the program for more than 
5 years (whether or not consecutive)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, except that the State shall allow 
youths participating in the voucher program 
who attain 28 years of age to complete their 
postsecondary education or training program’’; 
(4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(4) The voucher or vouchers provided for an 
individual under this section shall be available for, 
and in an amount that shall not exceed, the cost of 
attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965) at an institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
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Education Act of 1965) or a postsecondary voca-
tional institution (as defined in section 102(c) of 
such Act).’’; and 
(5) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on June 1, 2021, except 
that the amendments made by subsection (d) shall 
apply with respect to fiscal years beginning with fis-
cal year 2021. 
(2) AUTHORITY TO EXTEND DEADLINE.—If a 
State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Sec-
retary that it is necessary to amend State law in 
order to change a particular practice that is incon-
sistent with this Act, the Secretary may extend the 
compliance date for the State a reasonable number 
of days after the close of the first State legislative 
session beginning after the date of the enactment of 
the Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood 
Act of 2020. 
SEC. 6. FOSTER CARE TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS. 
Part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 670 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
477 the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 477A. FOSTER CARE TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In coordination with assistance 
provided under the programs under sections 477 and 
477B, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) administer the programs described in this 
section; and 
‘‘(2) develop professional guidelines and na-
tional standards to be made available for use by fos-
ter care transitional services and related programs 
receiving Federal funding. 
‘‘(b) IMPROVED FEDERAL INFORMATION RESOURCES 
FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.— 
‘‘(1) WEBSITE
FOR
CURRENT
AND
FORMER 
FOSTER YOUTH.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop and maintain a website designed to pro-
vide specific information about Federal, State, 
and local resources available to current and 
former foster youth. 
‘‘(B) 
INFORMATION
GUIDELINES.—The 
website shall include information about the 
availability of, and the eligibility requirements 
for, all public resources available to current and 
former foster youth, including— 
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‘‘(i) information about transition plan-
ning requirements required by section 
475(5)(H); 
‘‘(ii) assistance with any program 
under this section, section 477, or section 
477B; 
‘‘(iii) assistance with any program es-
tablished under the Fostering Healthy 
Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020; 
‘‘(iv) the Free Application for Federal 
Student Aid and other information about 
Federal financial aid; 
‘‘(v) Pell Grants; 
‘‘(vi) Federal TRIO programs; 
‘‘(vii) waivers for applications to insti-
tutions of higher education; 
‘‘(viii) job training programs available 
to current or former foster youth; 
‘‘(ix) Medicaid; and 
‘‘(x) programs offered by State and 
local governments aimed at assisting cur-
rent or former foster youth. 
‘‘(C) ACCESSIBILITY.—The website shall 
be— 
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‘‘(i) accessible with a simple website 
address that can be used in advertisements 
and easily remembered; 
‘‘(ii) 
searchable 
from 
the 
public 
websites of the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Department of Edu-
cation, the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, and the Department 
of Labor; 
‘‘(iii) compliant with all applicable 
laws and regulations regarding accessi-
bility, data protection, and privacy for 
Federal websites; and 
‘‘(iv) able to be easily navigated and 
understood by current and former foster 
youth. 
‘‘(2) HOTLINE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
develop and maintain a telephone hotline de-
signed to provide specific information about 
Federal, State, and local resources available to 
current and former foster youth. 
‘‘(B) 
INFORMATION
GUIDELINES.—The 
hotline shall— 
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‘‘(i) accept calls from current foster 
youth, former foster youth, and assisting 
adults; and 
‘‘(ii) answer questions and provide 
guidance about the availability of, and an 
individual’s eligibility for, all public re-
sources available to current and former 
foster 
youth 
described 
in 
paragraph 
(1)(B). 
‘‘(C) ACCESSIBILITY.—The hotline shall 
be— 
‘‘(i) accessible with a toll-free number 
that can be used in advertisements and 
easily remembered; 
‘‘(ii) compliant with all applicable laws 
and regulations regarding accessibility, 
data protection, and privacy for Federal 
telephone systems; and 
‘‘(iii) able to be easily navigated and 
understood by current and former foster 
youth. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—In developing the re-
sources required by this section, the Secretary shall 
consult with— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Education; 
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‘‘(B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development; 
‘‘(C) the Secretary of Labor; 
‘‘(D) other Federal agencies serving cur-
rent or former foster youth; 
‘‘(E) State and local government child wel-
fare agencies; 
‘‘(F) State Medicaid agencies; 
‘‘(G) State and local government education 
and labor agencies; 
‘‘(H) advocacy groups representing current 
and former foster youth; and 
‘‘(I) nonprofit organizations serving cur-
rent or former foster youth. 
‘‘(4) PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.—After es-
tablishing the website and telephone hotline as re-
quired by this subsection, the Secretary shall col-
laborate with agencies and stakeholders identified in 
paragraph (3) to publicize the website and the hot-
line to current foster youth, former foster youth, 
caseworkers, service providers, mentors, school coun-
selors, foster parents, adoptive parents of former 
foster youth, and other concerned adults. 
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‘‘(5) DEADLINES.—The requirements of this 
subsection shall be fully implemented not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. 
‘‘(c) BASIC HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOW-
ANCE FOR TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (5), 
the Secretary shall provide to eligible individuals (as 
described in paragraph (3)) a basic monthly allow-
ance for housing and transportation in the amount 
determined under paragraph (2), to be paid in ad-
vance on the day preceding the first day of each 
month in the individual’s independent living transi-
tion period. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B), the amount of a basic 
monthly allowance for housing and transpor-
tation with respect to an eligible individual for 
a month in the individual’s independent living 
transition period shall be an amount equal to 
the applicable percentage (as determined under 
subparagraph (C)) of the sum of the following: 
‘‘(i) The average monthly cost (as de-
termined by the Secretary in coordination 
with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
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