Colorado § 26-5-113 - Extended services for former foster care youth.

§ 26-5-113. Extended services for former foster care youth.

(1) A county department may coordinate certain services to former foster care youth who request such services in order to support such former foster care youth in becoming self-sufficient adults. This section is not meant to replace services for foster care youth who remain in the custody of a county department. The determination of whether a youth who is in foster care is ready to leave the custody of the county department remains under the jurisdiction of the court.

(2) A county department may opt to serve former foster care youth who have been in the custody of the division of youth services if such youth are included in the plan for services for a successful adulthood.

(3) The department of local affairs may assist a county department in securing available housing vouchers through programs offered by the department of local affairs, such as the homeless solutions program, the housing choice voucher program, or any other appropriate supportive housing program for former foster care youth, specifically between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, who are experiencing homelessness or imminent risk of homelessness. If appropriations are available, the department of local affairs may assist former foster care youth with security deposits related to housing.

(4) The managed care entity contracted with for the department of health care policy and financing's statewide managed care system shall assist a county department that opts to serve former foster care youth who are enrolled in medicaid.

(5) State institutions of higher education and community colleges shall work with the county departments to explore ways to support former foster care youth both financially and through other supportive services. This support includes reviewing the ability to provide tuition assistance and other fee waivers to former foster care youth.

(6) A county department may support former foster care youth pursuant to this section by developing a plan for services for a successful adulthood and transferring an amount of money out of the county's core services funding and into a fund for services for a successful adulthood.

(7) The state department of human services and the state department of local affairs shall coordinate to implement, administer, and share data, to the extent allowable by law, for the Colorado fostering success voucher program, established pursuant to section 19-7-314.5. Administration of the voucher program must consider the unique developmental and social needs of youth throughout implementation, including case management, needs, the promulgation of rules, and the creation of policies and procedures for voucher recipients.

Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (HB 18-1319), ch. 217, p. 1390, § 3, effective May 18. L. 2023: (7) added, (SB 23-082), ch. 346, p. 2077, § 5, effective June 5.