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1 (January 11, 2007)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabebt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22501 Updated January 11, 2007 CRS Report for Congress Child Welfare: the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) Adrienne L. Fernandes Analyst in Social Legislation Domestic Social Policy Division Summary While most young people have access to financial and emotional support systems throughout their early adult years, former foster care youth often lack assistance in developing independent living skills to ease the transition to adulthood. Recognizing the difficulties faced by youth exiting foster care, Congress passed the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act (P.L. 106-169) to expand the population of youth eligible to receive independent living services and to give states greater flexibility in designing their independent living programs. Under P.L. 106-169, Congress doubled the mandatory funding available to states for independent living services from $70 million to $140 million. In 2002, Congress passed legislation (P.L. 107-133) to allocate discretionary funding to eligible current and former foster care youth for education and training vouchers worth up to $5,000. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and voucher component are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the 109'h Congress, H.R. 3471 was introduced, which, if enacted, would have addressed weaknesses in the implementation of the CFCIP. This report briefly describes the CFCIP, and will be updated as significant legislative developments occur. Introduction In most states, youth are discharged from foster care at age 18 or shortly thereafter.! The number of youth reported as emancipating from care rose from approximately 19,000 1 Marian Bussey et al. Transition from Foster Care. A State-by-State Data Base Analysis, Casey Family Programs, 2000, p. 19. Congressional Research Service The Library of Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress