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To: County and tribal social services directors, supervisors and staff
From: Jamie Sorenson, Director, Child Safety and Permanency Division
Re: Extended foster care benefits and extension criteria
As Minnesota experiences the COVID-19 pandemic, many questions have been raised about the temporary closure of schools, restaurants, stores, other places of public accommodation and amusements, and its impact on eligibility for youth in extended foster care, which requires children to meet one of the following criteria:
- Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential
- Enrolled in an institution that provides post-secondary or vocational education
- Participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment
- Employed for at least 80 hours per month, or
- Incapable of doing any of the activities described in (1) to (4) due to a medical condition.
[Minnesota Statutes, section 260C.451]
It is encouraged during this time that agency staff consider how the “Stay at Home” Executive Order and the COVID-19 social distancing provisions impact criteria, and determine continued eligibility as follows, youth:
- Meeting criteria under provisions (1) and (2) who are on break from school, continue to meet eligibility requirements
- Continue to meet criteria under provision (3) if there is suspension of programs or activities, and other barriers due to COVID-19 as long as they locate on-line activities that meets this criteria
- That are not able to meet criteria under provision (4) due to temporary closure of businesses, or lack of hours, should be encourage to apply for unemployment benefits, and consider meeting criteria under provision (3).
This guidance is consistent with 2010 program instructions from the Administration for Children and Families, which provides flexibility in applying education and employment conditions. This is to encourage Title IV-E agencies to consider how extended assistance can be provided to youth age 18 and older to the broadest population possible, consistent with law, to ensure ample supports for older youth. [ACYF-BC-PI 10-11]
If agencies have questions regarding extended foster care, contact Nicolas Vogel.
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Find COVID-19 updates from DHS
To find the most up-to-date information for providers, counties, tribes and members of the public, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. As changes evolve at federal and state levels, we will update this page with the latest information. To be notified when changes occur, you can also sign up for email notifications.
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