18+ Continued Care is available to eligible foster care children up to the age of 21 if the individual meets certain criteria as outlined below. 18+ Continued Care aides in the transition to adulthood for youth having aged out in the foster care system, encouraging them to remain in family foster care while they continue to pursue independence. Approved living arrangements for 18+ Continued Care include: licensed foster homes, licensed Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program, college dorms, Job Corps, and more.
Program Qualifications
An individual participating in 18+ Continued Care must:
- Have aged out of foster care while under a valid court order granted to a North Dakota public agency; Human Services Zone, Tribal Social Services and the Division of Juvenile Services (DJS).
- Not have reached the age of 21.
- Need continued foster care services.
- Qualify in at least one of the participation categories.
- Sign the 18+ Continued Foster Care Agreement (SFN 60).
- Return to foster care within six months of their last discharge date, unless otherwise approved by the Department. Requests to re-enter beyond six months must be presented to the Department by the public agency seeking care and placement authority.
Individuals interested in 18+ Continued Care should contact their current or prior foster care case manager.
For additional information on the Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program, please contact Brooke Biederstedt at bbiederstedt@nexuspath.org or (701) 551-6308.