The EFC Program allows foster youth to remain in foster care and continue to receive foster care payment benefits (AFDC-FC payments) and services beyond age 18, as long as the foster youth meets the following requirements:

Age: In order to be eligible for EFC, a youth has to be in foster care under the placement and care responsibility of the county welfare or probation department or a Title IV-E tribe on his/her 18th birthday. The NMD will remain eligible for EFC until the age of 21 as long as they are otherwise eligible for the program.

Education and Employment Participation Conditions: The NMD must supply evidence to prove that they are meeting one of the following conditions:

1. The non-minor is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
2. The non-minor is enrolled in an institution which provides postsecondary or vocational education;
3. The non-minor is participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;
4. The non-minor is employed for at least 80 hours per month;
5. The non-minor is incapable of doing any of the activities described above (conditions 1 to 4) due to a medical condition.

Participation in a Transitional Independent Living Case Plan: The Transitional Independent Living Case Plan (TILCP) is the NMD’s case plan that is updated every six months and incorporates the Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP). It is a continuation of the same case plan that existed before the NMD turned age 18, but with a different focus. The case plan describes goals and objectives of:

• Identifying and developing a permanent connections
• Making the transition to independent living; and
• Assuming incremental responsibility for adult decision-making.

Mutual Agreement: The NMDs who choose to participate in EFC must sign the Mutual Agreement (SOC 162) at or after attaining age 18, and no longer than six months of turning 18. The NMDs must sign the mutual agreement to acknowledge that they are voluntarily agreeing to remain in foster care in supervised placements as court dependents.

Continuation of Placement Authority: the non-minor must remain under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a dependent or ward and/or be under the placement and care responsibility of the county child welfare or probation department. Placement authority is evidenced by the court order of placement that is reviewed at each six-month review hearing for the NMD.

Eligible Facility: The NMD must reside in a licensed and approved facility that is eligible to receive foster care funds.

See the AB 12 participation criteria pamphlet for more detailed information about maintaining eligibility.

If you are not yet 18 and already in foster care, talk with your Child Welfare Worker about how EFC works.  If you think you want to reenter extended foster care (EFC) and you live in Alameda County, call our Hotline at (510) 259-1800 to see if you are eligible.  See Re-Entry for more detail.

The NMDs who choose to participate in EFC must sign the Mutual Agreement (SOC 162) at or after attaining age 18, and no longer than six months of turning 18. The NMDs must sign the mutual agreement to acknowledge that they are voluntarily agreeing to remain in foster care in supervised placements as court dependents. Some young people are exempted from this requirement. An NMD who is unable to make an informed decision regarding voluntarily remaining in foster care is not required to sign the mutual agreement.  

As a voluntary participant in Extended Foster Care, the NMD is expected to develop in collaboration with the Child Welfare Worker an updated TILP identifying a primary participation activity from the five participation conditions, working on the goals identified in the TILP, and meeting at least monthly with the Child Welfare Worker.  The Child Welfare Worker will verify whether the NMD is meeting the conditions.  The NMD will remain eligible for EFC until the age of 21 as long as they are otherwise eligible for the program, including fulfilling one of the five participation criteria.  See the AB 12 participation criteria pamphlet for more information.