A majority of states now allow foster youth to remain in foster care after they reach age 18, and Florida is among them. Florida’s Extended Foster Care (EFC) allows youths to remain in foster care until they turn 21—or 22 if they have a diagnosed and documented disability—and allows youths between 18 and 21 who have chosen to leave foster care to return so long as they were in foster care when they turned 18 and they are involved in one of the following activities:
To re-enter, youths must submit an application to the community based care lead agency for their region. This page contains the application form for EFC provided by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), as well as forms for all of DCF’s Independent Living Programs. The EFC form is called the “Extended Foster Care Voluntary Placement Agreement” on the DCF website, and several lead agencies like Embrace Families and the Brevard Family Partnership also provide the application on their websites.
Once in the program, youths may live with a foster parent, in a group home, or in a supervised living arrangement such as an apartment or college dorm. Supervised living arrangements must be approved and regularly supervised by the community based care service provider. To remain in the program, youths must meet with a caseworker each month, attend court review every six months, and continue to participate in one of the listed activities.
- Finishing high school or completing G.E.D.;
- Enrolled in post-secondary education;
- Working at least 80 hours/month;
- Participating in a job skills program; or
- Unable to participate in one of the above full time due to a documented disability
To re-enter, youths must submit an application to the community based care lead agency for their region. This page contains the application form for EFC provided by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), as well as forms for all of DCF’s Independent Living Programs. The EFC form is called the “Extended Foster Care Voluntary Placement Agreement” on the DCF website, and several lead agencies like Embrace Families and the Brevard Family Partnership also provide the application on their websites.
Once in the program, youths may live with a foster parent, in a group home, or in a supervised living arrangement such as an apartment or college dorm. Supervised living arrangements must be approved and regularly supervised by the community based care service provider. To remain in the program, youths must meet with a caseworker each month, attend court review every six months, and continue to participate in one of the listed activities.
