Gov. Jay Inslee today issued a proclamation to ensure, as required by federal law, that persons receiving extended foster care services don't "age out" at 21 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the recently enacted federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Congress prohibited states from refusing extended foster care services to persons who either have or will become "too old" to be eligible for services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proclamation 21-02 aligns state law with this requirement by removing the age limits on receiving extended foster care services, and by eliminating certain eligibility requirements as required under the federal act.
The proclamation goes into effect immediately, and will require legislative approval to be extended.
The full proclamation is available here.