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C12.13 Exit from Out of Home Care (OOHC) at Age 18 or Older

Legal Authority

42 USC 677 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Succesful Transition to Adulthood...

KRS 2.015 Age of majority--Exceptions...

KRS 605.090 Alternative treatment for Committed Children...

Introduction

Youth committed to the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) upon attaining their eighteenth (18th) birthday may choose to exit out-of-home care (OOHC) upon reaching the age of majority. Those who extend or reinstate their commitment may decide to exit OOHC at any time between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21). Regardless of age, youth must be prepared for this exit, including the provision of critical documents and information.

Practice Guidance

All youth in OOHC are entitled to a free certified birth certificate. The birth certificate can be ordered by the youth, any DCBS representative, or private child-caring (PCC) staff. Youth in OOHC may request a birth certificate via Kentucky RISE. DCBS staff can request a birth certificate directly from the TWIST home screen. PCC staff may request a birth certificate for a youth in OOHC on the PCC portal homepage

Procedure

The SSW:

Completes an Exit Checklist and provides the youth with the following documents:

Certified birth certificate, free of charge;
Original Social Security card;
State-issued identification (ID) card;
Custody Verification Letter;
Health insurance card;
Information about the youth's education history; and
A copy of the child's Cabinet for Health and Family Services (Cabinet/CHFS) case history, including:

Family medical history;
Placement history records; and
The child's medical records, including physical, dental, vision, and mental health records;

Ensures that the young adult has reviewed and signed the Exit Checklist and uploads it into TWIST;
Ensures the youth has completed an exit survey or completes on the youth's behalf, prior to exiting the youth from OOHC. The survey can be found at Kentucky RISE. Youth who complete the exit survey will receive an electronic gift card from the Transitional Services Branch; and
Ensures the transitional liveing specialist (TLS) is aware that the young adult is exiting care so that they may be informed about resources and supports;
Provides the young adult with the DPP-337 Notice to Deny or Terminate Extension of Commitment if the youth is exiting as a result of the Cabinet’s decision to terminate commitment and advises the youth of the right to appeal;
Provides youth with the DPP-154 Protection and Permanency Service Appeal and advises them of their right to file an appeal for any complaints other than the denial or termination of extension of commitment;
Notifies the court of the intent to terminate the commitment if the youth does not file an appeal or service complaint within fourteen (14) calendar days;
Provides information to the Transitional Services Branch utilizing the Notice to Region Service Appeal to Terminate Commitment if the youth files an appeal of the decision to terminate extension of commitment; and
Advises the young adult of their right to return to care before their twentieth (20th) birthday.

The TLS:

Encourages the youth to create an ifoster account and save a copy of their vital documents to their digital locker; and
Upon being informed by the worker of a youth's intent to exit care, provides information on community resources and supports, including that they are able to access resources on Kentucky RISE.