234.46 Preparation for adult living program.

1. For the purposes of this section, “young adult” means a person who is described by all of the following conditions:

a. The person is a resident of this state.

b. The person is age eighteen, nineteen, or twenty.

c. At the time the person became age eighteen, the person received foster care services that were paid for by the state under section 234.35, services at a state training school, services at a juvenile shelter care home, or services at a juvenile detention home and the person is no longer receiving such services.

d. The person enters into and participates in an individual self-sufficiency plan that complements the person’s own efforts for achieving self-sufficiency and the plan provides for one or more of the following:

(1) The person attends an accredited school full-time pursuing a course of study leading to a high school diploma.

(2) The person attends an instructional program leading to a high school equivalency diploma.

(3) The person is enrolled in or pursuing enrollment in a postsecondary education or training program or work training.

(4) The person is employed or seeking employment.

2. The division shall establish a preparation for adult living program directed to young adults. The purpose of the program is to assist persons who are leaving foster care and other court-ordered services at age eighteen or older in making the transition to self-sufficiency. The department shall adopt rules necessary for administration of the program, including but not limited to eligibility criteria for young adult participation and the services and other support available under the program. The rules shall provide for participation of each person who meets the definition of young adult on the same basis, regardless of whether federal financial participation is provided. The services and other support available under the program may include but are not limited to any of the following:

a. Support for the young adult continuing to reside with the family that provided family foster care to the young adult.

b. Support for a supervised apartment living arrangement.

c. Support for participation in education, training, or employment activities.

d. Other assistance to enhance the young adult’s ability to achieve self-sufficiency.

3. This section shall not be construed as granting an entitlement for any program, services, or other support for the persons described in this section. Any state obligation to provide a program, services, or other support pursuant to this section is limited to the extent of the funds appropriated for the purposes of the program.

2006 Acts, ch 1159, §7; 2014 Acts, ch 1140, §89, 90