A. An eligible adult may participate in the fostering connections program for any duration of time while the eligible adult is between eighteen and twenty-one years of age, by entering into a voluntary services and support agreement immediately upon turning eighteen years of age or any time thereafter.

B. When an eligible adult elects to participate in the fostering connections program, the department and the eligible adult shall execute, and the eligible adult shall be provided with a signed copy of, a voluntary services and support agreement that sets forth, at a minimum, the following:

(1) a requirement that the eligible adult continue to be eligible in accordance with the Fostering Connections Act for the duration of the voluntary services and support agreement;

(2) the services and support that the eligible adult will receive through the fostering connections program;

(3) the voluntary nature of the eligible adult's participation and the eligible adult's right to terminate the voluntary services and support agreement at any time; and

(4) conditions that may result in the termination of the voluntary services and support agreement and the eligible adult's early discharge from the fostering connections program pursuant to Section 6 [32A-26-6 NMSA 1978] of the Fostering Connections Act.

C. As soon as possible and no later than forty-five days after the eligible adult and the department execute the voluntary services and support agreement, the department shall conduct a determination of income eligibility for purposes of compliance with federal foster care and transitional care assistance; provided that within fifteen days after execution of the voluntary services and support agreement, the department shall provide those services and supports set forth in that agreement.

D. The department shall assign an eligible adult a case manager, who shall be trained in primarily providing services for transition-aged eligible adults.

E. The department shall provide reasonable efforts to assist eligible adults in achieving permanency and creating permanent connections after the age of eighteen.

F. The department and at least one person who is not responsible for case management, in collaboration with the eligible adult and additional persons identified by the eligible adult, shall conduct periodic case reviews not less than once every one hundred eighty days to evaluate progress made toward meeting the goals set forth in the case plan. The department shall use a team approach in conducting case reviews and shall facilitate the participation of the eligible adult.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 149, § 5.

Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 149 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 14, 2019, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.