TULSA, Okla. –A new state law will allow some young people in foster care to continue receiving services until they turn 21, instead of aging out at 18.
Advocates, foster parents and former foster youth say the change could help prevent homelessness, instability and trauma during a critical transition into adulthood. The law takes effect July 1.
What does the new law do?
The law allows eligible foster youth to remain connected to services and support until age 21, as long as they are working, enrolled in school, or participating in a job readiness program.
Why is turning 18 such a critical moment for foster youth?
For many young people in foster care, turning 18 has traditionally meant an abrupt loss of the support systems they relied on for years.
Danielle Melton, who has fostered more than 40 children with her husband since 2016, says many teens are forced to navigate adulthood before they are ready.
“They are trying to navigate an adult world literally as an 18-year-old, which is legally an adult, but still have a child’s mindset,” Melton said.
Melton says without guidance, many youth who age out face homelessness, trafficking or unsafe living situations.
Why did Danielle Melton become a foster parent?
Melton says she was inspired by her own parents, who fostered children when she was growing up.
“I wanted to show them what real love is, what it is being a functional family,” she said. “So when they leave us, they’ll be able to say, ‘I’ve felt that.’”
She and her husband have taken in up to six children at a time to avoid separating siblings, even upgrading their car and converting parts of their home to make space.
How does representation matter in foster care?
Melton says there is a shortage of Black and Brown foster families, even though many children in the system come from those communities.
She says cultural understanding can make a significant difference during an already traumatic time.
“Especially during the hardest time in their life, they don’t have to explain who they are,” Melton said. “We understand the same things.”
What happens when foster youth age out without support?
Amnoni Myers aged out of the Massachusetts foster care system at 18 and says the transition was sudden and devastating.
“I received a phone call telling me my foster mom was no longer being paid to take care of me, therefore I needed to leave,” Myers said.
She returned home one day to find her belongings packed in trash bags on the porch.
“That was essentially my entrance into adulthood,” she said.
Myers credits mentors and educators for helping her survive that transition.
Why does extending care to 21 matter, according to former foster youth?
Myers says extending foster care gives young people time to plan, stabilize and grow.
“Young people no longer have to worry about the strain of transitioning right at 18,” she said. “It gives them a bridge of support.”
She says the extension must be paired with coordinated resources to be effective.
“I don’t believe there’s a lack of resources. I believe there’s a lack of coordinated efforts,” Myers said.
What is being done to improve access to resources?
Myers is developing a platform called Launch Ahead to help foster youth and caseworkers better coordinate services related to housing, education, employment and life skills.
She says wraparound, individualized support is essential, especially for youth who have experienced trauma.
How could extended care have helped others?
Premadonna Braddick entered foster care at age 2 and aged out of the California system. She says extended care could have changed her early adulthood.
“Once you age out, you age out,” Braddick said. “I found myself working three jobs just to maintain.”She says many youth leave foster care without basic life skills like financial planning or relationship building.
How is Braddick giving back now?
Braddick has since adopted children she once fostered and founded a nonprofit focused on healing intergenerational trauma and preparing foster youth for adulthood.
Her programs include financial literacy, healthy relationships, college and career readiness.
“These are classes I didn’t have as a foster child,” she said. “Because of my program, I’ve helped individuals finish high school and go off to college.”
She encourages foster youth to seek mentors as they transition into adulthood.
What advocates want lawmakers to remember
While the new law is widely praised, advocates stress that communication and preparation are key.
Melton says youth should be included in conversations about their future well before they turn 18.
“Let this be a conversation they can chew on for a while,” she said. “Not just, ‘You’ve aged out, here’s an option.’”
What’s next?
The new law goes into effect on July 1.
Supporters hope it marks a turning point in how foster youth are prepared for adulthood — with stability, dignity and a real chance to succeed.
