Child welfare advocates want to raise foster care age-out year

Thirteen states and D.C. have raised foster care age-out to 21-year-olds. In Pennsylvania, foster care services still typically end at age 18.

Child welfare advocates held a public hearing yesterday to discuss movement on state legislation that would raise age-out in the Commonwealth to 21. Health & Science reporter Carolyn Beeler attended the hearing, where 18-year-old Braheem Farmer said after 10 years in foster care, the sudden end to services for him in May left him feeling unprepared.

Pennsylvania’s age-out legislation is currently in committee.