Every major federal program, national nonprofit, and state benefit available to current and former foster youth — with direct links to primary sources. Reviewed and updated August 2026.
The United States has approximately 400,000 children in foster care at any given time, and roughly 20,000 youth age out of the system each year without a permanent family — facing homelessness, unemployment, and poverty at rates far above the general population. This page is a comprehensive, source-linked directory of every major resource available to help them. Use the navigation below to jump to the section most relevant to you.
Jump to: Federal Programs · National Organizations · State-by-State · Texas Resources · Housing · Education & Scholarships · Azgari Foundation Programs
These programs are funded and overseen at the federal level but administered by each state. Eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and age limits vary by state. Always contact your state's child welfare agency to confirm your eligibility and apply.
| Program | What It Provides | Age / Eligibility | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| John H. Chafee Foster Care Program | Federal block grant that funds states to provide independent living services: life skills training, financial literacy, housing support, mentoring, and education assistance for youth aging out of care. | Generally 14–21; extended to 23+ in some states | ACF/HHS |
| Education & Training Voucher (ETV) | Up to $5,000/year for tuition, fees, books, housing, and other post-secondary education or vocational training costs. Applied for through your state agency — in Texas, through DFPS at texasetv.com. | Current/former foster youth; typically through age 23 (some states 26) | ACF/HHS |
| Extended Foster Care | Federal law (Fostering Connections Act) allows states to extend foster care past 18 to age 21 for youth who are in school, working, or have a barrier to employment. Most states have adopted this. Check your state's policy. | Age 18–21 (varies by state) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Medicaid for Former Foster Youth | Under the Affordable Care Act (§2004), former foster youth who were in foster care at age 18 or older are eligible for Medicaid through age 26 — regardless of income — in any state, even if they've moved from the state where they were in care. | Former foster youth through age 26 | Medicaid.gov |
| AmeriCorps | National service program offering living stipends and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (up to ~$7,395 in 2026) that can be used for college, vocational school, or student loan repayment. No college degree required to join. | Ages 17+ | americorps.gov |
| SNAP (Food Stamps) | Foster youth ages 18–21 who are in or aging out of foster care are categorically eligible for SNAP benefits — meaning income and asset tests are waived. Apply through your state's SNAP office. | Ages 18–21 in or aging out of foster care | USDA/FNS |
| HUD Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers | Section 8-style housing vouchers for youth ages 18–24 who have left foster care and are at risk of homelessness. Administered locally through Public Housing Authorities. Contact your local PHA to apply. | Ages 18–24; former foster youth at risk of homelessness | HUD.gov |
These organizations provide direct services, advocacy, peer support, scholarships, and resources to current and former foster youth across the United States.
National network led by young people with foster care experience. Provides peer support, a national network of All-Stars (youth leaders), resources and guides, and advocacy tools. One of the largest youth-led foster care organizations in the country.
Free platform connecting foster youth and caregivers to resources, benefits, and services. Includes a national resource database, driver's license program, college support, and technology access. Serves youth, caregivers, and youth-serving professionals.
Provides college scholarships, preparation support, and a national network of campus contacts and mentors for current and former foster youth pursuing higher education. One of the few organizations focused exclusively on foster youth college completion.
Advocacy and civic engagement organization led by foster youth alumni. Works to change federal and state policy through direct lobbying, public testimony, and youth leadership development. Based in Washington D.C.
Provides crisis shelter, transitional housing, and wraparound services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 18–24 across 34 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Central America. Many residents are former foster youth. Services include job training, mental health, and legal aid.
Focuses on ending youth homelessness with an explicit LGBTQ+-inclusive approach. Publishes research on foster care's link to youth homelessness, trains agencies, and advocates for policy change. Founded by Cyndi Lauper and Ty Herndon.
The largest operating foundation focused on child welfare in the U.S. Provides direct services, technical assistance to child welfare agencies, and research. A primary source for foster care data, best practices, and policy reform nationally.
Publishes the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book with state-by-state child welfare statistics. The KIDS COUNT Data Center is the primary tool for foster care population and outcome data by state and county.
HHS/Children's Bureau national information service. Comprehensive library of publications, research, and tools on all aspects of child welfare including foster care, aging out, and youth transition. Essential starting point for caseworkers and professionals.
Federal interagency hub aggregating research, program information, and tools on foster care transition, independent living, and youth development across federal agencies. Maintained by FYSB (Family and Youth Services Bureau).
Policy and research organization on youth homelessness. Publishes data on the foster care-to-homelessness pipeline, FYI voucher toolkits, and advocates for housing-first solutions for youth aging out of foster care.
DOL-funded tool to find local youth employment, training, and workforce development programs by ZIP code. Includes WIOA Youth programs, YouthBuild, and other federally-funded training resources that foster youth are often priority-eligible for.
Every state administers its own independent living and extended foster care programs using Chafee funding. Find your state's program directly below. For any state not listed, search "[state name] independent living foster care" or contact 211.org.
| State | Program / Agency | Direct Link |
|---|---|---|
| California | California Dept. of Social Services — Extended Foster Care & Transitional Housing | cdss.ca.gov |
| Texas | DFPS — Youth and Young Adults (PAL, ETV, Extended Care) | dfps.texas.gov |
| Florida | FL Dept. of Children and Families — Independent Living | myflfamilies.com |
| New York | NY Office of Children & Family Services — Independent Living | ocfs.ny.gov |
| Illinois | IL Dept. of Children & Family Services — Independent Living | dcfs.illinois.gov |
| Ohio | Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Services — Independent Living | jfs.ohio.gov |
| Georgia | GA Division of Family & Children Services — Independent Living | dfcs.georgia.gov |
| Pennsylvania | PA Office of Children, Youth and Families — Independent Living | pa.gov |
| Michigan | MI Dept. of Health & Human Services — Independent Living | michigan.gov |
| North Carolina | NC Dept. of Health and Human Services — Independent Living | ncdhhs.gov |
| Washington | WA Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families — Extended Foster Care | dcyf.wa.gov |
| Virginia | VA Dept. of Social Services — Fostering Futures (Extended Care) | dss.virginia.gov |
| Arizona | AZ Dept. of Child Safety — Independent Living | dcs.az.gov |
| Indiana | IN Dept. of Child Services — Independent Living | in.gov |
| Missouri | MO Children's Division — Independent Living | dss.mo.gov |
Can't find your state? Search childwelfare.gov for your state's independent living program, or call 211 for local referrals.
Texas has one of the largest foster care populations in the country. Here is every major benefit and program available to current and former foster youth in Texas, with direct links to the administering agency.
| Program | What It Provides | Apply / Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Foster Care (Texas) | Youth can remain in foster care past age 18 until age 21 (or 22 if enrolled in a GED program) if they are in school, working, or have a barrier to employment. Provides continued placement, case management, and financial support. | DFPS |
| Texas PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) | Life skills workshops, financial literacy, housing referrals, and transitional support for foster youth ages 14–21 preparing to leave care. Offered through DFPS and contracted providers across Texas. | DFPS PAL |
| Texas ETV (Education & Training Voucher) | Up to $5,000/year for tuition, fees, books, housing, and other education costs. Available for current and former foster youth typically through age 23. Apply through DFPS or at texasetv.com. | DFPS ETV |
| Texas Tuition & Fee Waiver (Ed. Code §54.366) | Current and former foster youth who were in care at any point after age 14 are exempt from tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities — including community colleges, universities, and technical schools. No income limit. Apply through the financial aid office of your Texas public institution. | THECB |
| Medicaid Through Age 25 | Texas provides Medicaid coverage to former foster youth through age 25 (exceeding the federal minimum of age 26 in practice because Texas Medicaid eligibility for foster youth runs through the month they turn 26). No application needed if you were in Medicaid when you aged out — coverage continues automatically. | TX HHS |
| Texas Workforce Commission — Foster Youth Priority | Foster youth are a priority population at Texas Workforce Solutions offices. Services include career counseling, job search assistance, skills training funding, and referrals to apprenticeships and on-the-job training. TWC also funds the Azgari Foundation's vocational training programs. | TWC |
| DFPS 2-1-1 Texas Referral | Call 211 or visit 211texas.org for statewide referrals to emergency housing, food, utility assistance, mental health services, and other social services available to foster youth and young adults across Texas. | 211 Texas |
Housing instability is the single most common crisis facing youth who age out of foster care. Research consistently shows 20–30% experience homelessness within two years of leaving care. These resources address emergency shelter, transitional housing, and long-term housing stability.
Section 8-style housing vouchers for former foster youth ages 18–24 at risk of homelessness. Applied for through your local Public Housing Authority — not HUD directly. Check HUD's PHA locator to find yours.
Crisis shelter and transitional housing in 34 cities for youth ages 18–24. Offers up to 90 days emergency shelter, job training, mental health services, and transitional housing programs. Walk-in at any location, 24 hours.
National resource for LGBTQ+ youth facing homelessness, including many former foster youth. Offers a provider training database, advocacy resources, and a crisis support connection service.
Call 211 or search findhelp.org by ZIP code to find emergency shelter, transitional housing programs, and rental assistance available in your area. The fastest way to find local housing help.
| Program | What It Provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Education & Training Voucher (ETV) | Up to $5,000/year federal voucher for college, vocational training, or certification costs. Applied for through your state's child welfare agency. Typically available through age 23. | ACF |
| State Tuition Waivers | Many states exempt foster youth from tuition and fees at public colleges. Texas (Ed. Code §54.366) provides a complete tuition and fee waiver at all Texas public institutions. Check your state's higher education agency for your state's policy. | State-by-state list |
| Foster Care to Success (FC2S) Scholarships | Scholarships, internship stipends, and college mentorship specifically for foster youth. Also offers a national network of campus contacts and support for the college journey. | fc2success.org |
| RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships | Platform where students (starting in 9th grade) earn incremental college scholarships for GPA, activities, and work experience. Many partner colleges offer awards to students from foster care backgrounds. | raise.me |
| AmeriCorps Education Award | Complete a term of AmeriCorps service and earn a Segal Education Award (~$7,395 in 2026) usable for college, vocational school, or student loan repayment. No prior education required to serve. | americorps.gov |
| FAFSA — Independent Student Status | Foster youth who were in care at any point after age 13 qualify as independent students on the FAFSA — meaning parental income is not counted. This typically results in maximum Pell Grant eligibility. File at studentaid.gov. | studentaid.gov |
The Azgari Foundation offers five tuition-free, 100% online workforce training programs for current and former foster youth ages 14–25 — and all young people ages 14–25 referred by a partner organization. All programs are $0 to participants, financed entirely by grants and donations.
Enrollment is through partner organization referral — foster care agencies, caseworkers, CASA programs, juvenile justice programs, schools, and workforce boards.
To refer a youth or become a referring partner, contact:
This directory is maintained by the Azgari Foundation and updated regularly. If you know of a verified national or state resource for foster youth that should be listed here, contact us at info@azgari.org.
Sources: HHS/ACF, HUD, USDA, U.S. Department of Labor, Texas DFPS, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and individual organization websites. Data verified August 2026. Foster care statistics: Casey Family Programs, Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center.
