1. (a)

   1. (1) After care funds may provide assistance and services to youth who have left foster care because they have attained eighteen (18) years of age and who have not attained twenty-one (21) years of age.
   2. (2) The youth must have been in foster care on his or her eighteenth birthday and not currently participating in the Extended Foster Care Program to be eligible for after care services and support.
   3. (3) However, associated financial paperwork processes for after care services may begin prior to a youth’s exit from care in order to ensure a more seamless transition.
   4. (4) After care is funded by the John F. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood grant award.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Additionally, a youth is encouraged to have a budget and a viable plan that includes participation in:

      1. (A) Education;
      2. (B) Employment; or
      3. (C) Training.
   2. (2) If the youth is incapable of school or work requirements due to a documented medical condition, they are also eligible for after care.

   3. (3) After care support:

      1. (A) Is generally limited to five hundred dollars ($500) in any one (1) month; and
      2. (B) May be requested for a total of two thousand dollars ($2,000).
   4. (4) However, more than five hundred dollars ($500) per month may be provided to a youth on an as needed basis.
   5. (5) After care support may include expenditures for housing, insurance, housing set-up, transportation, utility bills, utility deposits, etc.
   6. (6) After care support does not include amounts available through the education and training voucher (ETV) program.

3. (c)

   1. (1) After care support is paid to the provider of the good or service rather than the youth.
   2. (2) However, reimbursement may be made to the youth if the documentation of the expense as well as the paperwork needed by the Division of Children and Family Services for reimbursement is provided.
4. (d) For youth who initially elect to participate in the Extended Foster Care Program, but then choose to leave that program prior to twenty-one (21) years of age, after care funding will still be available on a prorated amount based on the number of months remaining until the youth’s twenty-first birthday.
5. (e) Youth eligible for after care may also participate in life skills classes and staff may help with transportation needs of these youth as staff capacity allows.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "05/2022"