New Resources to Strengthen Advocacy for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care
Each year, approximately 1,000 young people age out of foster care in Texas, often without the support they need to successfully transition into adulthood.
To help local CASA programs strengthen advocacy for these young adults, Texas CASA has launched two new resources:
- Extended Foster Care (EFC) Program Guide
- Extended Foster Care Portal in the Texas CASA Portal del programa
Together, these resources provide practical guidance and tools to help CASA staff and volunteers support young adults as they navigate the transition to independence.
Why Extended Foster Care Matters
Extended Foster Care (EFC) allows eligible young adults who turn 18 in foster care to voluntarily remain in care until age 21—or age 22 if they are completing high school or a GED program. During this time, they continue to receive casework support, court oversight, and guidance from trusted adults, including their Attorney Ad Litem and Guardian Ad Litem, who is often their CASA volunteer.
Young adults who participate in EFC are more likely to complete high school, pursue education or employment, maintain stable housing, and access physical and mental health care, helping build a stronger foundation for adulthood.
About the Extended Foster Care Program Guide
The new EFC Program Guide was created to help local CASA programs strengthen advocacy for older youth and young adults in care.
The guide provides practical information about Extended Foster Care, explains the CASA volunteer’s role, and offers strategies for supporting young adults as they prepare for independence. It also highlights the unique challenges many former foster youth face after leaving care, including increased risks of homelessness, unemployment, justice system involvement, and barriers to higher education.
Our goal is to equip programs with the knowledge and tools needed to help more young adults make informed decisions about Extended Foster Care and successfully navigate the path to adulthood.
Explore the New Extended Foster Care Portal
In addition to the guide, we’ve launched a new Extended Foster Care Portal within the Texas CASA Program Portal.
The portal serves as a centralized hub for EFC resources, including:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Resources for young adults
- Resources for CASA volunteers
- Resources for program staff
These materials are designed to make it easier for programs to find information, answer common questions, and access tools that support effective advocacy.
We encourage all local CASA program staff to explore these new resources, share them with volunteers, and use them to strengthen support for older youth and young adults. Together, we can help ensure more young people have the stability, guidance, and opportunities they need to build successful futures.
