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Extended Foster Care (AB 12) and the Chafee Grant (support to age 21 and college money to age 26 for foster youth): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

Extended Foster Care lets youth with a foster care placement order on their 18th birthday stay in care, with placement payments and case management, until 21 if they are in school, working 80 hours a month or in a qualifying program. The Chafee Grant pays current and former foster youth up to $5,000 a year for college or career school ($4,500 in 2026-27) until 26. EFC is arranged with the county social worker; Chafee is applied for through the California Student Aid Commission with the FAFSA or CADAA.

What Extended Foster Care and the Chafee Grant are, in one paragraph

Extended Foster Care (EFC), created by AB 12, lets a youth who was in foster care on their 18th birthday stay in care as an adult non-minor dependent until 21, keeping a placement, payments, a social worker and court review, as long as they are in school, working, in a job program, or unable to because of a health condition. A youth who leaves at 18 can come back before 21. The California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth is separate: money for college or career school, up to $5,000 a year, for anyone who was in foster care between 16 and 18, until age 26. Chafee funds are limited and paid first-come.

$4,500
the Chafee Grant for each student in 2026-27 (the maximum is $5,000 a year) (California Student Aid Commission, rule:chafee_2026_27)

Who may qualify

Extended Foster Care. Age 18 to 21, with an order for foster care placement on the 18th birthday (rule:efc_who), and one of five participation conditions (rule:efc_participation):

ConditionValue
High school or equivalentenrolled
College or vocational schoolenrolled
Workat least 80 hours a month
Employment programparticipating
Health conditionunable to do the above

Chafee Grant. In foster care as a ward of the court for at least one day between 16 and 18; under 26 on July 1 of the award year; at least half-time in a program at least four months long; satisfactory academic progress (rule:chafee_who, rule:chafee_halftime).

ItemValueRule
Chafee maximum$5,000 a yearrule:chafee_max
Chafee 2026-27$4,500 ($2,250 a semester, $1,500 a quarter)rule:chafee_2026_27
Chafee durationup to 5 years, or until 26rule:chafee_years
EFC payments endthe day before the 21st birthdayrule:efc_end
NMD parent supplement$200 a monthrule:efc_parent
EFC base monthly paymentUNKNOWNrule:efc_parent

How to apply, and what happens after

EFC is arranged with the county: the youth and social worker meet at 17 and a half, and the youth signs the Mutual Agreement (SOC 162) within six months after turning 18 (rule:efc_agreement). Court hearings continue every six months (rule:efc_reviews). A youth who left can re-enter before 21 with a Voluntary Re-Entry Agreement by contacting the former social worker, probation officer or the county child welfare agency (rule:efc_reentry).

Chafee is applied for at CSAC:

StageWhat happensDeadlineWhat loses people the grant
FileFAFSA or CADAA for the academic yearEvery yearNo FAFSA/CADAA
ApplyOne-time Chafee Grant applicationOpens October 1, closes July 31 (rule:chafee_dates)Applying late in a year when funds run out (rule:chafee_first_come)
VerifyFoster care record checked; Foster Care Verification Form via the county ILP coordinator if neededOn requestRecord shows Incomplete
AwardPreliminary award by email; school certifies and requests paymentPayment request within 30 daysUnclaimed award recycled to the waitlist
RenewFAFSA/CADAA each yearUp to 5 years or 26 (rule:chafee_years)Turning 26 before July 1
The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
13 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Youth learns care can continue to 21 and Chafee pays for school to 26"
"who_acts""Youth / social worker / ILP coordinator"
"timeline""Meeting at 17 and a half"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Leaving care at 18 without knowing re-entry exists"
"model_role""Name both programs and their two deciders"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Placement order at 18; participation condition; foster care between 16 and 18 for Chafee"
"who_acts""Model + youth"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Date of birth, case history, school or work"
"failure_mode""Assuming a closed case ends eligibility"
"model_role""Check rule:efc_who, rule:efc_participation, rule:chafee_who"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Proof of school enrollment or work hours; FSA ID or CADAA account"
"who_acts""Youth"
"timeline""Before signing / applying"
"evidence""Enrollment or pay records"
"failure_mode""No proof of the participation condition"
"model_role""List items"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"4
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""SOC 162 Mutual Agreement (EFC); Chafee application plus FAFSA/CADAA"
"who_acts""Youth with social worker"
"timeline""SOC 162 within six months after 18"
"evidence""Signed agreement, application"
"failure_mode""Missing the six-month window"
"model_role""State rule:efc_agreement and rule:chafee_dates"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"5
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Agreement to the county; Chafee application to CSAC"
"who_acts""Youth"
"timeline""Chafee: October 1 to July 31"
"evidence""Confirmation"
"failure_mode""Applying after funds are gone"
"model_role""State rule:chafee_first_come"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"6
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""Court review every six months (EFC); foster care record and Foster Care Verification Form (Chafee)"
"who_acts""Court / county / CSAC"
"timeline""Every six months; on request"
"evidence""Court record; verification form"
"failure_mode""Chafee record shows Incomplete"
"model_role""State rule:efc_reviews"
"automation_class""C - court and county act"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"7
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""Court keeps NMD status; CSAC sends a preliminary Chafee award by email"
"who_acts""Court / CSAC"
"timeline""At review; by email"
"evidence""Order; award email"
"failure_mode""Missing the award email"
"model_role""Point to WebGrants"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"8
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Placement payments (EFC); school requests Chafee payment"
"who_acts""County / school"
"timeline""Monthly / each term"
"evidence""Payment"
"failure_mode""Unclaimed Chafee award after 30 days"
"model_role""State rule:chafee_first_come"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"9
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Changes in school, work or placement go to the social worker; school changes to CSAC"
"who_acts""Youth"
"timeline""When they happen"
"evidence""Change form"
"failure_mode""Losing the participation condition unreported"
"model_role""State rule:efc_participation"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"10
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Six-month court reviews; FAFSA/CADAA every year for Chafee"
"who_acts""Youth / court"
"timeline""Every six months; every year"
"evidence""Review; FAFSA"
"failure_mode""Missing a review"
"model_role""State rule:efc_reviews and rule:chafee_years"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"11
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""If out of care, re-enter with a Voluntary Re-Entry Agreement before 21"
"who_acts""Youth / county"
"timeline""Before the 21st birthday"
"evidence""Re-entry agreement"
"failure_mode""Not knowing re-entry exists"
"model_role""State rule:efc_reentry"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"12
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""The pages read state re-entry as the route back; a formal appeal procedure and deadline are not stated: UNKNOWN"
"who_acts""Youth"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""None stated"
"model_role""State rule:efc_reentry"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"13
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""EFC payments end the day before 21; THP-Plus housing can continue to 24 or 25; Chafee ends at 5 years or 26"
"who_acts""County / CSAC"
"timeline""21st birthday; 26th birthday"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""No housing plan at 21"
"model_role""State rule:efc_end and rule:thp_plus"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

Those connections are not written here by hand. They are read from the California benefits graph, the object that holds all 80 programs, the life events that trigger them and the facts they share. A model screening you for Extended Foster Care and Chafee sees the same edges.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B061"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 5 items
"B031"
"B055"
"B056"
"B057"
"B051"
"related_programs" 5 keys
"B031""Foster care, Adoption Assistance (AAP), Kin-GAP"
"B055""Federal Pell Grant"
"B056""Cal Grant A / B / C"
"B057""California College Promise Grant (fee waiver) + College Promise (AB 19/AB 2)"
"B051""Foster Youth Tax Credit (CA)"
"triggered_by_events" 2 items
"event:leaving_foster_care_18_21"
"event:child_ages_out_family_status_shifts_18th_birthday_aging_out_of_child_only_rules"
"shares_facts_with" 3 keys
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"employment.status" 4 items
"B001"
"B027"
"B028"
"B060"
"education.enrollment.status" 3 items
"B001"
"B056"
"B057"

Official addresses

  • EFC: CDSS AB 12 Extended Foster Care; the county child welfare agency or probation department
  • Chafee: CSAC Chafee Grant; CDSS Chafee ETV; CSAC Chafee phone (888) 294-0153, option three; chafee@csac.ca.gov
  • CDSS Family Permanency and Support Services Branch: 744 P Street, MS 8-13-78, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 651-7465
Related pages
Beside
Foster care, Kin-GAP and Adoption Assistance (California monthly payments for children in foster care, guardianship and adoption): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextFederal Pell Grant (federal college grant that does not have to be repaid): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCal Grant A, B and C (California's state college grant that does not have to be repaid): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalifornia College Promise Grant (community college enrollment fee waiver, formerly the BOG waiver) and the California College Promise (AB 19): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextFoster Youth Tax Credit (CA) (cash back on the California return for former foster youth aged 18 to 25): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (17)
  1. California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth — California Student Aid Commission“awards up to $5,000 a year to eligible foster youth”
  2. Chafee Grant: 2026-27 award amount — California Student Aid Commission“$4,500 annual award amounts for the 2026-27 academic year.”
  3. Chafee Grant: eligibility — California Student Aid Commission“living in foster care for at least one day between the ages of 16 and 18”
  4. Chafee Grant: application dates — California Student Aid Commission“of the preceding academic year and accepted”
  5. Chafee Grant: duration — California Student Aid Commission“Students may receive the Chafee Grant for up to five years”
  6. Chafee Grant: enrollment — California Student Aid Commission“at least half-time in a program at least four months in length”
  7. Chafee Grant: payment order — California Student Aid Commission“Payments are made on a first-come first-served basis.”
  8. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: eligibility — California Department of Social Services“and have had an order for foster care placement on their 18th birthday”
  9. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: participation — California Department of Social Services“Work at least 80 hours/month”
  10. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: re-entry — California Department of Social Services“They can re-enter at any time before their 21st birthday if they need support.”
  11. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: mutual agreement — California Department of Social Services“after turning age 18 and no later than six months after reaching age 18”
  12. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: court reviews — California Department of Social Services“Court hearings continue to be held every six months”
  13. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: last payment — California Department of Social Services“shall cease no later than the day before the non-minor”
  14. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: THP-Plus — California Department of Social Services“Age 25 (in counties that have extended the program)”
  15. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: Kin-GAP and AAP — California Department of Social Services“AB 12 extended Kin Guardianship Assistance Payments (Kin-GAP) and Adoption Assistance Payments (AAP) up to age 21”
  16. AB 12 Extended Foster Care: parenting NMDs — California Department of Social Services“additional $200 monthly payment that is available to NMD parents residing in supervised independent living placements”
  17. Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Program — California Department of Social Services“you are eligible to receive Chafee ETV from only one state”