Staying In Care Past Age 18

Juvenile Law Center,

In July 2012, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed into law new legislation that expands the criteria for youth to stay in care past age 18, allows youth to re-enter care before turning 21 if they aged out at 18 or older, and extends guardianship and adoption subsidies to age 21 for eligible youth who enter these arrangements at age 13 or older. Visit our Fostering Connections page for more information on this legislation, including law and legal resources, research, and resources for youth.

This fact sheet answers questions like:

  • What do I need to be doing to stay in care past age 18?
  • Why would I want to stay in care past age 18?
  • Who do I talk to about staying in care after age 18?
  • What if I left care when I turned 18, but now I've changed my mind?