Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 260C — Juvenile Safety And Placement
Section 260C.451 — Foster Care Benefits Past Age 18.

Subdivision 1. Notification. Six months prior to the child's 18th birthday, the responsible social services agency shall provide written notice on a form prescribed by the commissioner of human services to any child in foster care under this chapter who cannot reasonably be expected to return home or have another legally permanent family by the age of 18, the child's parents or legal guardian, if any, the child's guardian ad litem, and the child's foster parents of the availability of foster care up to age 21, when the child is eligible under subdivisions 3 and 3a.
Subd. 2. Independent living plan. Upon the request of any child in foster care immediately prior to the child's 18th birthday and who is in foster care at the time of the request, the responsible social services agency shall, in conjunction with the child and other appropriate parties, update the independent living plan required under section 260C.212, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (12), related to the child's employment, vocational, educational, social, or maturational needs. The agency shall provide continued services and foster care for the child including those services that are necessary to implement the independent living plan.
Subd. 3. Eligibility to continue in foster care. A child in foster care immediately prior to the child's 18th birthday may continue in foster care past age 18 unless:
(1) the child can safely return home;
(2) the child is in placement pursuant to the agency's duties under section 256B.092 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9525.0004 to 9525.0016, to meet the child's needs due to a developmental disability or related condition, and the child will be served as an adult under section 256B.092 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9525.0004 to 9525.0016; or
(3) the child can be adopted or have permanent legal and physical custody transferred to a relative prior to the child's 18th birthday.
Subd. 3a. Eligibility criteria. The child must meet at least one of the following conditions to be considered eligible to continue in or return to foster care and remain there to age 21. The child must be:
(1) completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
(2) enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary or vocational education;
(3) participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment;
(4) employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
(5) incapable of doing any of the activities described in clauses (1) to (4) due to a medical condition.
Subd. 4. Foster care benefits. For children between the ages of 18 and 21, "foster care benefits" means payment for those foster care settings defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 18. Additionally, foster care benefits means payment for a supervised setting, approved by the responsible social services agency, in which a child may live independently.
Subd. 5. Foster care setting. The particular foster care setting, including supervised settings, shall be selected by the agency and the child based on the best interest of the child consistent with section 260C.212, subdivision 2. Supervision in approved settings must be determined by an individual determination of the child's needs by the responsible social services agency and consistent with section 260C.212, subdivision 4a.
Subd. 6. Reentering foster care and accessing services after 18 years of age and up to 21 years of age. (a) Upon request of an individual who had been under the guardianship of the commissioner and who has left foster care without being adopted, the responsible social services agency which had been the commissioner's agent for purposes of the guardianship shall develop with the individual a plan to increase the individual's ability to live safely and independently using the plan requirements of section 260C.212, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (12), and to assist the individual to meet one or more of the eligibility criteria in subdivision 4 if the individual wants to reenter foster care. The responsible social services agency shall provide foster care as required to implement the plan. The responsible social services agency shall enter into a voluntary placement agreement under section 260C.229 with the individual if the plan includes foster care.
(b) Individuals who had not been under the guardianship of the commissioner of human services prior to 18 years of age may ask to reenter foster care after age 18 and the responsible social services agency that had responsibility for planning for the individual before discharge from foster care shall provide foster care or other services to the individual for the purpose of increasing the individual's ability to live safely and independently and to meet the eligibility criteria in subdivision 3a, if the individual:
(1) was in foster care for the six consecutive months prior to the person's 18th birthday, or left foster care within six months prior to the person's 18th birthday, and was not discharged home, adopted, or received into a relative's home under a transfer of permanent legal and physical custody under section 260C.515, subdivision 4; or
(2) was discharged from foster care while on runaway status after age 15.
(c) In conjunction with a qualifying and eligible individual under paragraph (b) and other appropriate persons, the responsible social services agency shall develop a specific plan related to that individual's vocational, educational, social, or maturational needs and provide foster care as required to implement the plan. The responsible social services agency shall enter into a voluntary placement agreement with the individual if the plan includes foster care.
(d) A child who left foster care while under guardianship of the commissioner of human services retains eligibility for foster care for placement at any time prior to 21 years of age.
Subd. 7. Jurisdiction. Individuals in foster care pursuant to this section are adults for all purposes except the continued provision of foster care. Any order establishing guardianship under section 260C.325, any legal custody order under section 260C.201, subdivision 1, and any order for legal custody associated with an order for permanent custody under section 260C.515, subdivision 5, terminates on the child's 18th birthday. The responsible social services agency has legal responsibility for the individual's placement and care when the matter continues under court jurisdiction pursuant to section 260C.193 or when the individual and the responsible agency execute a voluntary placement agreement pursuant to section 260C.229.
Subd. 8. Notice of termination of foster care. When a child in foster care between the ages of 18 and 21 ceases to meet one of the eligibility criteria of subdivision 3a, the responsible social services agency shall give the child written notice that foster care will terminate 30 days from the date the notice is sent. The child or the child's guardian ad litem may file a motion asking the court to review the agency's determination within 15 days of receiving the notice. The child shall not be discharged from foster care until the motion is heard. The agency shall work with the child to transition out of foster care as required under section 260C.203, paragraph (d), clause (2). The written notice of termination of benefits shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall also give notice of the right to have the agency's determination reviewed by the court in the proceeding where the court conducts the reviews required under section 260C.203, 260C.317, or 260C.515, subdivision 5 or 6. A copy of the termination notice shall be sent to the child and the child's attorney, if any, the foster care provider, the child's guardian ad litem, and the court. The agency is not responsible for paying foster care benefits for any period of time after the child actually leaves foster care.
Subd. 9. Administrative or court review of placements. (a) The court shall conduct reviews at least annually to ensure the responsible social services agency is making reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for the child.
(b) The court shall find that the responsible social services agency is making reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for the child when the responsible social services agency:
(1) provides appropriate support to the child and foster care provider to ensure continuing stability and success in placement;
(2) works with the child to plan for transition to adulthood and assists the child in demonstrating progress in achieving related goals;
(3) works with the child to plan for independent living skills and assists the child in demonstrating progress in achieving independent living goals; and
(4) prepares the child for independence according to sections 260C.203, paragraph (d), and 260C.452, subdivision 4.
(c) The responsible social services agency must ensure that an administrative review that meets the requirements of this section and section 260C.203 is completed at least six months after each of the court's annual reviews.
1999 c 139 art 3 s 48; 2010 c 269 art 3 s 9; 2010 c 301 art 3 s 9; 2012 c 216 art 4 s 24; 2015 c 71 art 1 s 63,64; 2016 c 189 art 15 s 11,12; 2017 c 40 art 1 s 91; 1Sp2017 c 6 art 7 s 32

Structure Minnesota Statutes

Minnesota Statutes

Chapters 245 - 267 — Public Welfare And Related Activities

Chapter 260C — Juvenile Safety And Placement

Section 260C.001 — Title, Intent, And Construction.

Section 260C.007 — Definitions.

Section 260C.008 — Foster Care Sibling Bill Of Rights.

Section 260C.050 — Expert Assistance.

Section 260C.101 — Jurisdiction.

Section 260C.121 — Venue.

Section 260C.125 — Case Transfer Process.

Section 260C.139 — Give Life A Chance; Safe Place For Newborns.

Section 260C.141 — Petition.

Section 260C.143 — Procedure; Habitual Truants, Runaways, Offenders.

Section 260C.148 — Procedure; Domestic Child Abuse.

Section 260C.150 — Diligent Efforts To Identify Parents Of A Child; Procedures For Review; Reasonable Efforts.

Section 260C.151 — Summons; Notice.

Section 260C.152 — Service Of Summons, Notice.

Section 260C.154 — Failure To Obey Summons Or Subpoena; Contempt, Arrest.

Section 260C.157 — Investigation; Physical And Mental Examination.

Section 260C.163 — Hearing.

Section 260C.165 — Certain Out-of-court Statements Admissible.

Section 260C.168 — Compliance With Indian Child Welfare Act And Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act.

Section 260C.171 — Records.

Section 260C.175 — Taking Child Into Custody.

Section 260C.176 — Release Or Detention.

Section 260C.177 — Parental And Law Enforcement Notification.

Section 260C.178 — Emergency Removal Hearing.

Section 260C.181 — Place Of Temporary Custody; Shelter Care Facility.

Section 260C.188 — Children In Custody; Responsibility For Medical Care.

Section 260C.190 — Family-focused Residential Placement.

Section 260C.193 — Dispositions; General Provisions.

Section 260C.201 — Dispositions; Children In Need Of Protection Or Services Or Neglected And In Foster Care.

Section 260C.202 — Court Review Of Foster Care.

Section 260C.203 — Administrative Or Court Review Of Placements.

Section 260C.204 — Permanency Progress Review For Children In Foster Care For Six Months.

Section 260C.208 — Information For Child Placement.

Section 260C.209 — Background Checks.

Section 260C.212 — Children In Placement.

Section 260C.215 — Welfare Of Children.

Section 260C.219 — Agency Responsibilities For Parents And Children In Placement.

Section 260C.221 — Relative Search And Engagement; Placement Consideration.

Section 260C.223 — Concurrent Permanency Planning.

Section 260C.225 — County Responsibility For Transitional Services Plans.

Section 260C.227 — Voluntary Foster Care; Required Court Review.

Section 260C.228 — Voluntary Foster Care; Child Is Colocated With Parent In Treatment Program.

Section 260C.229 — Voluntary Foster Care For Children Over Age 18; Required Court Review.

Section 260C.301 — Termination Of Parental Rights.

Section 260C.303 — Venue.

Section 260C.307 — Procedures In Terminating Parental Rights.

Section 260C.312 — Disposition; Parental Rights Not Terminated.

Section 260C.317 — Termination Of Parental Rights; Effect.

Section 260C.325 — Guardian.

Section 260C.328 — Change Of Guardian; Termination Of Guardianship.

Section 260C.329 — Reestablishment Of The Legal Parent And Child Relationship.

Section 260C.331 — Costs Of Care.

Section 260C.335 — Civil Jurisdiction Over Persons Contributing To Need For Protection Or Services; Court Orders.

Section 260C.405 — Violation Of An Order For Protection.

Section 260C.411 — New Evidence.

Section 260C.415 — Appeal.

Section 260C.421 — Contempt.

Section 260C.425 — Criminal Jurisdiction For Contributing To Need For Protection Or Services.

Section 260C.4411 — Pre-northstar Care For Children Foster Care Program.

Section 260C.4412 — Payment For Residential Placements.

Section 260C.4413 — Initial Clothing Allowance.

Section 260C.446 — Distribution Of Funds Recovered For Assistance Furnished.

Section 260C.451 — Foster Care Benefits Past Age 18.

Section 260C.452 — Successful Transition To Adulthood.

Section 260C.503 — Permanency Proceedings.

Section 260C.505 — Petition.

Section 260C.507 — Admit-deny Hearing.

Section 260C.509 — Trial.

Section 260C.511 — Best Interests Of The Child.

Section 260C.513 — Permanency Dispositions When Child Cannot Return Home.

Section 260C.515 — Permanency Disposition Orders.

Section 260C.517 — Findings And Content Of Order For Permanency Disposition.

Section 260C.519 — Further Court Hearings.

Section 260C.521 — Court Reviews After Permanency Disposition Order.

Section 260C.601 — Adoption Of Children Under Guardianship Of Commissioner.

Section 260C.603 — Definitions.

Section 260C.605 — Reasonable Efforts To Finalize An Adoption.

Section 260C.607 — Review Of Progress Toward Adoption.

Section 260C.609 — Social And Medical History.

Section 260C.611 — Adoption Study Required.

Section 260C.613 — Social Services Agency As Commissioner's Agent.

Section 260C.615 — Duties Of Commissioner.

Section 260C.617 — Sibling Placement.

Section 260C.619 — Communication And Contact Agreements.

Section 260C.621 — Jurisdiction And Venue.

Section 260C.623 — Adoption Petition.

Section 260C.625 — Documents Filed By Social Services Agency.

Section 260C.627 — Notice Of Adoption Proceedings.

Section 260C.629 — Finalization Hearing.

Section 260C.631 — Judgment And Decree.

Section 260C.633 — Adoption Denied.

Section 260C.635 — Effect Of Adoption.

Section 260C.637 — Access To Original Birth Record Information.

Section 260C.70 — Citation.

Section 260C.702 — Requirements For Placements In Qualified Residential Treatment Programs.

Section 260C.704 — Requirements For The Qualified Individual's Assessment Of The Child For Placement In A Qualified Residential Treatment Program.

Section 260C.706 — Family And Permanency Team Requirements.

Section 260C.708 — Out-of-home Placement Plan For Qualified Residential Treatment Program Placements.

Section 260C.71 — Court Approval Requirements.

Section 260C.712 — Ongoing Reviews And Permanency Hearing Requirements.

Section 260C.714 — Review Of Extended Qualified Residential Treatment Program Placements.

Section 260C.80 — Office Of The Foster Youth Ombudsperson; Board.

Section 260C.81 — Organization Of The Office Of The Foster Youth Ombudsperson.

Section 260C.82 — Powers Of Foster Youth Ombudsperson; Investigation; Action On Complaints; Recommendations.

Section 260C.83 — Recommendations And Reports To Governor.