Extended foster care is one of the most important tools states have to support young people as they move into adulthood. When it works well, it provides stability, relationships and practical support at a time when most young adults still depend on family and community.

A new report from the Texas Center for Child and Family Studies looks at challenges and barriers young people face as they transition out of foster care and into adulthood in Texas, where nearly half of older youth leaving care are emancipated. That share has increased in recent years. The report draws on insights from 205 young adults and 120 staff and providers who work alongside them.

The assessment offers a closer look at how the system operates day to day, what is helping young people stay connected to support and where barriers are getting in the way. Those insights can help guide improvement efforts in Texas and inform conversations in other states working to strengthen extended foster care.

What the report found

One finding stands out. Even when extended foster care is available, many young people never enter the program or do not stay connected long enough to benefit.

In Texas, about 48% of eligible young adults enroll in extended foster care. Among those who do participate, the average time in care is about a year or less. The study also found that many young people are not fully aware of what extended foster care is or how it could support them.

That gap matters. Access to extended foster care depends not only on eligibility, but also on whether young people understand the option and whether the system makes participation realistic for young adults juggling school, work and housing decisions.

Where systems can remove barriers

The report points to several practical opportunities to make extended foster care easier to access and easier to remain in.

Young people need clearer information about extended foster care before they age out. The report also suggests exploring automatic enrollment with the option to opt out, as well as reviewing eligibility and placement requirements that may unintentionally limit participation. Even the language used to describe extended foster care can influence whether young people see it as relevant to them.

This work also highlights the support that shapes stability during early adulthood, including life skills, relationships, education, employment and housing. These are the areas where young adults experience the effects of system design most directly.

What young adults say they need

Several themes appear consistently across the findings.

Young people benefit from practical life skills support tied to everyday needs such as transportation, budgeting and navigating health care. Consistent relationships matter as well. Many young adults described the importance of having at least one adult who remains connected beyond formal case requirements.

Education pathways also need flexibility. Young people pursue different goals and timelines, including workforce training and credential programs alongside traditional college options.

Employment and housing shape stability in similar ways. Access to internships and reliable transportation can help young adults move from short-term jobs toward longer-term career paths. Stable housing options remain equally critical.

Why this matters

For many young people, extended foster care is the difference between navigating early adulthood alone and having continued support during a critical transition.

Studies like this help clarify where systems can improve and how extended foster care can better support young people during the transition to adulthood. The findings offer practical insight for policymakers, providers and system leaders working to strengthen services for young people leaving care.

Click here to read the full report.

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