Lawmakers focus on kids aging out of foster care

LINCOLN--Nebraska lawmakers are putting more focus on needs of the 19-year-olds aging out of the foster care system. 

During a press conference Thursday, Senator Amanda McGill from Lincoln and representatives from the child advocacy groups Nebraska Appleseed and Project Everlast described an interim study on the issue.

Only 35 percent of about 300 young adults leaving foster care each year receive help from the current Former Wards program.

The proposed program would extend this group’s Medicaid coverage and give stipends for housing costs to help former foster children transition into adulthood.