OAR 413-030-0400: Purpose

The purpose of OAR 413-030-0400 to 413-030-0460 is to describe the responsibilities of the Department for comprehensive transition planning to support all children, young adults and former foster children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through transitional services such as: (1) Obtaining a high school diploma or GED and post-secondary education, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training and opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as financial literacy training and driving instruction), substance abuse prevention, and preventative health activities (including smoking avoidance, nutrition education, and sexual/reproductive health; (2) Achieve meaningful, permanent connections with a caring adult; (3) Achieve and maintain connections to culture and community; (4) Engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities, positive youth development, and experiential learning that reflects what their peers in intact families experience, and (5) Provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education and other appropriate support and services to young adults and former foster children to complement their own efforts and control over decision-making to achieve self-sufficiency, and to assure that they recognize and accept their personal responsibility for preparing for and then making the successful transition from adolescence to adulthood.