By Thomas Lee, CEO, First Place for Youth 

Earlier this month, Oklahoma Governor, Kevin Stitt, signed Senate Bill 1806 into law — extending foster care services to young adults through age 21, effective July 1, 2026. The Legislature budgeted $5 million to cover the expansion, and DHS expects to receive about $1 million in federal funds. For those of us who have spent years fighting for this kind of policy, it was a moment worth pausing to celebrate.  

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to enter adulthood with a strong foundation. Extending foster care services to age 21 gives young adults additional time, support and resources as they pursue education, employment and independence.” – Oklahoma Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton 

Our team reviewed the proposed legislation, offered technical amendments grounded in what we have seen succeed. Our recommendations included requiring the Director to establish age-appropriate placements for young adults, requiring the Department to fully draw down available Title IV-E federal funds, auto-enrolling eligible youth into extended foster care so they do not fall through the cracks, and authorizing youth to re-enter extended care if they initially decline participation but later decide they need support. The bill passed the Oklahoma Legislature unanimously — but there is still much work to do. Oklahoma Human Services is currently finalizing implementation plans to ensure the provisions above are added  

Extended foster care works. Research from Chapin Hall shows that each additional year a young adult spends in extended foster care significantly increases their likelihood of earning a high school diploma and enrolling in college — and meaningfully reduces their risk of homelessness and food insecurity. These aren’t just statistics: they are the stories of young people we serve every day at First Place. 

Oklahoma joins a growing number of states recognizing what we have always believed: that turning 18 does not make someone ready to face the world alone, and that the system’s responsibility to young people does not end on their birthday. As of July 1, 2026, eligible young Oklahomans can voluntarily continue receiving services — including support through age 21 — while working toward their education, employment, and independence goals.  

At First Place, our mission has always been to ensure that every young person who has experienced foster care has the opportunity to thrive. Sometimes that means walking alongside a young person in Richmond or Long Beach. And sometimes it means sharing what we know with a lawmaker in Oklahoma City so that more young people — across more states — have a real shot. We are hopeful that Oklahoma’s unanimous vote is a signal of where the rest of the country is headed.  

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