The Bridge to Independence Program & The Affordable Care Act Special Edition:

The Basics In the Courtroom M EDICAID C OVERAGE AND THE ACA Know Your Rights Wild Card T HE B RIDGE TO I NDEPENDENCE P ROGRAM Two BONUS Medicaid questions: 300

Young adults who aged out of foster care and are in the Bridge to Independence Program get these three services

1. Housing support 2. Support from an Independence Coordinator 3. Medicaid coverage

Other than youth who aged out of foster care, the Bridge to Independence program also helps these two groups of young people

Youth who were adopted at age 16+ and Youth who entered a guardianship at age 16+

Name at least three of the four eligibility requirements for all young adults in the Bridge to Independence program

1.Education e.g. high school, GED program, college, vocational education program, etc. 2.Employment working at least 80 hours per month 3.Employment activity e.g. internship, volunteering, working with a local career center, etc. 4.Medical condition and can’t do any of the above activities

TRUE or FALSE: Young adults must sign up for the Bridge to Independence program right when they age out of foster care

FALSE! Young adults can come into the program any time before they turn 21. They can also leave at any time, and then come back again before 21.

Name a way young adults can provide feedback to the judge (other than speaking up in court)

Filling out the Bridge to Independence Court Questionnaire! (Youth still in foster care can answer the Youth Court Questionnaire.)

Name at least TWO differences between review hearings in the Bridge to Independence program and court hearings in the under 19 foster care system

Focus: the young adult Purpose: to make sure the young adult is getting the services and support they need to become independent Held once a year (or upon request) Young adults are the advocates! (They can ask for an attorney or CASA volunteer to help if they want to) Can be an informal process Focus: the parents (and the wellbeing of the child) Purpose: to help the parents so the children can return Held at least every three months A guardian ad litem is the child’s advocate and represents his/her “best interests” Formal court hearing The B2I Program The under 19 system

A guardian ad litem in the under 19 foster care system is different from an attorney in the Bridge to Independence program in this important way

“Client directed” (so the attorney must advocate for what the young adult wants – NOT what the attorney thinks is best) Only assigned when the young adult asks for one “Best interests” focused (so the GAL advocates for what he/she thinks is best for the child, which may or may not be what the child wants) Automatically assigned to every child in foster care B2I Program AttorneyUnder 19 System GAL

In the Bridge to Independence program, a “case review” and a “permanency review hearing” are different in this way (name at least one)

Purpose: to make sure the young adult is getting the services and support they need to become independent Held once a year (or upon request) Held in front of a judge – or someone appointed by a judge Purpose: to look at progress made toward goals Held every six months Held by the Foster Care Review Office and DHHS, along with the young adult and others the young adult wants to bring (e.g. a friend, their CASA volunteer, a supportive adult, etc.) Permanency Review Hearing Case Review

Can DHHS require clean background checks for people you want to live with in the Bridge to Independence program?

No! The law says that clean background checks of other people living in the home can not be required.

If a young adult stops meeting their eligibility requirement, they have this many days before getting kicked out of the program

60 total days! The young adult stops meeting their eligibility requirement (and isn’t meeting a different one) If the young adult still isn’t meeting a requirement, DHHS sends a 30 day notice of ineligibility If the young adult STILL isn’t meeting a requirement, they are terminated from the program 30 day grace period30 more days

Name at least four options you have if you disagree with a decision made about your Bridge to Independence case

Talk with your Independence Coordinator Request an attorney and/or CASA volunteer Request forms available at neappleseed.org/B2I File an administrative appeal Mail in a written letter asking for a fair hearing or fill out DHHS’s “request for fair hearing” form, available at neappleseed.org/B2I Request an extra court hearing Request form available at neappleseed.org/B2I Call the Ombudsman’s Office Call Nebraska Appleseed’s Intake Line

TRUE or FALSE: If you get kicked out of the program, you can’t come back in

FALSE! As long as you meet the eligibility requirements (one of the four activities), you can come in again any time before you turn 21.

In January 2014, the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) extended this for youth who were formerly in foster care.

The ACA extended Medicaid coverage for youth who reached the age of 18 while in foster care, or aged out of foster care at 19, until their 26 th birthday.

Name two eligibility requirements young adults must meet in order to get Medicaid coverage until 26

Reached age 18 while in foster care or aged out of foster care at 19 Were in foster care in Nebraska Under age 26 Had Medicaid when they were in foster care

If you have Medicaid and they won’t pay for a service you need, you have this option

Appeal their decision! Write them a letter asking for a fair hearing at: Legal Services – Hearing Section P.O. Box Lincoln NE OR fill out DHHS’s “request for a fair hearing” form, available at neappleseed.org/B2I Contact Nebraska Appleseed’s Intake Line with any questions or problems:

If you are NOT eligible for Medicaid to 26 under the ACA, how else could you get Medicaid coverage?

You could be eligible for general Medicaid coverage if you are: Pregnant Aged, blind, or disabled A very low income parent

Name at least one way to apply for Medicaid

Apply online through ACCESSNebraska accessnebraska.ne.gov Apply online through the Health Insurance Marketplace healthcare.gov Download an electronic application Apply over the phone Lincoln: Omaha: Statewide:

Name two important questions to look for when applying for Medicaid online

1.Do you want to find out if you can get help paying for health coverage? Answer “YES”! 2.Were you ever in foster care?