Long-Term Foster Care

The ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite children with their biological families, or, barring that, permanently place them in loving adoptive homes. Sometimes, however, neither option is possible. In those situations, long-term foster care is often the best course of action. Sometimes known as Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA), long-term foster care provides teens and young adults with stability as they transition to adulthood.

Who is Long-Term Foster Care For? 

Older Youth

APPLA foster care is legally restricted to youth over the age of 16 who are unable to return to their biological family but do not want to be adopted. It is usually the final foster care permanency option available for teens who have turned down other paths to permanency and are likely to age out of the system in the coming years. 

Sometimes, a foster teen’s parents are unable or unlikely to comply with reunification goals before the youth turns 18, but the court does not terminate their parental rights. In this situation, the teen may consent to be adopted or to enter into a guardianship, or they may choose to remain in foster care out of loyalty to their biological family.

The Importance of Consent

Unlike children, teens have a choice in their path to permanency. Youth over the age of 14 (in some states, 16) must consent to being adopted. Foster teens typically work with a child welfare professional to discuss possible permanency plans. For youth who would like to retain ties to their birth family, long-term foster care presents an alternative to adoption.

How It Differs from Adoption 

Legal Custody

One of the greatest differences between APPLA foster care and adoption is that with APPLA, the state child welfare agency remains the teen's legal guardian. The state keeps the youth's case open, ensures that they have safe and stable housing, and provides access to programs that will help them as they enter adulthood. 

Foster parents do not adopt the youth, but continue to care for them until they age out of the system.

Financial Support

All foster parents receive a monthly stipend to help cover costs, and those providing long-term foster care are no exception. The stipend amount varies among states, and parents caring for special needs youth may receive more per month in some locations. Teens participating in APPLA also remain covered under Medicaid.

Teens in long-term foster care may also qualify for the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. This federal program provides older foster youth with funds to pursue a college education or vocational training. ETV participants may receive up to $5,000 a year. 

The Role of the Long-Term Foster Parent 

Mentorship

All foster parents provide love, safety, and stability, but those caring for teens long term have an added dimension to their role: that of mentor. These parents still set boundaries and offer a safe place to land. However, they also help foster youth prepare for adult life and the challenges ahead.

Preparing for Independence

Long-term foster parents prepare youth for independent living by teaching them important life skills. While financial literacy and critical thinking are crucial for success in the adult world, many foster teens also need help in areas related to day-to-day life, such as cooking, personal hygiene, and finding a job.

Committed Stability

Long-term foster parenting involves committing to care for a teenager until they are legally of age, no matter what. APPLA foster care provides stability for foster youth at a vulnerable point in life, and parents must respect the child's need for security as well as their autonomy.  

Adoption is the most popular path to legal permanence, but it's not the only option. Long-term foster care is an alternative that respects young people's family ties and desire for independence while providing them with stability and preparing them for adult life.

Sources

1. Accessed on April 20, 2026. https://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/curriculum/209_CncrrntPlnnng1/Hndts/HO11_APPLA.pdf
2. Accessed on April 21, 2026. https://acf.gov/orr/grants/ucb/ltfc
3. Accessed on April 21, 2026. https://extranet.azdcs.gov/DCSPolicy/Content/Program%20Policy/03%20Case%20Planning%20and%20Services/03%20Developing%20and%20Reassessing%20the%20Family-Centered%20Case%20Plan/CH3_S03_4%20APPLA.htm#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Child%20Services%20(DCS)%20establishes,permanency%20efforts%20have%20been%20unsuccessful%20and%20documented