INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — On Wednesday, Governor Eric Holcomb signed Executive Order 20-31.
The name isn't significant, but what it does will help young adults in foster care during the pandemic.
The executive order allows them to remain in foster care beyond the age of 18 for the duration of the public health emergency — which the governor extended until July 4.
Young adults in foster care will now be able to continue to receive education, workforce training and health benefits.
Last week, 13News shared the story of 22-year-old Joshua Christian. He had entered the foster care system when he was two and went in and out of 18 homes.
He created a video sharing voices from the foster system, including young adults whose difficulties have been compounded by the pandemic.
“With the COVID-19, it just makes the process 10 times worse,” said Christian. “We’re seeing foster children have to leave dorms, and if you’re a foster kid and you haven’t been adopted, you may not have a place to go.”
He hoped for more funding for foster organizations and a moratorium on aging out of the system through the pandemic and 6 months after. For now, the governor has at least extended it until July 4.
What else the executive order does
Executive Order 20-31 also extends the time period to renew professional licenses, certificates or permits to June 30.
Due to the current restrictions on in-person dining in restaurants, the executive order reduces the amount of food sales a restaurant must report to maintain its alcoholic beverage permit.
Deadlines for the calculation of local taxes were also extended by the executive order.
