(1) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the department of social and health services, with input from the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, and institutions of higher education, shall contract with at least one nongovernmental entity through a request for proposals process to develop, implement, and administer a program of supplemental educational transition planning for youth in foster care in Washington state.

     (2) The nongovernmental entity or entities chosen by the department shall have demonstrated success in working with foster care youth and assisting foster care youth in successfully making the transition from foster care to independent adulthood.

     (3) The selected nongovernmental entity or entities shall provide supplemental educational transition planning to foster care youth in Washington state beginning at age fourteen and then at least every six months thereafter. The supplemental transition planning shall include:

     (a) Comprehensive information regarding postsecondary educational opportunities including, but not limited to, sources of financial aid, institutional characteristics and record of support for former foster care youth, transportation, housing, and other logistical considerations;

     (b) How and when to apply to postsecondary educational programs;

     (c) What precollege tests, if any, the particular foster care youth should take based on his or her postsecondary plans and when to take the tests;

     (d) What courses to take to prepare the particular foster care youth to succeed at his or her postsecondary plans;

     (e) Social, community, educational, logistical, and other issues that frequently impact college students and their success rates; and

     (f) Which web sites, nongovernmental entities, public agencies, and other foster care youth support providers specialize in which services.

     (4) The selected nongovernmental entity or entities shall work directly with the school counselors at the foster care youths' high schools to ensure that a consistent and complete transition plan has been prepared for each foster care youth who emancipates out of the foster care system in Washington state.

[2007 c 314 § 7.]