This week marks a life-changing milestone for foster youth across Tennessee—and two remarkable young adults from Jonathan’s Path are at the center of it.
On Tuesday, June 3rd, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee will sign into law HB0103, a groundbreaking piece of legislation that expands access to voluntary Extended Foster Care (EFC) for young adults ages 21 to 23. For teens aging out of foster care, this bill opens the door to stability, opportunity, and a future they get to define for themselves.
Taylor DuRard, a co-founder of Jonathan’s Path and a powerful advocate with lived experience in foster care, played a pivotal role in championing the bill. From providing testimony to mobilizing community support, Taylor’s voice helped lawmakers understand the urgent need to extend services for youth who too often fall through the cracks after turning 18.
Joining the celebration at the bill signing is Rayven Jenkins, a current youth in Jonathan’s Path who was adopted after age 16. Under the new law, Rayven—and many others like her—will now be eligible to participate in Extended Foster Care, unlocking critical supports like housing assistance, college tuition aid, and driver’s license fee waivers.“ This bill is more than policy,” said Taylor. “It’s a promise. A promise that Tennessee sees and values its young people, even after they turn 18. For so many of us, that support means the difference between barely surviving and finally thriving.”
Rayven echoed that sentiment. “Being adopted was a blessing but turning 18 felt like everything would fall apart and be cut off. Now I have a path forward and I can finally make lemonade out of the lemon’s life gave me. This type of support is drastically life changing and I finally feel as if I have a chance and I’m not alone.”
Program Director Juleesia Santiago-Karim of Jonathan’s Path reflected on the historic moment, “This is what youth-led advocacy looks like. Taylor and Rayven have shown what’s possible when we center the voices of those directly impacted. HB0103 gives our young people time, resources, and dignity—something every child in care deserves.”
TN HB0103 ensures that young adults who were in foster care at age 18—or were adopted or placed in subsidized permanent guardianship after age 16—can continue receiving services if they are working, enrolled in school, or managing a documented medical condition. This extension gives youth the time and safety net they need to build stable, independent lives.
Jonathan’s Path is proud to support youth like Taylor and Rayven, whose courage and leadership helped shape a more hopeful future for generations to come. Their stories are proof that when young people are given a voice—and a path—they can change the system for the better.
