WASHINGTON — Sen. Olympia J. Snowe has co-sponsored legislation to help foster children make the transition to independence as they reach adulthood.

Snowe is supporting the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, sponsored by the late Sen. John H. Chafee, R-R.I.

“This legislation provides critical support to foster children as they reach the end of their foster care and prepare to enter adulthood,” said Snowe. “More than 20,000 young people make this difficult transition each year, and they deserve support to help them avoid poverty, homelessness, or a wide variety of problems that can follow an abrupt exit from foster care.”

Current law ends support when the foster child turns 18 or graduates from high school. Studies of adolescents who reach 18 and abruptly leave foster care have found that they have a significantly higher rates of dropping out of school, poverty, unemployment, health and mental health problems, homelessness and childbearing out of wedlock.

The legislation is designed to help teens leaving foster care to make a more successful transition to adulthood. If enacted, the measure would:

Double funding for state-administered Independent Living programs to permit 18- to 21-year-old former foster children take care of their day-to-day living needs and continue learning new skills.

The legislation would provide mentoring and personal support, and assist older foster care adolescents in obtaining a high school diploma and post-secondary education.

The bill also would expand access to health care and mental health services provided by Medicaid through a foster child’s 21st birthday.