S5336-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act.

2. References Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of the Social Security Act.

3. Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

7. Modernization; reducing administrative burden Section 431 (42 U.S.C. 629a) is amended by adding at the end the following: The services referred to in subsection (a) may include the means of access to and use of an electronic or digital portal to facilitate the provision of community support to care for and meet specific needs of families and children. Such a portal shall not retain or share personally identifiable information about a beneficiary without consent or for any purpose other than referral. Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)) is amended— in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting , including services provided by family resource centers, before designed; and by adding at the end the following: The term family resource center means a community or school-based hub of support services for families that— utilizes an approach that is multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered; reflects, and is responsive to, community needs and interests; provides support at no or low cost for participants; and builds communities of peer support for families, including kinship families, to develop social connections that reduce isolation and stress. For purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service provided by a family resource center may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category. Section 422(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: provide that a State agency will administer or supervise the administration of the plan under this subpart; Section 422(b)(4) (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(4)) is amended— by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A); by adding and at the end of subparagraph (B); and by adding at the end the following: the steps that the State will take to ensure that, with respect to any judicial proceeding involving a child and in which there is an allegation of child abuse or neglect, including a proceeding on dependency, adoption, guardianship, or termination of parental rights, information about available independent legal representation is provided to— the child, as appropriate; and any individual who is a parent or guardian, or has legal custody, of the child; Section 422(b)(15)(A) (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15) is amended— in the matter preceding clause (i)— by inserting and, if applicable, the State agency responsible for mental health services, before and in consultation; and by inserting mental health providers, before other experts; in clause (ii), by inserting a list of services provided to support the physical and before emotional; in clause (iv), by inserting and mental health before services; in clause (v), by inserting , informed consent of youth, and compliance with professional practice guidelines before the semicolon; and in clause (vi), by inserting , licensed mental health providers, before or other. Subpart 3 of part B of title IV (42 U.S.C. 629m) is amended by redesignating section 440 as section 443 and inserting before such section the following: The Secretary shall reduce the burden of administering this part imposed on the recipients of funds under this part, by— reviewing and revising administrative data collection instruments and forms to eliminate duplication and streamline reporting requirements for the recipients while collecting all data required under this part; in coordination with activities required under the Paperwork Reduction Act, conducting an analysis of the total number of hours reported by the recipients to comply with paperwork requirements and exploring, in consultation with the recipients, how to reduce the number of hours required for the compliance by at least 15 percent; collecting input from the recipients with respect to fiscal and oversight requirements and making changes to ensure consistency with standards and guidelines for other Federal formula grant programs based on the input; and respecting the sovereignty of Indian tribes when complying with this subsection. Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any reporting or data collection otherwise required by law that would affect the ability of the Secretary to monitor and ensure compliance with State plans approved under this part or ensure that funds are expended consistent with this part. The Secretary shall— create a standardized format for State plans required under sections 422 and 432 used to monitor compliance with those sections; produce comparisons and analyses of trends in State plans to inform future technical assistance and policy development; make the State plans available on a public website; and include on the website aggregated national summaries of State submissions as the Secretary deems appropriate. Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— comply with section 441 of the Social Security Act, as added by the amendment made by paragraph (1); and notify each recipient of funds under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act of any change made by the Secretary pursuant to such section affecting the recipient. Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report describing the efforts of the Secretary to comply with section 441 of the Social Security Act, as added by the amendment made by paragraph (1), including the specific actions to comply with each paragraph of such section. Section 435(a)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 429e(a)(2)(B)) is amended by inserting including community-based partners with expertise in preventing unnecessary child welfare system involvement before the semicolon. (c)Use of technology(1)Use of portalThe services referred to in subsection (a) may include the means of access to and use of an electronic or digital portal to facilitate the provision of community support to care for and meet specific needs of families and children.(2)LimitationSuch a portal shall not retain or share personally identifiable information about a beneficiary without consent or for any purpose other than referral.. (10)Family resource center(A)In generalThe term family resource center means a community or school-based hub of support services for families that—(i)utilizes an approach that is multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered;(ii)reflects, and is responsive to, community needs and interests;(iii)provides support at no or low cost for participants; and(iv)builds communities of peer support for families, including kinship families, to develop social connections that reduce isolation and stress.(B)Special ruleFor purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service provided by a family resource center may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.. (1)provide that a State agency will administer or supervise the administration of the plan under this subpart;. (C)the steps that the State will take to ensure that, with respect to any judicial proceeding involving a child and in which there is an allegation of child abuse or neglect, including a proceeding on dependency, adoption, guardianship, or termination of parental rights, information about available independent legal representation is provided to—(i)the child, as appropriate; and(ii)any individual who is a parent or guardian, or has legal custody, of the child;. 441.Reduction of administrative burden(a)In generalThe Secretary shall reduce the burden of administering this part imposed on the recipients of funds under this part, by—(1)reviewing and revising administrative data collection instruments and forms to eliminate duplication and streamline reporting requirements for the recipients while collecting all data required under this part;(2)in coordination with activities required under the Paperwork Reduction Act, conducting an analysis of the total number of hours reported by the recipients to comply with paperwork requirements and exploring, in consultation with the recipients, how to reduce the number of hours required for the compliance by at least 15 percent;(3)collecting input from the recipients with respect to fiscal and oversight requirements and making changes to ensure consistency with standards and guidelines for other Federal formula grant programs based on the input; and(4)respecting the sovereignty of Indian tribes when complying with this subsection.(b)Limitation on applicabilitySubsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any reporting or data collection otherwise required by law that would affect the ability of the Secretary to monitor and ensure compliance with State plans approved under this part or ensure that funds are expended consistent with this part.442.Public access to State plansThe Secretary shall—(1)create a standardized format for State plans required under sections 422 and 432 used to monitor compliance with those sections;(2)produce comparisons and analyses of trends in State plans to inform future technical assistance and policy development;(3)make the State plans available on a public website; and(4)include on the website aggregated national summaries of State submissions as the Secretary deems appropriate..

441. Reduction of administrative burden The Secretary shall reduce the burden of administering this part imposed on the recipients of funds under this part, by— reviewing and revising administrative data collection instruments and forms to eliminate duplication and streamline reporting requirements for the recipients while collecting all data required under this part; in coordination with activities required under the Paperwork Reduction Act, conducting an analysis of the total number of hours reported by the recipients to comply with paperwork requirements and exploring, in consultation with the recipients, how to reduce the number of hours required for the compliance by at least 15 percent; collecting input from the recipients with respect to fiscal and oversight requirements and making changes to ensure consistency with standards and guidelines for other Federal formula grant programs based on the input; and respecting the sovereignty of Indian tribes when complying with this subsection. Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any reporting or data collection otherwise required by law that would affect the ability of the Secretary to monitor and ensure compliance with State plans approved under this part or ensure that funds are expended consistent with this part.

442. Public access to State plans The Secretary shall— create a standardized format for State plans required under sections 422 and 432 used to monitor compliance with those sections; produce comparisons and analyses of trends in State plans to inform future technical assistance and policy development; make the State plans available on a public website; and include on the website aggregated national summaries of State submissions as the Secretary deems appropriate.

429B. Effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 Not later than October 1, 2025, the Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribal organizations and States, shall develop a plan and provide technical assistance supporting effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including specific measures identified in State plans as required by section 422(b)(9) of this Act. The technical assistance plan shall be based on data sufficient to assess State strengths and areas for improvement in implementing Federal standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including, at a minimum, the following: Timely identification of Indian children and extended family members. Timely tribal notice of State child custody proceedings involving an Indian child. Reports of cases in which a transfer of jurisdiction (as defined under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978) was granted or was not granted, and reasons specified for denial in cases where transfer was denied. In cases in which a State court orders a foster care placement of an Indian child, whether requirements for active efforts to prevent the breakup of the Indian family, testimony of a qualified expert witness, and evidentiary standards were met. Whether an Indian child was placed in a placement that is required to be preferred under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, and if not, the reasons specified. In cases in which a State court orders the termination of parental rights to an Indian child, whether requirements for active efforts to prevent the breakup of the Indian family, testimony of a qualified expert witness, and evidentiary standards were met. On request of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior shall provide the Secretary with such guidance and assistance as may be necessary to facilitate informing States and public child welfare agencies on how to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including specific measures identified in State plans as required by section 422(b)(9) of this Act. The Secretary shall biennially submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a written report on how— the States are complying with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and section 422(b)(9) of this Act, as informed by data collected under this section; and the Secretary is assisting States and Indian tribes to improve implementation of Federal standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

10. Strengthening support for youth aging out of foster care Section 422(b)(17) (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(17)) is amended by inserting , and include a description of how the State may offer virtual caseworker visits to youth in care who have attained the age of 18 years and provided informed consent for virtual visits before the semicolon. Section 432(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629b(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: The Secretary shall approve a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a) only if— the plan was developed jointly by the Secretary and the State, and the State, in developing the plan, consulted with— appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies; community-based organizations involved in providing services for children and families in the areas of family preservation, family support, family reunification, foster care, kinship, and adoption promotion and support; parents with child welfare experience, foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship caregivers; and children, youth, and young adults with experience in the child welfare system, including State boards and councils comprised of youth with lived experience who represent the diversity of children in the State to whom the plan would apply; and the State has made publicly accessible on a website of the State agency a report that outlines how the State has implemented the suggestions of the children and youth referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv). (1)In generalThe Secretary shall approve a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a) only if—(A)the plan was developed jointly by the Secretary and the State, and the State, in developing the plan, consulted with—(i)appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies;(ii)community-based organizations involved in providing services for children and families in the areas of family preservation, family support, family reunification, foster care, kinship, and adoption promotion and support;(iii)parents with child welfare experience, foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship caregivers; and(iv)children, youth, and young adults with experience in the child welfare system, including State boards and councils comprised of youth with lived experience who represent the diversity of children in the State to whom the plan would apply; and(B)the State has made publicly accessible on a website of the State agency a report that outlines how the State has implemented the suggestions of the children and youth referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv)..

11. Recognizing the importance of relative and kinship caregivers Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)), as amended by section 7(b)(2) of this Act, is amended— in paragraph (1)— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— by striking children and inserting children, youth,; and by striking adoptive and extended and inserting kinship and adoptive; in subparagraph (D), by striking parents and other caregivers (including foster parents) and inserting parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents; by striking and at the end of subparagraph (E); by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: peer-to-peer mentoring and support programs with demonstrated experience fostering constructive relationships between children and families and mentors with relevant lived experience or interactions with the child welfare system; and for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services, as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category. in paragraph (2)(B)— in clause (i), by striking children and inserting children, youth,; and in clause (ii), by striking extended and inserting kinship; in paragraph (7)(A), by inserting with kinship caregivers or before in a foster family home; and by adding at the end the following: The term youth means an individual who has not attained 26 years of age. Section 427 (42 U.S.C. 627) is amended— in the section heading, by striking Family connection grants and inserting Kinship navigators; in subsection (a)— in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking helping and inserting administering programs to help; by striking of— and all that follows through a kinship and inserting of a kinship; in paragraph (1)(C)— by striking and at the end of clause (iii); by adding and at the end of clause (iv); and by adding at the end the following: connections to individualized assistance, as needed; by striking paragraphs (2) through (4); by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1) as paragraphs (1) through (7), respectively; by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv) and clause (v) (as added by clause (iii)(III) of this subparagraph) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; by moving each provision so redesignated 2 ems to the left; and by striking caregiving; and inserting caregiving.; in subsection (b)— in paragraph (1), by striking 1 or more of; by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (2) the following: a description of how the entity will directly fund, or provide data to the Secretary for, an evaluation which will publish and submit information to the clearinghouse described in section 476(d)(2) and which is designed to meet the requirements of section 471(e)(4)(C), or a description of how the funds will be used to help the State transition to a program for which the State will seek reimbursement under section 474(a)(7); in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking and at the end; in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: if the entity is a State, local or tribal child welfare agency— documentation of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families when applicable; or a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant community-based organizations. by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: An entity to which a grant is made under this section may use the grant to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of the activities to be carried out by the entity pursuant to this section. in subsection (g)— by striking all that precedes 2 percent and inserting the following: The Secretary may reserve by striking subsection (h) the 2nd place it appears and inserting section 437(b)(6); and by striking subsection (h). Section 437(b) (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)), as amended by section 9(b) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under section 427 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029. Section 474(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 674(a)(7)) is amended by striking 427(a)(1) and inserting 427(a). (G)(i)peer-to-peer mentoring and support programs with demonstrated experience fostering constructive relationships between children and families and mentors with relevant lived experience or interactions with the child welfare system; and(ii)for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services, as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.; (11)YouthThe term youth means an individual who has not attained 26 years of age.. (v)connections to individualized assistance, as needed;; (3)a description of how the entity will directly fund, or provide data to the Secretary for, an evaluation which will publish and submit information to the clearinghouse described in section 476(d)(2) and which is designed to meet the requirements of section 471(e)(4)(C), or a description of how the funds will be used to help the State transition to a program for which the State will seek reimbursement under section 474(a)(7);; (6)if the entity is a State, local or tribal child welfare agency—(A)documentation of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families when applicable; or(B)a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant community-based organizations.; (d)Federal shareAn entity to which a grant is made under this section may use the grant to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of the activities to be carried out by the entity pursuant to this section.; (g)Reservation of funds for technical assistanceThe Secretary may reserve; and (6)Kinship navigatorsThe Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under section 427 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029..

12. Avoiding neglect by addressing poverty Section 431(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(1)), as amended by section 11(a)(1) of this Act, is amended— in subparagraph (F), by striking and after the semicolon; in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: services providing nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, situation, or event affecting the ability of a child to remain in a home established for the child that is not intended to meet an ongoing need; and for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category. Section 432(a) (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)) is amended— in paragraph (9), by striking and after the semicolon; in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: provides a description of policies in place, including training for employees, to address child welfare reports and investigations of neglect concerning the living arrangements or subsistence needs of a child with the goal to prevent the separation of a child from a parent of the child solely due to poverty, to ensure access to services described in section 431(a)(1)(H). (H)(i)services providing nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, situation, or event affecting the ability of a child to remain in a home established for the child that is not intended to meet an ongoing need; and(ii)for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.. (11)provides a description of policies in place, including training for employees, to address child welfare reports and investigations of neglect concerning the living arrangements or subsistence needs of a child with the goal to prevent the separation of a child from a parent of the child solely due to poverty, to ensure access to services described in section 431(a)(1)(H)..

14. Demonstration projects for improving relationships between incarcerated parents and children in foster care Section 439 (42 U.S.C. 629i) is amended to read as follows: The Secretary may make demonstration grants to eligible State partnerships to develop, implement, and provide support for programs that enable and sustain meaningful relationships between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents of the children. The Secretary shall pay each demonstration grant in 5 annual installments. The Secretary may make a planning grant to a recipient of a demonstration grant, to be paid to the recipient 1 year before payment of the 1st annual installment of the demonstration grant and in an amount not greater than any installment of the demonstration grant, if— the recipient includes a request for a planning grant in the application under subsection (c); and the Secretary determines that a planning grant would assist the recipient and improve the effectiveness of the demonstration grant. In this section, the term eligible State partnership means an agreement entered into by, at a minimum, the following: The State child welfare agency responsible for the administration of the State plans under this part. The State agency responsible for adult corrections. For purposes of this section, an eligible State partnership may include any entity with experience in serving incarcerated parents and their children. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a partnership pursuant to this section that does not consist solely of tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies), the partnership shall be considered an eligible State partnership for purposes of this section. An eligible State partnership seeking a demonstration grant under this section to carry out a program described in subsection (a)(1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the following: A summary of the program, including how the program will support a meaningful relationship between a covered foster child and an incarcerated parent of the child. A description of the activities to be carried out by the program, which must include all of the activities described in subsection (d) that are in the best interest of the covered foster child. A framework for identifying— each covered foster child eligible for services under the program, including, to the extent practicable, coordination of data between relevant State child welfare agencies and court systems; and the roles and responsibilities of the entities in the partnership. Documentation that the applicant is an eligible State partnership. Assurances that the applicant will participate fully in the evaluation described in subsection (f)(2) and shall maintain records for the program, including demographic information disaggregated by relevant characteristics with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents who participate in the program. To the extent that the activities are in the best interest of the covered foster child, the activities referred to in subsection (c)(2) shall include the following: Through consultation with incarcerated parents and their families, grantees shall promote organizational policies of participating child welfare entities and collaborating correctional facilities to promote meaningful relationships through regular and developmentally appropriate communication and visitation between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents, including, when appropriate, the following: For child welfare entities— inclusion of parents in case planning and decision making for children; regular sharing of information and responses to requests for information between caseworkers and incarcerated parents with respect to the case information of a child, any changes to a case, permanency plans, requirements to maintain parental rights, and any efforts to terminate parental rights; appropriate opportunities for incarcerated parents to demonstrate their relationship with a covered foster child given their incarceration, including training and courses required for a service plan; and the enhanced visitation described in paragraph (2). For correctional facilities, fostering visitation and communication that is developmentally appropriate in terms of— the nature of communication and visitation, including— the ability to physically touch parents; engaging with parents in locations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child; exchanging items that are appropriate to the age and development of the child, include expectations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child related to behavior, attire, and wait times; and allowing appropriate adults to bring children if legal guardians are not available to promote regular contact; reasonable inclusion of all children of the parent; communication and visitation at times when the children are available; security procedures to comfort children and be minimally invasive; and promoting parent-child relationships regardless of the sentence imposed on the parent. Grantees shall facilitate weekly communication and, for at least 9 days each year, in-person visitation between a covered foster child and any incarcerated parent of the child. Electronic visitation (such as live video visits, phone calls, and recorded books) may be used but shall not be the sole method to promote a meaningful relationship for purposes of the grant. Enhanced visitation programs shall— integrate best practices for visitation programs with incarcerated parents and their children; adopt developmentally appropriate visitation policies and procedures such as those described in paragraph (1)(B); reduce or eliminate the cost of developmentally appropriate communication and visitation for the covered foster child, which may include the purchase of communication technology, covering transportation, insurance, and lodging costs, costs related to providing appropriate visitation spaces and activities, and other relevant costs; to the extent practicable, integrate appropriate parenting education to help prepare and process visits; and avoid restricting visitation and communication as a punishment for the incarcerated parents. Grantees shall incorporate ongoing training for child welfare workers, correctional facility staff, and other program providers to understand the importance of promoting meaningful relationships between children and incarcerated parents. Grantees shall provide case management services for the incarcerated parents of a covered foster child to promote the relationship, access to services, and coordination with the caseworkers of the covered foster child to strengthen the relationship. Grantees shall facilitate access to necessary legal services and may use grant funds for services that are not reimbursable under other Federal programs. The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not greater than 75 percent. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance with respect to grants under this section, including by— assisting grantees in understanding best practices in promoting meaningful relationships between incarcerated parents and their children as well as consulting with appropriate stakeholders when developing their programs; assisting grantees with establishing and analyzing implementation and performance indicators; and conducting an annual technical assistance and training meeting and an annual grantee meeting so that grantees can learn from the experiences of other grantees. The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of program outcomes, including with respect to parent and child well-being, parent-child interactions, parental involvement, awareness of child development and parenting practices, placement stability, and termination of parental rights with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents, to measure program effectiveness, as determined by the Secretary, and identify opportunities for improved program practices and implementation. Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes— the number of applications for grants under this section; the number of grants awarded, and the amounts for each grant; and information on the grants, including— interim results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2); disaggregated data on covered foster children and incarcerated parents; information on the composition of eligible State partnerships; best practices for facilitating meaningful relationships between covered foster children and incarcerated parents; and barriers to implementation or expansion of programs funded under this section. Not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes— the final results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2); and recommendations for refinements to grant requirements to improve program outcomes. In making a grant to an Indian tribe or tribal organization under this section, the Secretary may waive the matching requirement of subsection (e) or modify an application requirement imposed by or under subsection (c) if the Secretary determines that the waiver or modification is appropriate to the needs, culture, and circumstances of the Indian tribe or tribal organization. The Secretary shall use tribally relevant data in carrying out the evaluation under subsection (f)(2) with respect to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section. In this section, the term covered foster child means a child that— is in foster care; and has at least 1 parent incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local correctional facility. Section 431(a)(2)(B)(vii) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(2)(B)(vii)) is amended by striking (as defined in section 439(b)(2)). Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)), as amended by sections 7(b)(2) and 11(a)(4) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: The term mentoring means a structured, managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for one on-one relationships, involving meetings and activities on a regular basis, intended to meet, in part, the child’s need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model. 439.State partnership planning and demonstration grants to support meaningful relationships between foster children and the incarcerated parents of the children(a)Authority(1)In generalThe Secretary may make demonstration grants to eligible State partnerships to develop, implement, and provide support for programs that enable and sustain meaningful relationships between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents of the children.(2)Payment of annual installmentsThe Secretary shall pay each demonstration grant in 5 annual installments.(3)1-year planning grantsThe Secretary may make a planning grant to a recipient of a demonstration grant, to be paid to the recipient 1 year before payment of the 1st annual installment of the demonstration grant and in an amount not greater than any installment of the demonstration grant, if—(A)the recipient includes a request for a planning grant in the application under subsection (c); and(B)the Secretary determines that a planning grant would assist the recipient and improve the effectiveness of the demonstration grant.(b)Eligible State partnership defined(1)In generalIn this section, the term eligible State partnership means an agreement entered into by, at a minimum, the following:(A)The State child welfare agency responsible for the administration of the State plans under this part.(B)The State agency responsible for adult corrections.(2)Additional partnersFor purposes of this section, an eligible State partnership may include any entity with experience in serving incarcerated parents and their children.(3)Partnerships entered into by Indian Tribes or tribal consortiaNotwithstanding paragraph (1), if an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a partnership pursuant to this section that does not consist solely of tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies), the partnership shall be considered an eligible State partnership for purposes of this section.(c)Application requirementsAn eligible State partnership seeking a demonstration grant under this section to carry out a program described in subsection (a)(1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the following:(1)A summary of the program, including how the program will support a meaningful relationship between a covered foster child and an incarcerated parent of the child.(2)A description of the activities to be carried out by the program, which must include all of the activities described in subsection (d) that are in the best interest of the covered foster child.(3)A framework for identifying—(A)each covered foster child eligible for services under the program, including, to the extent practicable, coordination of data between relevant State child welfare agencies and court systems; and(B)the roles and responsibilities of the entities in the partnership.(4)Documentation that the applicant is an eligible State partnership.(5)Assurances that the applicant will participate fully in the evaluation described in subsection (f)(2) and shall maintain records for the program, including demographic information disaggregated by relevant characteristics with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents who participate in the program.(d)Program activitiesTo the extent that the activities are in the best interest of the covered foster child, the activities referred to in subsection (c)(2) shall include the following:(1)Revision of policiesThrough consultation with incarcerated parents and their families, grantees shall promote organizational policies of participating child welfare entities and collaborating correctional facilities to promote meaningful relationships through regular and developmentally appropriate communication and visitation between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents, including, when appropriate, the following:(A)For child welfare entities—(i)inclusion of parents in case planning and decision making for children;(ii)regular sharing of information and responses to requests for information between caseworkers and incarcerated parents with respect to the case information of a child, any changes to a case, permanency plans, requirements to maintain parental rights, and any efforts to terminate parental rights;(iii)appropriate opportunities for incarcerated parents to demonstrate their relationship with a covered foster child given their incarceration, including training and courses required for a service plan; and(iv)the enhanced visitation described in paragraph (2).(B)For correctional facilities, fostering visitation and communication that is developmentally appropriate in terms of—(i)the nature of communication and visitation, including—(I)the ability to physically touch parents;(II)engaging with parents in locations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child;(III)exchanging items that are appropriate to the age and development of the child, include expectations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child related to behavior, attire, and wait times; and(IV)allowing appropriate adults to bring children if legal guardians are not available to promote regular contact;(ii)reasonable inclusion of all children of the parent;(iii)communication and visitation at times when the children are available;(iv)security procedures to comfort children and be minimally invasive; and(v)promoting parent-child relationships regardless of the sentence imposed on the parent.(2)Enhanced visitation(A)Grantees shall facilitate weekly communication and, for at least 9 days each year, in-person visitation between a covered foster child and any incarcerated parent of the child.(B)Electronic visitation (such as live video visits, phone calls, and recorded books) may be used but shall not be the sole method to promote a meaningful relationship for purposes of the grant.(C)Enhanced visitation programs shall—(i)integrate best practices for visitation programs with incarcerated parents and their children;(ii)adopt developmentally appropriate visitation policies and procedures such as those described in paragraph (1)(B);(iii)reduce or eliminate the cost of developmentally appropriate communication and visitation for the covered foster child, which may include the purchase of communication technology, covering transportation, insurance, and lodging costs, costs related to providing appropriate visitation spaces and activities, and other relevant costs;(iv)to the extent practicable, integrate appropriate parenting education to help prepare and process visits; and(v)avoid restricting visitation and communication as a punishment for the incarcerated parents.(3)TrainingGrantees shall incorporate ongoing training for child welfare workers, correctional facility staff, and other program providers to understand the importance of promoting meaningful relationships between children and incarcerated parents.(4)Case managementGrantees shall provide case management services for the incarcerated parents of a covered foster child to promote the relationship, access to services, and coordination with the caseworkers of the covered foster child to strengthen the relationship.(5)Legal assistanceGrantees shall facilitate access to necessary legal services and may use grant funds for services that are not reimbursable under other Federal programs.(e)Federal shareThe Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not greater than 75 percent.(f)Technical assistance, evaluations, and reports(1)Technical assistanceThe Secretary shall provide technical assistance with respect to grants under this section, including by—(A)assisting grantees in understanding best practices in promoting meaningful relationships between incarcerated parents and their children as well as consulting with appropriate stakeholders when developing their programs;(B)assisting grantees with establishing and analyzing implementation and performance indicators; and(C)conducting an annual technical assistance and training meeting and an annual grantee meeting so that grantees can learn from the experiences of other grantees.(2)EvaluationsThe Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of program outcomes, including with respect to parent and child well-being, parent-child interactions, parental involvement, awareness of child development and parenting practices, placement stability, and termination of parental rights with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents, to measure program effectiveness, as determined by the Secretary, and identify opportunities for improved program practices and implementation.(3)Reports to the Congress(A)Initial reportNot later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes—(i)the number of applications for grants under this section;(ii)the number of grants awarded, and the amounts for each grant; and(iii)information on the grants, including—(I)interim results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2);(II)disaggregated data on covered foster children and incarcerated parents;(III)information on the composition of eligible State partnerships;(IV)best practices for facilitating meaningful relationships between covered foster children and incarcerated parents; and(V)barriers to implementation or expansion of programs funded under this section.(B)Final reportNot later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes—(i)the final results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2); and(ii)recommendations for refinements to grant requirements to improve program outcomes.(g)Authority of Secretary with respect to Indian tribes and tribal organizations(1)Waiver or modification of requirementsIn making a grant to an Indian tribe or tribal organization under this section, the Secretary may waive the matching requirement of subsection (e) or modify an application requirement imposed by or under subsection (c) if the Secretary determines that the waiver or modification is appropriate to the needs, culture, and circumstances of the Indian tribe or tribal organization.(2)EvaluationThe Secretary shall use tribally relevant data in carrying out the evaluation under subsection (f)(2) with respect to an Indian tribe or tribal organization.(h)Limitations on authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section.(i)Definition of covered foster childIn this section, the term covered foster child means a child that—(1)is in foster care; and(2)has at least 1 parent incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local correctional facility.. (12)MentoringThe term mentoring means a structured, managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for one on-one relationships, involving meetings and activities on a regular basis, intended to meet, in part, the child’s need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model..

15. Guidance to States on improving data collection and reporting for youth in residential treatment programs Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Community Living, the Department of Justice, and other relevant policy experts, as determined by the Secretary, shall issue and disseminate, or update and revise, as applicable, guidance to State agencies in administering State plans approved under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act on the following: Best practices for Federal and State agencies to collect data and share information related to the well-being of youth residing in residential treatment facilities, including those facilities operating in multiple States or serving out-of-state youth. Best practices on improving State collection and sharing of data related to incidences of maltreatment of youth residing in residential treatment facilities, including with respect to meeting the requirement of section 471(a)(9)(A) of such Act for such youth in foster care. Best practices on improving oversight of youth residential programs receiving Federal funding, and research-based strategies for risk assessment related to the health, safety, and well-being of youth in the facilities.

17. Report on post adoption and subsidized guardianship services Within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on children who enter into foster care under the supervision of a State administering a plan approved under part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act after finalization of an adoption or legal guardianship. The Secretary shall include in the report information, to the extent available through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System and other data sources, regarding the incidence of adoption disruption and dissolution affecting children described in subsection (a) and factors associated with such circumstances, including— whether affected individuals received pre- or post-legal adoption services; and other relevant information, such as the age of the child involved. The Secretary shall include in the report— a summary of post-adoption services and guardianship in each State that are available to families that adopted children from foster care and the extent to which the services are evidence-based or evidence-informed; and a summary of funding and funding sources for the services in each State, including set-asides under the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program.

18. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2025, and shall apply to payments under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date. If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for a State plan developed pursuant to part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature. In the case of an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires time to take action necessary to comply with the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act (whether the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium has a plan under section 479B of the Social Security Act or a cooperative agreement or contract entered into with a State), the Secretary shall provide the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium with such additional time as the Secretary determines is necessary for the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium to take the action to comply with the additional requirements before being regarded as failing to comply with the requirements.