I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8745 

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to improve the 

monthly caseworker visits program so States can invest in the child 

welfare workforce ensuring that children in care have access to quality 

and timely care. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 13, 2024 

Mr. SMUCKER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Ways and Means 

A BILL 

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act 

to improve the monthly caseworker visits program so 

States can invest in the child welfare workforce ensuring 

that children in care have access to quality and timely 

care. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Child Welfare Work5 force Development Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. CHILD WELFARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 

2 (a) MODIFICATION OF PAYMENT REDUCTION

3 RULES.—Section 424(f) of the Social Security Act (42 

4 U.S.C. 624(f)) is amended— 

5 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘(1)(A)’’; and 

7 (B) by striking subparagraph (B); and 

8 (2) by striking paragraph (2). 

9 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 436(b)(4)(B)(i) of such 

10 Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(4)(B)(i)) is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘emphasis on’’ and all that fol12 lows and inserting ‘‘emphasis on—’’; and 

13 (2) by adding after and below the end the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘(I) reducing caseload ratios and 

16 the administrative burden on case17 workers, to improve caseworker deci18 sion making on the safety, perma19 nency, and well-being of foster chil20 dren and on activities designed to in21 crease retention, recruitment, and 

22 training of caseworkers; 

23 ‘‘(II) implementing technology 

24 solutions to streamline caseworker du25 ties and modernize systems, ensuring 


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1 improved efficiency and effectiveness 

2 in child welfare services; 

3 ‘‘(III) technologies designed to 

4 enhance caseworker safety; 

5 ‘‘(IV) developing and imple6 menting mentoring or coaching pro7 grams that address work-related 

8 stress and offer frontline workers sup9 port; and 

10 ‘‘(V) recruitment campaigns 

11 aimed at attracting qualified case12 worker candidates.’’. 

13 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by 

15 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2026, 

16 and shall apply to payments under part B of title IV 

17 of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters be18 ginning on or after such date. 

19 (2) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION

20 REQUIRED.—If the Secretary of Health and Human 

21 Services determines that State legislation (other 

22 than legislation appropriating funds) is required in 

23 order for a State plan developed pursuant to part B 

24 of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the ad25 ditional requirements imposed by the amendments 


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1 made by this section, the plan shall not be regarded 

2 as failing to meet any of the additional requirements 

3 before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter begin4 ning after the first regular session of the State legis5 lature that begins after the date of the enactment of 

6 this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if 

7 the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year 

8 of the session is deemed to be a separate regular 

9 session of the State legislature. 

Æ 


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