I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8866 

To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 

require States, as a condition of Federal support for child welfare services 

programs, to facilitate access to advocates and advocacy resources for 

parents in any child welfare case or interaction involving a child of 

the parent, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 27, 2024 

Mr. MOORE of Alabama (for himself and Ms. WILD) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 

A BILL 

To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social 

Security Act to require States, as a condition of Federal 

support for child welfare services programs, to facilitate 

access to advocates and advocacy resources for parents 

in any child welfare case or interaction involving a child 

of the parent, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Advocates for Families 

5 Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FAMILY ADVOCATES IN CHILD WELFARE CASES. 

2 (a) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Section 422(b) 

3 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)) is amend4 ed— 

5 (1) in paragraph (18), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

6 end; 

7 (2) in paragraph (19), by striking the period at 

8 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

9 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(20) provide— 

11 ‘‘(A) that the laws and procedures of the 

12 State shall permit any parent, foster parent, or 

13 legal guardian of a child to seek and receive the 

14 services of a family advocate, who shall have the 

15 authority to represent the interests and act on 

16 behalf of the parent, foster parent, or legal 

17 guardian, throughout any child welfare case or 

18 interaction involving the child, without obli19 gating the State to pay or provide for the serv20 ices; 

21 ‘‘(B) that the State shall implement appro22 priate standards and rules governing the profes23 sional conduct of a family advocate; 

24 ‘‘(C) how the State shall inform a parent, 

25 foster parent, or legal guardian of a child, from 

26 the commencement of any child welfare case or 


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1 interaction involving the child, of the right to be 

2 represented by a family advocate and of any 

3 local resources available to obtain the represen4 tation; and 

5 ‘‘(D) how the State shall inform the Sec6 retary of— 

7 ‘‘(i) the effect that honoring the right 

8 of every parent, foster parent, or legal 

9 guardian of a child to be represented by a 

10 family advocate has on the provision of 

11 child welfare services; and 

12 ‘‘(ii) any recommendation of the State 

13 for ensuring that a parent, foster parent, 

14 or legal guardian of a child may exercise 

15 the right to be represented by a family ad16 vocate.’’. 

17 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON FAMILY ADVO18 CATES.—Subpart 1 of part B of title IV of such Act (42 

19 U.S.C. 621–628c) is amended by adding at the end the 

20 following: 

21 ‘‘SEC. 429B. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON FAMILY ADVO22 CATES. 

23 ‘‘Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this 

24 section, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall sub25 mit a written report with respect to the right of a parent, 


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1 foster parent, or legal guardian of a child to be rep2 resented by a family advocate, based on the submissions 

3 of the States pursuant to section 422(b)(23), to— 

4 ‘‘(1) the Committees on the Judiciary, on Edu5 cation and the Workforce, and on Ways and Means 

6 of the House of Representatives; and 

7 ‘‘(2) the Committees on the Judiciary, on 

8 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and on Fi9 nance of the Senate.’’. 

Æ 


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