H. R. 9076 

One Hundred Eighteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four 

An Act 

To reauthorize child welfare programs under part B of title IV of the Social Security 

Act and strengthen the State and tribal child support enforcement program under 

part D of such title, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting America’s Children 

and Families Act’’. 

TITLE I—CHILD WELFARE REAUTHORIZATION AND MODERNIZATION 

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting 

America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act’’. 

(b) REFERENCES.—Except as otherwise expressly provided, 

wherever in this title 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. 

SEC. 102. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

The table of contents of this title is as follows: 

Sec. 101. Short title; references. 

Sec. 102. Table of contents. 

Sec. 103. Reauthorization of child welfare programs. 

Sec. 104. Enhancements to the court improvement program. 

Sec. 105. Expanding regional partnership grants to address parental substance use 

disorder as cause of child removal. 

Sec. 106. Modernization; reducing administrative burden. 

Sec. 107. Streamlining funding for Indian tribes. 

Sec. 108. Accelerating access to Family First prevention services. 

Sec. 109. Strengthening support for youth aging out of foster care. 

Sec. 110. Recognizing the importance of relative and kinship caregivers. 

Sec. 111. Avoiding neglect by addressing poverty. 

Sec. 112. Strengthening support for caseworkers. 

Sec. 113. Demonstration projects for improving relationships between incarcerated 

parents and children in foster care. 

Sec. 114. Guidance to States on improving data collection and reporting for youth 

in residential treatment programs. 

Sec. 115. Streamlining research, training, and technical assistance funding. 

Sec. 116. Report on post adoption and subsidized guardianship services. 

Sec. 117. Effective date. 
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SEC. 103. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS. 

(a) REAUTHORIZATION OF SUBPART 1; DISCRETIONARY

FUNDING.—Section 425 (42 U.S.C. 625) is amended by striking 

‘‘2017 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2025 through 2029’’. 

(b) REAUTHORIZATION OF SUBPART 2; ENHANCED SUPPORT.— 

Section 436(a) (42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘each 

of fiscal years 2017 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2025 

and $420,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029’’. 

(c) REAUTHORIZATION OF SUBPART 2; DISCRETIONARY

FUNDING.—Section 437(a) (42 U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended by 

striking ‘‘2017 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2025 through 2029’’. 

(d) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Section 423(a)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 

623(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, not to exceed $10,000,000’’ 

before the semicolon. 

SEC. 104. ENHANCEMENTS TO THE COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) INCREASE IN RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—Section 436(b)(2) 

(42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘for fiscal year 2025 

and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal 

year’’ before ‘‘for grants’’. 

(b) EXTENSION OF STATE MATCH REQUIREMENT.—Section 438(d) 

(42 U.S.C. 629h(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2017 through 2023’’ 

and inserting ‘‘2025 through 2029’’. 

(c) PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.—Section 438(a) (42 U.S.C. 

629h(a)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(F) that determine the appropriateness and best practices for use of technology to conduct remote hearings, 

subject to participant consent, including to ensure maximum participation of individuals involved in proceedings 

and to enable courts to maintain operations in times of 

public health or other emergencies;’’; 

(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ‘‘personnel.’’ and 

inserting ‘‘personnel and supporting optimal use of remote 

hearing technology; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(3) to ensure continuity of needed court services, prevent 

disruption of the services, and enable their recovery from 

threats such as public health crises, natural disasters or 

cyberattacks, including through— 

‘‘(A) support for technology that allows court proceedings to occur remotely subject to participant consent, 

including hearings and legal representation; 

‘‘(B) the development of guidance and protocols for 

responding to the occurrences and coordinating with other 

agencies; and 

‘‘(C) other activities carried out to ensure backup systems are in place.’’. 

(d) IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE ON SHARING BEST PRACTICES

FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES NEEDED FOR REMOTE COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION.—Section 438 (42 U.S.C. 

629h) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(e) GUIDANCE.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Every 5 years, the Secretary shall issue 

implementation guidance for sharing information on best practices for— 
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‘‘(A) technological changes needed for court proceedings 

for foster care, guardianship, or adoption to be conducted 

remotely in a way that maximizes engagement and protects 

the privacy of participants; and 

‘‘(B) the manner in which the proceedings should be 

conducted. 

‘‘(2) INITIAL ISSUANCE.—The Secretary shall issue initial 

guidance required by paragraph (1) with preliminary information on best practices not later than October 1, 2025. 

‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes on the development of appropriate guidelines for State court proceedings involving Indian children to 

maximize engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate 

guidelines on conducting State court proceedings subject to 

the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).’’. 

SEC. 105. EXPANDING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP GRANTS TO ADDRESS 

PARENTAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AS CAUSE OF 

CHILD REMOVAL. 

(a) INCREASE IN RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—Section 436(b)(5) 

(42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘each of fiscal years 

2017 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2025 and $30,000,000 

for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year’’. 

(b) REAUTHORIZATION.—Section 437(f) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)) is 

amended— 

(1) in paragraph (3)(A)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘In addition to amounts authorized 

to be appropriated to carry out this section, the’’ and 

inserting ‘‘The’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘2017 through 2023’’ and inserting 

‘‘2025 through 2029’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘for each of fiscal years 

2017 through 2023’’. 

(c) AUTHORITY TO WAIVE PLANNING PHASE.—Section 

437(f)(3)(B)(iii) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(3)(B)(iii)) is amended— 

(1) by striking all that precedes ‘‘grant awarded’’ and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(iii) SUFFICIENT PLANNING.— ‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—A’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘may not exceed $250,000, and’’; and 

(3) by adding after and below the end the following: 

‘‘(II) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary, on a caseby-case basis, may waive the planning phase for 

a partnership that demonstrates that the partnership has engaged in sufficient planning before 

submitting an application for a grant under this 

subsection.’’. 

(d) EXPANDING AVAILABILITY OF EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 437(f)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(1)) 

is amended by inserting ‘‘, and expand the scope of the evidencebased services that may be approved by the clearinghouse 

established under section 476(d)’’ before the period. 

(2) CONSIDERATIONS FOR AWARDING GRANTS.—Section 

437(f)(7) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(7)) is amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (D); 

(B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph 

(E) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
H. R. 9076—4 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(F) have submitted information pursuant to paragraph 

(4)(F) that demonstrates the capability to participate in 

rigorous evaluation of program effectiveness.’’. 

(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON USING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

GRANT FUNDS IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS TO

BETTER SERVE FAMILIES AFFECTED BY A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.—Section 435(d) (42 U.S.C. 629e(d)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (4); 

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) use grants under section 437(f) in coordination with 

other Federal funds to better serve families in the child welfare 

system that are affected by a substance use disorder.’’. 

(f) PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.—Section 437(f)(8)(A) (42 U.S.C. 

629g(f)(8)(A)) is amended in the 1st sentence— 

(1) by striking ‘‘this subsection’’ the 1st place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act’’; 

(2) by inserting ‘‘child permanency, reunification, re-entry 

into care,’’ before ‘‘parental recovery’’; and 

(3) by inserting ‘‘, and access to services for families with 

substance use disorder, including those with children who are 

overrepresented in foster care, difficult to place, or have disproportionately low permanency rates’’ before the period. 

(g) PERFORMANCE INDICATOR CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—Section 437(f)(8)(B) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(8)(B)) is amended by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv) and inserting after clause (ii) 

the following: 

‘‘(iii) The Administrator of the National Institute 

on Drug Abuse.’’. 

(h) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Section 437(f)(9)(B) (42 U.S.C. 

629g(f)(9)(B)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (ii); 

(2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(iv) whether any programs funded by the grants 

were submitted to the clearinghouse established under 

section 476(d) for review and the results of any such 

review.’’. 

(i) PRIORITY FOR STATEWIDE SERVICE GROWTH.—Section 

437(f)(7) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(7)), as amended by subsection (d)(2) 

of this section, is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (E); 

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(G) are a State or public agency, or outline a plan 

to increase the availability of services funded under the 

grant statewide.’’. 

(j) ADDITION OF JUVENILE COURT AS REQUIRED PARTNER.— 

Section 437(f)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(2)(A)) is amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘(iii) The most appropriate administrative office 

of the juvenile court or State court overseeing court 
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proceedings involving families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.’’. 

(k) ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL PARTNER.—Section 437(f)(2)(C) (42 

U.S.C. 629g(f)(2)(C)) is amended by redesignating clause (ix) as 

clause (x) and inserting after clause (viii) the following: 

‘‘(ix) State or local agencies that administer Federal health care, housing, family support, or other 

related programs.’’. 

(l) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) Section 437(f)(2)(D) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(2)(D)) is 

amended— 

(A) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (i); 

(B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of clause (ii) and 

inserting a period; and 

(C) by striking clause (iii). 

(2) Section 437(f)(2) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(2)) is amended by 

striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraphs 

(C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively. 

SEC. 106. MODERNIZATION; REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 431 (42 U.S.C. 629a) is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) USE OF TECHNOLOGY.— 

‘‘(1) USE OF PORTAL.—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. 

‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Such a portal shall not retain or share 

personally identifiable information about a beneficiary without 

consent or for any purpose other than referral.’’. 

(b) ALLOWING SUPPORT FOR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS.—Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, including services 

provided by family resource centers,’’ before ‘‘designed’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(10) FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The 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 RULE.—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.’’. 
H. R. 9076—6 

(c) UPDATING STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 422(b)(1) (42 

U.S.C. 622(b)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) provide that a State agency will administer or supervise the administration of the plan under this subpart;’’. 

(d) ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION.—Section 422(b)(4) (42 

U.S.C. 622(b)(4)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (A); 

(2) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (B); and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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;’’. 

(e) SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN

IN FOSTER CARE.—Section 422(b)(15)(A) (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15)) is 

amended— 

(1) in the matter preceding clause (i)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘and, if applicable, the State agency 

responsible for mental health services,’’ before ‘‘and in consultation’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘mental health providers,’’ before 

‘‘other experts’’; 

(2) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘a list of services provided 

to support the physical and’’ before ‘‘emotional’’; 

(3) in clause (iv), by inserting ‘‘and mental health’’ before 

‘‘services’’; 

(4) in clause (v), by inserting ‘‘, informed consent of youth, 

and compliance with professional practice guidelines’’ before 

the semicolon; and 

(5) in clause (vi), by inserting ‘‘, licensed mental health 

providers,’’ before ‘‘or other’’. 

(f) REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.— (1) IN GENERAL.—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: 

‘‘SEC. 441. REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The 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 
H. R. 9076—7 

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 APPLICABILITY.—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. 

‘‘SEC. 442. PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE PLANS. 

‘‘The 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.’’. 

(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Within 2 years after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services shall— 

(A) comply with section 441 of the Social Security 

Act, as added by the amendment made by paragraph (1); 

and 

(B) 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. 

(3) REPORT.—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. 

(g) PRIMARY PREVENTION PARTNERS.—Section 435(a)(2)(B) (42 

U.S.C. 429e(a)(2)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘including communitybased partners with expertise in preventing unnecessary child welfare system involvement’’ before the semicolon. 

SEC. 107. STREAMLINING FUNDING FOR INDIAN TRIBES. 

(a) SUBPART 1.— 

(1) TRIBAL SET-ASIDE; DIRECT PAYMENTS TO TRIBES; EXEMPTIVE AUTHORITY.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 428 (42 U.S.C. 628) is 

amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(a) RESERVATION OF FUNDS; DIRECT PAYMENTS.—Out of any 

amount appropriated pursuant to section 425 for a fiscal year, 

the Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for grants to Indian tribes 

and tribal organizations, which shall be paid directly to Indian 
H. R. 9076—8 

tribes and tribal organizations with a plan approved under this 

subpart, in accordance with section 433(a).’’. 

(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 423(a) (42 

U.S.C. 623(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘the sum appropriated pursuant to section 425 for each fiscal year’’ and 

inserting ‘‘for each fiscal year, the sum appropriated pursuant to section 425 remaining after applying section 428(a)’’. 

(C) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 428(c) (42 U.S.C. 

628(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘450b’’ and inserting ‘‘5304’’. 

(2) IMPROVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT.— 

(A) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 422(b)(9) (42 

U.S.C. 622(b)(9)) is amended by striking ‘‘Act;’’ and 

inserting ‘‘Act of 1978, including how the State will ensure 

timely notice to Indian tribes of State custody proceedings 

involving Indian children, foster care or adoptive placements of Indian children, and case recordkeeping as such 

matters relate to transfers of jurisdiction, termination of 

parental rights, and active efforts;’’. 

(B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Subpart 1 of part B of 

title IV (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 429B. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—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: 

‘‘(1) Timely identification of Indian children and extended 

family members. 

‘‘(2) Timely tribal notice of State child custody proceedings 

involving an Indian child. 

‘‘(3) 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. 

‘‘(4) 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. 

‘‘(5) 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. 

‘‘(6) 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. 
H. R. 9076—9 

‘‘(b) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—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. 

‘‘(c) BIENNIAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—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— 

‘‘(1) 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 

‘‘(2) the Secretary is assisting States and Indian tribes 

to improve implementation of Federal standards established 

under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.’’. 

(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 428 (42 U.S.C. 628) is 

amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) 

and inserting before such subsection the following: 

‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO STREAMLINE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

The Secretary shall, in consultation with the affected Indian tribes, 

modify any reporting requirement imposed by or under this part 

on an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium if the 

total of the amounts allotted to the Indian tribe, tribal organization, 

or tribal consortium under this part for the fiscal year is not 

more than $50,000, and in a manner that limits the administrative 

burden on any tribe to which not more than $50,000 is allotted 

under this subpart for the fiscal year. 

‘‘(c) TRIBAL AUTHORITY TO SUBSTITUTE THE FEDERAL NEGOTIATED INDIRECT COST RATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS CAP.— 

For purposes of sections 422(b)(14) and 424(e), an Indian tribal 

organization may elect to have the weighted average of the indirect 

cost rates in effect under part 220 of title 2, Code of Federal 

Regulations with respect to the administrative costs of the Indian 

tribal organization apply in lieu of the percentage specified in 

each such section.’’. 

(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 431(a) (42 

U.S.C. 629a(a)) is amended in each of paragraphs (5) and 

(6) by striking ‘‘428(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘428(d)’’. 

(b) SUBPART 2.— 

(1) TRIBAL PLAN EXEMPTION.—Section 432(b)(2)(B) (42 

U.S.C. 629b(b)(2)(B)) is amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘section 433(a)’’ the 1st place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘sections 433(a) and 437(c)(1) combined’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘section 433(a)’’ the 2nd place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘such sections’’. 

(2) APPLICATION OF TRIBAL SET-ASIDE BEFORE OTHER SETASIDES.—Section 436(b)(3) (42 U.S.C. 429f(b)(3)) is amended 

by striking ‘‘After applying paragraphs (4) and (5) (but before 

applying paragraphs (1) or (2)), the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’. 

(3) INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRIBAL COURT IMPROVEMENT

PROGRAM.—Section 438(c)(3) (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(3)) is amended 

by inserting ‘‘for fiscal year 2025, and $2,000,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2026 through 2029,’’ before ‘‘for grants’’. 
H. R. 9076—10 

SEC. 108. ACCELERATING ACCESS TO FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION 

SERVICES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 435 (42 U.S.C. 629e) is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(f) PREVENTION SERVICES EVALUATION PARTNERSHIPS.— 

‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection is to 

authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to support 

the timely evaluation of— 

‘‘(A) services and programs described in section 471(e); 

or 

‘‘(B) kinship navigator programs described in section 

474(a)(7). 

‘‘(2) GRANTS.—In accordance with applications approved 

under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants, on a 

competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out projects 

designed to evaluate a service or program provided by the 

eligible entity, or an entity in partnership with the eligible 

entity, with respect to the requirements for a promising practice, supported practice, or well-supported practice described 

in section 471(e)(4)(C). 

‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity may apply to the 

Secretary for a grant under this subsection to carry out 

a project that meets the following requirements: 

‘‘(i) The project is designed in accordance with 

paragraph (2). 

‘‘(ii) The project is to be carried out by the applicant 

in partnership with— 

‘‘(I) a State agency that administers, or supervises the administration of, the State plan 

approved under part E, or an agency administering 

the plan under the supervision of the State agency; 

and 

‘‘(II) if the applicant is unable or unwilling 

to do so, at least 1 external evaluator to carry 

out the evaluation of the service or program provided by the applicant. 

‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—The application shall contain the following: 

‘‘(i) A description of the project, including— 

‘‘(I) a statement explaining why a grant is 

necessary to carry out the project; and 

‘‘(II) the amount of grant funds that would 

be disbursed to each entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) in partnership with the applicant. 

‘‘(ii) A certification from each entity described in 

subparagraph (A)(ii) that provides assurances that the 

individual or entity is in partnership with the applicant 

and will fulfill the responsibilities of the entity specified in the description provided pursuant to clause 

(i) of this subparagraph. 

‘‘(iii) A certification from the applicant that provides assurances that the applicant intends to comply 

with subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), if applicable. 

‘‘(iv) At the option of the eligible entity, a certification from the applicant that the applicant requires 
H. R. 9076—11 

an external evaluator secured by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5), if applicable. 

‘‘(4) PRIORITIES.—In approving applications under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the following: 

‘‘(A) Addressing, with respect to the clearinghouse of 

practices described in section 476(d)(2), deficiencies or gaps 

identified by the Secretary in consultation with— 

‘‘(i) States, political subdivisions of a State, and 

tribal communities carrying out, or receiving the benefits of, a service or program; and 

‘‘(ii) child welfare experts, including individuals 

with lived experience. 

‘‘(B) Maximizing the number of evidence-based services 

or programs to be included in the clearinghouse of practices 

described in section 476(d)(2). 

‘‘(C) Timely completion of evaluations and the production of evidence. 

‘‘(D) Supporting services or programs that are based 

on, or are adaptations to new population settings of, a 

service or program with reliable evidence about the benefits 

and risks of the service or program. 

‘‘(5) AVAILABILITY OF EXTERNAL EVALUATORS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Before accepting applications under 

this subsection, the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts 

to identify at least 1 entity to serve as an external evaluator 

for any eligible entity that includes a certification under 

paragraph (3)(B)(iv) with an application under this subsection. 

‘‘(B) NO EFFECT ON CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION.— 

The Secretary may not consider whether an eligible entity 

is in partnership with an external evaluator described in 

paragraph (A) in approving an application under this subsection submitted by the eligible entity. 

‘‘(6) REPORTS.— 

‘‘(A) BY GRANT RECIPIENTS.—Within 1 year after 

receiving a grant under this subsection, and every year 

thereafter for the next 5 years, the grant recipient shall 

submit to the Secretary a written report on— 

‘‘(i) the use of grant funds; 

‘‘(ii) whether the program or service evaluated by 

the project meets a requirement specified in section 

471(e)(4)(C), including information about— 

‘‘(I) how the program or service is being carried 

out in accordance with standards specified in the 

requirement; 

‘‘(II) any outcomes of the program or service; 

and 

‘‘(III) any outcome with respect to which the 

service or program compares favorably to a 

comparison practice; and 

‘‘(iii) whether the Secretary has included the program or service in an update to the clearinghouse 

of practices described in section 476(d)(2). 

‘‘(B) BY THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall submit 

to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 

Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the 

Senate an annual written report on— 
H. R. 9076—12 

‘‘(i) the grants awarded under this subsection; 

‘‘(ii) the programs funded by the grants; 

‘‘(iii) any technical assistance provided by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection, including with 

respect to the efforts to secure external evaluators 

pursuant to paragraph (5); and 

‘‘(iv) any efforts by the Secretary to support program evaluation and review pursuant to section 471(e) 

and inclusion of programs in the pre-approved list of 

services and programs described in section 471(e)(4)(D) 

or the clearinghouse of practices described in section 

476(d)(2). 

‘‘(7) FUNDING.— 

‘‘(A) LIMITATIONS.—Of the amounts available to carry 

out this subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 

5 percent to provide technical assistance. 

‘‘(B) CARRYOVER.—Amounts made available to carry 

out this subsection shall remain available until expended. 

‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible entity’ means 

any of the following providing a service or program or, 

in the sole determination of the Secretary, able to provide 

a service or program if awarded a grant under this subsection: 

‘‘(i) A State, a political subdivision of a State, 

or an agency or department of a State or political 

subdivision of a State. 

‘‘(ii) An entity described in subparagraph (A) or 

(B) of section 426(a)(1). 

‘‘(iii) An Indian tribe or tribal organization. 

‘‘(B) EXTERNAL EVALUATOR.—The term ‘external evaluator’ means an entity with the ability and willingness 

to evaluate a service or program pursuant to paragraph 

(2) that is not provided by the entity. 

‘‘(C) SERVICE OR PROGRAM.—The term ‘service or program’— 

‘‘(i) means a service or program described in section 

471(e); and 

‘‘(ii) includes a kinship navigator program 

described in section 474(a)(7).’’. 

(b) FUNDING.—Section 437(b) (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)) is amended 

by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(5) PREVENTIVE SERVICES EVALUATION PARTNERSHIPS.— 

The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 for grants under section 

435(f) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.’’. 

SEC. 109. STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF 

FOSTER CARE. 

(a) CASEWORKER VISITS.—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. 

(b) YOUTH AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM PLANNING.—Section 432(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629b(b)(1)) is 

amended to read as follows: 
H. R. 9076—13 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The 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).’’. 

SEC. 110. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIVE AND KINSHIP 

CAREGIVERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)), as 

amended by section 106(b)(2) of this Act, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)— 

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘children’’ and inserting ‘‘children, 

youth,’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘adoptive and extended’’ and 

inserting ‘‘kinship and adoptive’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘parents and other 

caregivers (including foster parents)’’ and inserting ‘‘parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents’’; 

(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (E); 

(D) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph 

(F) and inserting ‘‘ ; and’’; and 

(E) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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.’’; 

(2) in paragraph (2)(B)— 

(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘children’’ and inserting 

‘‘children, youth,’’; and 
H. R. 9076—14 

(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘extended’’ and inserting 

‘‘kinship’’; 

(3) in paragraph (7)(A), by inserting ‘‘with kinship caregivers or’’ before ‘‘in a foster family home’’; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(11) YOUTH.—The term ‘youth’ means an individual who 

has not attained 26 years of age.’’. 

(b) KINSHIP NAVIGATORS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 427 (42 U.S.C. 627) is amended— 

(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘FAMILY

CONNECTION GRANTS’’ and inserting ‘‘KINSHIP NAVIGATORS’’; 

(B) in subsection (a)— 

(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

striking ‘‘helping’’ and inserting ‘‘administering programs to help’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘of—’’ and all that follows through 

‘‘a kinship’’ and inserting ‘‘of a kinship’’; 

(iii) in paragraph (1)(C)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (iii); 

(II) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (iv); 

and 

(III) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(v) connections to individualized assistance, as 

needed;’’; 

(iv) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4); 

(v) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through 

(G) of paragraph (1) as paragraphs (1) through (7), 

respectively; 

(vi) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv) and 

clause (v) (as added by clause (iii)(III) of this subparagraph) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; 

(vii) by moving each provision so redesignated 2 

ems to the left; and 

(viii) by striking ‘‘caregiving;’’ and inserting 

‘‘caregiving.’’; 

(C) in subsection (b)— 

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘1 or more of’’; 

(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 

paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and inserting after 

paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(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);’’; 

(iii) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by 

striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(iv) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by 

striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(v) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) if the entity is a State, local or tribal child welfare 

agency— 
H. R. 9076—15 

‘‘(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) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(d) FEDERAL SHARE.—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.’’; 

(E) in subsection (g)— 

(i) by striking all that precedes ‘‘2 percent’’ and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(g) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 

Secretary may reserve’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (h)’’ the 2nd place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘section 437(b)(6)’’; and 

(F) by striking subsection (h). 

(2) RESERVATION OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.—Section 437(b) 

(42 U.S.C. 629g(b)), as amended by section 108(b) of this Act, 

is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) KINSHIP NAVIGATORS.—The Secretary shall reserve 

$10,000,000 for grants under section 427 for each of fiscal 

years 2026 through 2029.’’. 

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 474(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 

674(a)(7)) is amended by striking ‘‘427(a)(1)’’ and inserting 

‘‘427(a)’’. 

SEC. 111. AVOIDING NEGLECT BY ADDRESSING POVERTY. 

(a) FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES.—Section 431(a)(1) (42 

U.S.C. 629a(a)(1)), as amended by section 110(a)(1) of this Act, 

is amended— 

(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 

(2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period and 

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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.’’. 

(b) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Section 432(a) (42 U.S.C. 

629b(a)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
H. R. 9076—16 

(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting 

‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(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).’’. 

SEC. 112. STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR CASEWORKERS. 

(a) REAUTHORIZATION OF, AND INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR, CASEWORKER VISITS.—Section 436(b)(4)(A) (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(4)(A)) is 

amended by striking ‘‘each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023’’ and 

inserting ‘‘fiscal year 2025 and $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 

and each succeeding fiscal year’’. 

(b) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—Section 433(e) (42 U.S.C. 

629c(e)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(1) BASE ALLOTMENT.—From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year, the Secretary 

shall first allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) 

that has provided to the Secretary such documentation as may 

be necessary to verify that the jurisdiction has complied with 

section 436(b)(4)(B)(ii) during the fiscal year, a base allotment 

of $100,000, and shall then allot to each of those States an 

amount determined in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection, 

as applicable. 

‘‘(2) TERRITORIES.—From the amount reserved pursuant 

to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year that remains after 

applying paragraph (1) of this subsection for the fiscal year, 

the Secretary shall allot to each jurisdiction specified in subsection (b) of this section to which a base allotment is made 

under such paragraph (1) an amount determined in the same 

manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423 (without regard to the initial allotment 

of $70,000 to each State). 

‘‘(3) OTHER STATES.—From the amount reserved pursuant 

to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year that remains after 

applying paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for the fiscal 

year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an 

Indian tribe) not specified in subsection (b) of this section 

to which a base allotment was made under paragraph (1) 

of this subsection an amount equal to such remaining amount 

multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program 

benefits percentage of the State (as defined in subsection (c)(2) 

of this section) for the fiscal year, except that in applying 

subsection (c)(2)(A) of this section, ‘subsection (e)(3)’ shall be 

substituted for ‘such paragraph (1)’.’’. 

(c) REQUIREMENT TO USE FUNDS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF CASE- WORKER VISITS WITH FOSTER CHILDREN.—Section 436(b)(4)(B)(i) (42 

U.S.C. 629f(b)(4)(B)(i)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A State to which an amount 

is paid from amounts reserved under subparagraph 

(A) shall use the amount to improve the quality of 

monthly caseworker visits with children who are in 
H. R. 9076—17 

foster care under the responsibility of the State, with 

an emphasis on— 

‘‘(I) reducing caseload ratios and the administrative burden on caseworkers, to improve caseworker decision making on the safety, permanency, 

and well-being of foster children and on activities 

designed to increase retention, recruitment, and 

training of caseworkers; 

‘‘(II) implementing technology solutions to 

streamline caseworker duties and modernize systems, ensuring improved efficiency and effectiveness in child welfare services; 

‘‘(III) improving caseworker safety; 

‘‘(IV) mental health resources to support caseworker well-being, including peer-to-peer support 

programs; and 

‘‘(V) recruitment campaigns aimed at 

attracting qualified caseworker candidates.’’. 

(d) ELIMINATION OF COST-SHARE PENALTY TIED TO MONTHLY

CASEWORKER VISIT STANDARD.—Section 424(f) (42 U.S.C. 624(f)) 

is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘(1)(A)’’; and 

(2) by striking paragraphs (1)(B) and (2). 

SEC. 113. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INCARCERATED PARENTS AND CHILDREN 

IN FOSTER CARE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 439 (42 U.S.C. 629i) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 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 GENERAL.—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. 

‘‘(2) PAYMENT OF ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS.—The Secretary 

shall pay each demonstration grant in 5 annual installments. 

‘‘(3) 1-YEAR PLANNING GRANTS.—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— 

‘‘(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 GENERAL.—In this section, the term ‘eligible State 

partnership’ means an agreement entered into by, at a minimum, the following: 
H. R. 9076—18 

‘‘(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 PARTNERS.—For 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 CONSORTIA.—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. 

‘‘(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—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: 

‘‘(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 ACTIVITIES.—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: 

‘‘(1) REVISION OF POLICIES.—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: 

‘‘(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 
H. R. 9076—19 

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; 
H. R. 9076—20 

‘‘(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) TRAINING.—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. 

‘‘(4) CASE MANAGEMENT.—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. 

‘‘(5) LEGAL ASSISTANCE.—Grantees shall facilitate access 

to necessary legal services and may use grant funds for services 

that are not reimbursable under other Federal programs. 

‘‘(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—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. 

‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EVALUATIONS, AND REPORTS.— 

‘‘(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 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) EVALUATIONS.—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. 

‘‘(3) REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.— 

‘‘(A) INITIAL REPORT.—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— 

‘‘(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); 
H. R. 9076—21 

‘‘(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 REPORT.—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— 

‘‘(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 REQUIREMENTS.—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. 

‘‘(2) EVALUATION.—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. 

‘‘(h) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

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. 

‘‘(i) DEFINITION OF COVERED FOSTER CHILD.—In 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.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) 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))’’. 

(2) Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)), as amended by sections 106(b)(2) and 110(a)(4) of this Act, is amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘(12) MENTORING.—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.’’. 
H. R. 9076—22 

SEC. 114. 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: 

(1) 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. 

(2) 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. 

(3) 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. 

SEC. 115. STREAMLINING RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL 

ASSISTANCE FUNDING. 

(a) REPURPOSING DISCRETIONARY RESEARCH SET-ASIDE.—Section 435(c) (42 U.S.C. 629e(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) EVALUATION, RESEARCH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH

RESPECT TO TARGETED PROGRAM RESOURCES.—Of the amount 

reserved under section 437(b)(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 

shall use not less than— 

‘‘(1) $1,000,000 for technical assistance to grantees under 

section 437(f) and to support design of local site evaluations 

with the goal of publishing and submitting evaluation findings 

to the clearinghouse established under section 476(d), or to 

award grants to allow current or former grantees under section 

437(f) to analyze, publish, and submit to the clearinghouse 

data collected during past grants; and 

‘‘(2) $1,000,000 for technical assistance required under section 429B of this Act to support effective implementation of 

the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and to support development of associated State plan measures described pursuant 

to section 422(b)(9) of this Act.’’. 

(b) ELIMINATION OF RESEARCH SET-ASIDE FROM MANDATORY

FUNDS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 436(b) (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)), as 

amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended 

by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) 

through (5) as paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively. 

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(A) Section 433(a) (42 U.S.C. 629c(a)) is amended by 

striking ‘‘436(b)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘436(b)(2)’’. 
H. R. 9076—23 

(B) Section 433(e) (42 U.S.C. 629c(e)), as amended by 

section 112(b) of this Act, is amended by striking 

‘‘436(b)(4)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘436(b)(3)(A)’’ each place it 

appears. 

(C) Section 434(a)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 629d(a)(2)(A)) is 

amended by striking ‘‘436(b)(4)(B)’’ and inserting 

‘‘436(b)(3)(B)’’. 

(D) Section 437(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)(1)) is amended 

by striking ‘‘436(b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘435’’. 

(E) Section 437(f)(3) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(3)) is amended 

by striking ‘‘436(b)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘436(b)(4)’’. 

(F) Section 438(c) (42 U.S.C. 629g(c)) is amended in 

each of paragraphs (1) through (3) is amended by striking 

‘‘436(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘436(b)(1)’’. 

SEC. 116. REPORT ON POST ADOPTION AND SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—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. 

(b) INFORMATION.—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— 

(1) whether affected individuals received pre- or post-legal 

adoption services; and 

(2) other relevant information, such as the age of the child 

involved. 

(c) POST-ADOPTION SERVICES AND GUARDIANSHIP.—The Secretary shall include in the report— 

(1) 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. 

(2) a summary of funding and funding sources for the 

services in each State, including set-asides under the Promoting 

Safe and Stable Families program. 

SEC. 117. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by this title 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. 

(b) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRED.—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 title, 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 
H. R. 9076—24 

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. 

(c) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL

ORGANIZATIONS.—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. 

TITLE II—STRENGTHENING STATE AND 

TRIBAL CHILD SUPPORT 

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening State and Tribal 

Child Support Enforcement Act’’. 

SEC. 202. IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRIBAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. 

(a) IMPROVING THE COLLECTION OF PAST-DUE CHILD SUPPORT

THROUGH STATE AND TRIBAL PARITY IN THE ALLOWABLE USE OF

TAX INFORMATION.— 

(1) AMENDMENT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Section 464 

of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 664) is amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY TO INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZA- TIONS RECEIVING A GRANT UNDER THIS PART.—This section, except 

for the requirement to distribute amounts in accordance with section 

457, shall apply to an Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving 

a grant under section 455(f) in the same manner in which this 

section applies to a State with a plan approved under this part.’’. 

(2) AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.— 

(A) Section 6103(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code 

of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘any local child support 

enforcement agency’’ and inserting ‘‘any tribal or local child 

support enforcement agency’’. 

(B) Section 6103(a)(3) of such Code is amended by 

inserting ‘‘, (8)’’ after ‘‘(6)’’. 

(C) Section 6103(l) of such Code is amended— 

(i) in paragraph (6)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘or local’’ in subparagraph (A) 

and inserting ‘‘tribal, or local’’; 

(II) by striking ‘‘AND LOCAL’’ in the heading 

thereof and inserting ‘‘TRIBAL, AND LOCAL’’; 

(III) by striking ‘‘The following’’ in subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘The’’; 
H. R. 9076—25 

(IV) by striking the colon and all that follows 

in subparagraph (B) and inserting a period; and 

(V) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) STATE, TRIBAL, OR LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.—For purposes of this paragraph, the following shall be treated as a State, tribal, or local child 

support enforcement agency: 

‘‘(i) Any agency of a State or political subdivision 

thereof operating pursuant to a plan described in section 454 of the Social Security Act which has been 

approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under part D of title IV of such Act. 

‘‘(ii) Any child support enforcement agency of an 

Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant 

under section 455(f) of the Social Security Act.’’; 

(ii) in paragraph (8)— 

(I) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or State 

or local’’ and inserting ‘‘, State, tribal, or local’’; 

(II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘enforced 

pursuant to a plan described’’ and all that follows 

through ‘‘of such Act’’ and inserting ‘‘enforced 

pursuant to the provisions of part D of title IV 

of the Social Security Act’’; 

(III) by adding at the end of subparagraph 

(B) the following: ‘‘The information disclosed to 

any child support enforcement agency under 

subparagraph (A) with respect to any individual 

with respect to whom child support obligations 

are sought to be established or enforced may be 

disclosed by such agency to any agent of such 

agency which is under contract with such agency 

for purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, 

establishing and collecting child support obligations from, and locating, individuals owing such 

obligations.’’; 

(IV) by striking subparagraph (C) and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(C) STATE, TRIBAL, OR LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term 

‘State, tribal, or local child support enforcement agency’ 

has the same meaning as when used in paragraph (6)(D).’’; 

and 

(V) by striking ‘‘AND LOCAL’’ in the heading 

thereof and inserting ‘‘TRIBAL, AND LOCAL’’; and 

(iii) in paragraph (10)(B), by adding at the end 

the following new clause: 

‘‘(iii) The information disclosed to any child support 

enforcement agency under subparagraph (A) with 

respect to any individual with respect to whom child 

support obligations are sought to be established or 

enforced may be disclosed by such agency to any agent 

of such agency which is under contract with such 

agency for purposes of, and to the extent necessary 

in, establishing and collecting child support obligations 

from, and locating, individuals owing such obligations.’’. 

(D) Section 6103(p)(4) of such Code is amended— 
H. R. 9076—26 

(i) by striking ‘‘subsection (l)(10), (13)(A), (13)(B), 

(13)(C), (13)(D)(i), (16), (18), (19), or (20), or any entity’’ 

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and 

inserting ‘‘subsection (l)(6), (8), (10), (13)(A), (13)(B), 

(13)(C), (13)(D)(i), (16), (18), (19), or (20), or any Indian 

tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant under 

section 455(f) of the Social Security Act, or any entity’’; 

(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (l)(10)’’ in subparagraph 

(F)(i) and inserting ‘‘subsection (l)(6), (8), (10)’’; 

(iii) by striking ‘‘subsection (l)(10), (13)(A), (13)(B), 

(13)(C), (13)(D)(i), (16), (18), (19), or (20) or any entity’’ 

each place it appears in the matter following subparagraph (F)(iii) and inserting ‘‘subsection (l)(6), (8), (10), 

(13)(A), (13)(B), (13)(C), (13)(D)(i), (16), (18), (19), or 

(20), or any Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving 

a grant under section 455(f) of the Social Security 

Act, or any entity’’; and 

(iv) by inserting ‘‘, (8)’’ after ‘‘paragraph (6)(A)’’ 

in the matter following subparagraph (F)(iii). 

(E) Section 6103(p)(9) of such Code is amended by 

striking ‘‘or local’’ and inserting ‘‘tribal, or local’’. 

(F) Section 6402(c) of such Code is amended by adding 

at the end the following: ‘‘For purposes of this subsection, 

any reference to a State shall include a reference to any 

Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant under 

section 455(f) of the Social Security Act.’’. 

(b) REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPORTS.—Section 453(g) of the Social 

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(g)) is amended— 

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘STATE’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘and State’’ and inserting ‘‘, State, and 

tribal’’. 

(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Paragraphs (7) and (33) of section 454 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654) are each amended 

by striking ‘‘450b’’ and inserting ‘‘5304’’. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.