administrative burden on any tribe to which less than 
$50,000 is allotted under this subpart for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(c) TRIBAL AUTHORITY TO SUBSTITUTE THE FED-
ERAL NEGOTIATED INDIRECT COST RATE FOR ADMINIS-
TRATIVE
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 amend-
ed— 
(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’’. 
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(2) APPLICATION
OF
TRIBAL
SET-ASIDE
BE-
FORE
OTHER
SET-ASIDES.—Section 436(b)(3) (42 
U.S.C. 429f(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘After 
applying paragraphs (4) and (5) (but before apply-
ing 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 fis-
cal year 2025, and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2029,’’ before ‘‘for grants’’. 
SEC. 8. ACCELERATING ACCESS TO FAMILY FIRST PREVEN-
TION SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 435 (42 U.S.C. 629e) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) PREVENTION SERVICES EVALUATION PARTNER-
SHIPS.— 
‘‘(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). 
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‘‘(2) GRANTS.—In accordance with applications 
approved under this subsection, the Secretary may 
make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible enti-
ties to carry out projects designed to evaluate a serv-
ice or program provided by the eligible entity, or an 
entity in partnership with the eligible entity, with re-
spect to the requirements for a promising practice, 
supported practice, or well-supported practice de-
scribed 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 accord-
ance with paragraph (2). 
‘‘(ii) The project is to be carried out 
by the applicant in partnership with— 
‘‘(I) a State agency that admin-
isters, or supervises the administra-
tion of, the State plan approved under 
part E, or an agency administering 
the plan under the supervision of the 
State agency; and 
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‘‘(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, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(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 pro-
vides assurances that the individual or en-
tity 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 subpara-
graph. 
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‘‘(iii) A certification from the appli-
cant that provides assurances that the ap-
plicant intends to comply with subpara-
graph (A)(ii)(II), if applicable. 
‘‘(iv) At the option of the eligible enti-
ty, a certification from the applicant that 
the applicant requires an external eval-
uator 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 clear-
inghouse 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 
experts with lived experience. 
‘‘(B) Maximizing the number of evidence- 
based services or programs to be included in the 
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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 popu-
lation settings of, a service or program with re-
liable evidence about the benefits and risks of 
the service or program. 
‘‘(5) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
EXTERNAL
EVAL-
UATORS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Before accepting ap-
plications 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 sub-
section submitted by the eligible entity. 
‘‘(6) REPORTS.— 
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may use not more than 5 percent to provide 
technical assistance. 
‘‘(B) CARRYOVER.—Amounts made avail-
able to carry out this subsection shall remain 
available until expended. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligi-
ble entity’ means any of the following providing 
a service or program or, in the sole determina-
tion of the Secretary, able to provide a service 
or program if awarded a grant under this sub-
section: 
‘‘(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 subpara-
graph (A) or (B) of section 426(a)(1). 
‘‘(iii) An Indian tribe or tribal organi-
zation. 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(C) SERVICE
OR
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘service or program’— 
‘‘(i) means a service or program de-
scribed in section 471(e); and 
‘‘(ii) includes a kinship navigator pro-
gram 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. 9. 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 case-
worker visits to youth in care who have attained the age 
of 18 years and provided informed consent for virtual vis-
its’’ 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: 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove a plan that meets the requirements of sub-
section (a) only if— 
‘‘(A) the plan was developed jointly by the 
Secretary and the State, and the State, in de-
veloping 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 preser-
vation, family support, family reunifica-
tion, foster care, kinship, and adoption 
promotion and support; 
‘‘(iii) parents with child welfare expe-
rience, 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 coun-
cils comprised of youth with the experience 
who represent the diversity of children in 
the State to whom the plan would apply; 
and 
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‘‘(B) the State has made publicly acces-
sible on a website of the State agency a report 
that outlines how the State has implemented 
the suggestions of the children and youth re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A)(iv);’’. 
SEC. 10. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIVE 
AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—Section 431(a) (42 U.S.C. 
629a(a)), as amended by section 6(b)(2) of this Act, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘children’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘children, youth,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘adoptive and ex-
tended’’ and inserting ‘‘kinship and adop-
tive’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘par-
ents and other caregivers (including foster par-
ents)’’ and inserting ‘‘parents, kinship care-
givers, and foster parents’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (E); 
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(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 fos-
tering constructive relationships between chil-
dren and families and mentors with relevant 
lived experience or interactions with the child 
welfare system; and 
‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subpart, an ex-
penditure for a service described in clause (i) 
may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or 
more of family support services, family preser-
vation 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 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘extended’’ 
and inserting ‘‘kinship’’; 
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(3) in paragraph (7)(A), by inserting ‘‘with kin-
ship caregivers or’’ before ‘‘in a foster family home’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) YOUTH.—The term ‘youth’ means an in-
dividual 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 insert-
ing ‘‘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 
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(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(v) that include connections to indi-
vidualized assistance, as needed;’’; 
(iv) 
by 
striking 
paragraphs 
(2) 
through (4); 
(v) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (G) of paragraph (1) as para-
graphs (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), respec-
tively; 
(vii) by moving each provision so re-
designated 2 ems to the left; and 
(viii) by striking ‘‘caregiving;’’ and in-
serting ‘‘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), respec-
tively, and inserting after paragraph (2) 
the following: 
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‘‘(3) a description of how the entity will directly 
fund, or provide data to the Secretary for, an eval-
uation which will publish and submit information to 
the clearinghouse described in section 476(d)(2) and 
which is designed to meet the requirements of sec-
tion 471(e)(4)(C), or a description of how the funds 
will be used to help the State transition to a pro-
gram for which the State will seek reimbursement 
under section 474(a)(7);’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (4) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(iv) in paragraph (5) (as so redesig-
nated), 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— 
‘‘(A) documentation of support from a rel-
evant community-based organization with expe-
rience 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.’’; 
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(D) by striking subsection (d) and insert-
ing 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 AS-
SISTANCE.—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 8(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)’’. 
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SEC. 11. AVOIDING NEGLECT BY ADDRESSING POVERTY. 
(a) FAMILY
PRESERVATION
SERVICES.—Section 
431(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(1)), as amended by section 
10(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 spe-
cific crisis, situation, or event affecting the abil-
ity of a child to remain in a home established 
for the child that is not intended to meet an on-
going need; and 
‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subpart, an ex-
penditure for a service described in clause (i) 
may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or 
more of family support services, family preser-
vation 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 
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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; 
(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 con-
cerning 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 pov-
erty, to ensure access to services described in section 
431(a)(1)(H).’’. 
SEC. 12. STRENGTHENING SUPPORT FOR CASEWORKERS. 
(a) REAUTHORIZATION OF, AND INCREASE IN FUND-
ING
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’’. 
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(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 re-
served pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fis-
cal 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 sec-
tion 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 (with-
out regard to the initial allotment of $70,000 to 
each State). 
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‘‘(3) OTHER
STATES.—From the amount re-
served pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fis-
cal 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 In-
dian tribe) not specified in subsection (b) of this sec-
tion to which a base allotment was made under 
paragraph (1) of this subsection an amount equal to 
such remaining amount multiplied by the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program benefits per-
centage of the State (as defined in subsection (c)(2) 
of this section) for the fiscal year, except that in ap-
plying subsection (c)(2)(A) of this section, ‘sub-
section (e)(3)’ shall be substituted for ‘such para-
graph (1)’.’’. 
(c) REQUIREMENT TO USE FUNDS TO IMPROVE 
QUALITY OF CASEWORKER VISITS WITH FOSTER CHIL-
DREN.—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 
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foster care under the responsibility of the 
State, with an emphasis on— 
‘‘(I) reducing caseload ratios and 
the administrative burden on case-
workers, to improve caseworker deci-
sion making on the safety, perma-
nency, and well-being of foster chil-
dren and on activities designed to in-
crease retention, recruitment, and 
training of caseworkers; 
‘‘(II) 
implementing 
technology 
solutions to streamline caseworker du-
ties and modernize systems, ensuring 
improved efficiency and effectiveness 
in child welfare services; 
‘‘(III) improving caseworker safe-
ty; 
‘‘(IV) mental health resources to 
support caseworker well-being, includ-
ing peer-to-peer support programs; 
and 
‘‘(V) 
recruitment 
campaigns 
aimed at attracting qualified case-
worker candidates.’’. 
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(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. 13. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR IMPROVING RE-
LATIONSHIPS 
BETWEEN 
INCARCERATED 
PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. 
Section 439 (42 U.S.C. 629i) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 439. STATE PARTNERSHIP PLANNING AND DEM-
ONSTRATION GRANTS TO SUPPORT MEAN-
INGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOSTER 
CHILDREN AND THE INCARCERATED PAR-
ENTS 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 pro-
grams that enable and sustain meaningful relation-
ships between covered foster children and the incar-
cerated parents of the children. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT OF ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS.— 
The Secretary shall pay each demonstration grant in 
5 annual installments. 
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‘‘(3) 1-YEAR
PLANNING
GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary 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 sub-
section (c); and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that a plan-
ning grant would assist the recipient and im-
prove 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 en-
tered into by, at a minimum, the following: 
‘‘(A) The State child welfare agency re-
sponsible 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 in-
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clude any entity with experience in serving incarcer-
ated parents and their children. 
‘‘(3) PARTNERSHIPS ENTERED INTO BY INDIAN 
TRIBES
OR
TRIBAL
CONSORTIA.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (1), if an Indian tribe or tribal consor-
tium enters into a partnership pursuant to this sec-
tion that does not consist solely of tribal child wel-
fare 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. 
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‘‘(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 eli-
gible State partnership. 
‘‘(5) Assurances that the applicant will partici-
pate 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 con-
sultation with incarcerated parents and their fami-
lies, grantees shall promote organizational policies of 
participating child welfare entities and collaborating 
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correctional facilities to promote meaningful rela-
tionships through regular and developmentally ap-
propriate communication and visitation between cov-
ered foster children and the incarcerated parents, in-
cluding, when appropriate, the following: 
‘‘(A) For child welfare entities— 
‘‘(i) inclusion of parents in case plan-
ning and decision making for children; 
‘‘(ii) regular sharing of information 
and responses to requests for information 
between caseworkers and incarcerated par-
ents with respect to the case information 
of a child, any changes to a case, perma-
nency plans, requirements to maintain pa-
rental rights, and any efforts to terminate 
parental rights; 
‘‘(iii) appropriate opportunities for in-
carcerated parents to demonstrate their re-
lationship 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). 
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‘‘(iv) security procedures to comfort 
children and be minimally invasive; and 
‘‘(v) promoting parent-child relation-
ships regardless of the sentence imposed 
on the parent. 
‘‘(2) ENHANCED VISITATION.— 
‘‘(A) Grantees shall facilitate weekly com-
munication 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 pur-
poses of the grant. 
‘‘(C) Enhanced visitation programs shall— 
‘‘(i) integrate best practices for visita-
tion programs with incarcerated parents 
and their children; 
‘‘(ii) adopt developmentally appro-
priate visitation policies and procedures 
such as those described in paragraph 
(1)(B); 
‘‘(iii) reduce or eliminate the cost of 
developmentally appropriate communica-
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tion and visitation for the covered foster 
child, which may include the purchase of 
communication technology, covering trans-
portation, insurance, and lodging costs, 
costs related to providing appropriate visi-
tation spaces and activities, and other rel-
evant costs; 
‘‘(iv) to the extent practicable, inte-
grate appropriate parenting education to 
help prepare and process visits; and 
‘‘(v) avoid restricting visitation and 
communication as a punishment for the in-
carcerated parents. 
‘‘(3) TRAINING.—Grantees shall incorporate on-
going training for child welfare workers, correctional 
facility staff, and other program providers to under-
stand the importance of promoting meaningful rela-
tionships between children and incarcerated parents. 
‘‘(4) CASE MANAGEMENT.—Grantees shall pro-
vide case management services for the incarcerated 
parents of a covered foster child to promote the rela-
tionship, access to services, and coordination with 
the caseworkers of the covered foster child to 
strengthen the relationship. 
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‘‘(5) LEGAL ASSISTANCE.—Grantees shall facili-
tate 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 relation-
ships 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 assist-
ance and training meeting and an annual grant-
ee meeting so that grantees can learn from the 
experiences of other grantees. 
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‘‘(2) EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary shall con-
duct 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, place-
ment stability, and termination of parental rights 
with respect to covered foster children and incarcer-
ated parents, to measure program effectiveness, as 
determined by the Secretary, and identify opportuni-
ties for improved program practices and implemen-
tation. 
‘‘(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 Com-
mittee 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, in-
cluding— 
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‘‘(I) interim results of the evalua-
tion described in paragraph (2); 
‘‘(II) disaggregated data on cov-
ered foster children and incarcerated 
parents; 
‘‘(III) information on the com-
position of eligible State partnerships; 
‘‘(IV) best practices for facili-
tating meaningful relationships be-
tween covered foster children and in-
carcerated 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 Com-
mittee 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. 
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