Youth and Family Engagement in Child Welfare Act

Bill: 118-hr-8815
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
Introduced: 2024-06-25
Policy area: Families
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8815 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 25, 2024 Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that youth and parents with lived experience in the child welfare system are consulted on policies, ensuring representation and inclusion of their perspectives in State child welfare program planning.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Youth and Family Engagement in Child Welfare Act . 2. Youth and family engagement in child welfare program planning Section 432(b)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 629b(b)(1) ) is amended to read as follows: (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 the 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); . 3. Effective date The amendment made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2026.