CONNECT Act (H.R. 7995)

Summary

Changes the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program to help older kids in foster care build strong, supportive relationships with adults and friends.

What problem does this solve?

Older children in foster care often lack stable, long-term relationships, leading to isolation when they leave the system. This bill updates a federal program to focus on helping these youth build lifelong connections and support networks for their future success.

What does this bill do?

Adds new purpose to foster care program

Updates the Chafee Foster Care Program to focus on helping youth 14 and older develop and keep supportive, long-term relationships with adults, mentors, and peers to reduce isolation.

Supports youth in permanency planning

Helps youth participate in creating their own permanency plans, which decide their long-term living situation. Provides them with peer support and mentoring to help them reach their goals.

Requires new guidance for states

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and share guidance for states on how to best support youth in building these lifelong connections, including best practices for mentoring.

Includes input from former foster youth

Requires the government to talk with young people who have been in foster care when creating the new rules and guidance to make sure their experiences are included.

Who does this affect?

Youth in foster care aged 14 and older
State and Tribal child welfare agencies

What is the real world impact?

•

Improves long-term outcomes for foster youth

Provides older foster youth with stable, supportive relationships that are critical for success in adulthood. This change is based on research and feedback from young people who have been in foster care.

When does this start?

The changes and new guidance required by this bill are set to happen one year after it becomes law.

Program changes take effect

The updates to the purposes of the Chafee Foster Care Program will become effective one year after the bill is signed into law.

Guidance for states issued

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue guidance to states and tribal agencies within one year of the bill becoming law.