Recruiting Families Using Data (S. 162)

Summary

Amends the Social Security Act to require states to create data-driven plans for recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families for children in need.

What problem does this solve?

Many states lack effective strategies for finding and keeping enough foster and adoptive families, leading to children being placed in group homes. This bill makes states use data to create detailed plans for recruiting and supporting families, ensuring more children find stable, loving homes.

What does this bill do?

Requires state family partnership plans

Mandates that each state develop and implement a detailed 'family partnership plan' for identifying, recruiting, licensing, supporting, and retaining foster and adoptive families.

Mandates data-driven recruitment

Requires state plans to use data to set goals, measure progress, increase placements with relatives, and align the types of available families with the needs of children in care.

Adds new annual reporting for states

Requires states to annually collect and report data on their foster family capacity, the use of group homes, and the demographics of both families and children in care.

Incorporates feedback from families and youth

Requires state plans to be updated annually with feedback from foster parents and youth about challenges with licensing, training, and support.

Addresses racial and ethnic alignment

Requires states to analyze and report on barriers to recruiting foster families who reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in their care and their efforts to overcome them.

Updates federal child welfare reports

Amends the Social Security Act to include state-by-state data on foster families and recruitment challenges in the annual child welfare outcomes report to Congress, starting in 2028.

Who does this affect?

Children in foster care
Foster and adoptive families
State child welfare agencies

What is the real world impact?

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Improves child welfare outcomes

Aims to ensure more children in foster care are placed in stable, supportive family settings by making the recruitment of foster and adoptive parents more strategic and data-informed. This helps reduce reliance on less ideal group home placements.

When does this start?

The new state plan requirements will generally take effect on October 1, 2027, with some exceptions.

State plan requirements

The requirement for states to implement a family partnership plan takes effect on October 1, 2027.

Federal reporting to Congress

The annual child welfare report to Congress must include the new data on foster and adoptive families starting with the report for fiscal year 2028.

Delayed implementation

States that need to pass new laws to meet the requirements may delay implementation until after their next legislative session.