What the bill does
Supporting America’s Children and Families ActTITLE I–CHILD WELFARE REAUTHORIZATION AND MODERNIZATION Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families ActThis title reauthorizes through FY2029 certain child and family services and modifies programs related to prevention services, youth in foster care, parental substance use disorder, and kinship caregiving, which are generally administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). First, the title reauthorizes funding through FY2029 for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services and the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families programs. It also requires 3% of allocated funding to be paid directly to Indian tribes. The title also reauthorizes through FY2029 the Court Improvement Program and requires the ACF to issue guidance for technological changes necessary to conduct proceedings remotely. The title reauthorizes through FY2029 and revises regional partnership grants for services to families affected by substance use disorders. The ACF also must review administrative requirements for state child welfare agencies and explore ways to reduce the compliance time. The title also authorizes grants to states and other specified organizations to evaluate child and family services and kinship navigator programs. Further, state plans for child welfare services must describe how states may offer virtual caseworker visits to youth in care who are over 18 and have consented to such visits. The title also authorizes family preservation and family support services for youth under the age of 26. It also…
Subjects: Adoption and foster care, Child care and development, Child health, Child safety and welfare, Community life and organization, Computers and information technology, Congressional oversight, Correctional facilities and imprisonment, Detention of persons, Drug, alcohol, tobacco use