[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7995 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7995

 To update the purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for 
Successful Transition to Adulthood to reflect research and the input of 
     youth with lived experience about the importance of long-term 
                    relationships to future success.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2026

   Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself and Mr. Carey) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To update the purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for 
Successful Transition to Adulthood to reflect research and the input of 
     youth with lived experience about the importance of long-term 
                    relationships to future success.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Chafee Opportunities for New 
Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act'' or the ``CONNECT Act''.

SEC. 2. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM 
              FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.

    (a) Updating of Purposes.--
            (1) In general.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (3) through 
                (7) as paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after ``conducted--'' the 
                following:
            ``(1) to help children who have experienced foster care at 
        age 14 or older to develop and maintain sustained, supportive 
        relationships with adults (including kin or fictive kin who are 
        not serving as placement), mentors, and peers (including peers 
        who have experienced foster care), with a goal of providing 
        multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and ensuring that 
        the youth develop lifelong connections and support networks;
            ``(2) to support youth still in foster care who have 
        experienced foster care at age 14 or older in exercising the 
        rights referred to in section 475A to participate in developing 
        their permanency plan and receive written information about 
        available services and steps the agency is taking to support 
        the plan, as well as to facilitate pre- and post-permanency 
        peer support, mentoring, connections with kin, and referrals to 
        additional appropriate programs and services to help youth 
        achieve their permanency goals;''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Guidance.--Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act and after consulting with youth with lived experience in 
foster care, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue 
guidance to States and Tribal child welfare agencies, regarding the 
purposes set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 477(a) of the 
Social Security Act, that includes, at a minimum--
            (1) examples of services and support eligible for Federal 
        funding under part B of title IV of such Act, under part E of 
        such title as part of completing and following the case plan 
        requirements provided for in section 475A of such Act, or under 
        section 477 of such Act, including individual youth support, 
        family support, and peer support to engage youth during 
        reunification, guardianship, or adoption proceedings;
            (2) best practices for facilitating peer support, 
        mentoring, and the development and maintenance of lifelong 
        connections, including practices that support sibling, tribal, 
        and community connections, including minimum qualifications and 
        training for persons providing mentoring and peer support;
            (3) standards of outreach to and notification of eligible 
        youth, including youth with a planned permanent living 
        arrangement, to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and 
        services; and
            (4) protocols for documentation of support and 
        relationship-building activities under section 477 of such Act 
        that are required by section 475A of such Act to be included in 
        a child's case plan, sufficient to permit review under the case 
        review system described in section 475(5) of such Act.
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