Boosting Lifelong Support for Foster Youth

Summary#

• The CONNECT Act updates the federal Chafee Foster Care Program to focus more on long‑term, supportive relationships for young people who were in foster care at age 14 or older.

• It also makes sure youth still in foster care have a real say in their plans, get written information on services, and receive help connecting with mentors, peers, and family before and after they leave care.

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must issue guidance to states and Tribes on what services are eligible for federal funding and how to run these supports well.

• Key changes:

  • Makes building and keeping lifelong connections a core goal of the Chafee program.
  • Requires support for youth to take part in their own planning and to get clear, written information about services.
  • Promotes peer support, mentoring, and ties with kin (relatives or trusted family‑like adults), siblings, Tribes, and communities before and after reunification, guardianship, or adoption.
  • Directs HHS to provide examples of fundable services, set outreach standards, define basic qualifications and training for mentors/peer supporters, and spell out how to document these activities in case plans.
  • Takes effect one year after the bill becomes law; guidance due within one year of enactment.

What it means for you#

• Youth age 14+ in foster care

  • More say in your future plans, with written details on services you can get.
  • Easier access to mentors and peer groups, including other youth with foster care experience.
  • More help staying connected with siblings, relatives, Tribal communities, and other supportive adults.
  • Support before and after you leave care through reunification, guardianship, or adoption.

• Young adults who were in foster care at age 14 or older

  • Programs may focus more on helping you build and keep a support network.
  • You may get more outreach, referrals, and peer support options.

• Parents, relatives, and kin caregivers

  • More support to keep and strengthen ties with youth during and after reunification, guardianship, or adoption.
  • Clearer pathways to mentoring or support roles if appropriate.

• Foster parents and caseworkers

  • More emphasis on relationship‑building activities and peer/mentor supports.
  • Added expectations to notify eligible youth, make referrals, and document these steps in case plans.

• Tribal child welfare agencies and communities

  • Guidance tailored to support Tribal and community connections for Native youth.
  • Clearer access to federal funds for culturally relevant mentoring and peer support.

• Mentoring and youth‑serving organizations

  • Basic qualifications and training standards for mentors/peer supporters.
  • Potential eligibility to receive referrals and use existing federal child welfare funds for qualifying services.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

• The bill does not add new federal funding; it refocuses existing child welfare funds (such as Chafee, Title IV‑B, and Title IV‑E) toward relationship‑building, mentoring, and peer support.
• HHS would have some administrative cost to consult with youth and issue guidance within one year.
• States and Tribes may face modest new administrative work (outreach, referrals, documentation), which could be covered by existing funds but might require shifting priorities.

Proponents' View#

• Long‑term relationships help youth thrive; focusing on mentors, peers, and kin can reduce isolation and improve adult outcomes.
• Giving youth a real voice in their plans and clear written information makes services easier to use and more effective.
• Support before and after reunification, guardianship, or adoption can prevent setbacks and keep placements stable.
• Clear federal guidance can raise quality and consistency across states while pointing to existing funding sources.
• Emphasizing sibling, Tribal, and community ties respects culture and identity and strengthens lifelong connections.

Opponents' View#

• Agencies already face heavy workloads; added outreach and documentation could increase paperwork and strain staff.
• Without new funding, states may need to shift dollars from other services to cover mentoring and peer supports.
• Setting qualifications and training rules for mentors and peer supporters may limit local flexibility or slow program rollout.
• Expanding peer and mentoring programs raises safety, screening, and privacy concerns if standards are uneven.
• Some may see the guidance as federal overreach into state child welfare practices.