H.R.579 - Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 579, the "Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025," aims to improve foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention by amending parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act. The bill requires states to develop and implement family partnership plans that focus on identifying, recruiting, screening, licensing, supporting, and retaining foster and adoptive families. It also mandates the collection and reporting of data related to foster family capacity and congregate care utilization.
The Act emphasizes engaging various stakeholders, including birth, kinship, foster, and adoptive families, as well as youth with lived experience, in the development of these plans. Furthermore, it requires states to address challenges in recruiting families that reflect the racial and ethnic backgrounds of children in foster care.
Finally, the bill amends Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act to include information on foster and adoptive families in the annual child welfare outcomes report to Congress, enhancing transparency and accountability.
Expected Effects
The likely effect of this bill is an increased focus on data-driven strategies for recruiting and retaining foster and adoptive families. This could lead to more children in foster care finding permanent homes.
It may also result in improved support systems for foster and adoptive parents, potentially reducing disruptions in placements. The enhanced data collection and reporting requirements will likely provide better insights into the needs of children in foster care and the challenges faced by foster families.
Ultimately, the bill aims to improve the overall well-being of children in the foster care system by ensuring they have access to stable and supportive family environments.
Potential Benefits
- Improved Recruitment: Enhanced strategies for identifying and recruiting foster and adoptive families.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data to assess needs and measure progress in foster care.
- Increased Kinship Placements: Greater emphasis on placing children with relatives.
- Enhanced Support Systems: Improved support and training for foster and adoptive parents.
- Reduced Congregate Care: Decreasing unnecessary placements in congregate care facilities.
Potential Disadvantages
- Implementation Costs: States may face financial burdens in developing and implementing the required family partnership plans.
- Data Collection Burden: Increased data collection and reporting requirements could strain state resources.
- Potential for Ineffective Plans: If not properly implemented, the family partnership plans may not achieve the desired outcomes.
- Delayed Implementation: The effective date allows for delays if state legislation is required, potentially slowing down progress.
- Lack of Specificity: The bill provides broad guidelines but lacks specific details on how states should address certain challenges.
Constitutional Alignment
This bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the US Constitution, as it aims to improve the well-being of children in foster care. While the Constitution does not explicitly address foster care, the federal government's role in supporting state-level programs through the Social Security Act is well-established.
The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but the Social Security Act provides a framework for federal-state cooperation in addressing social welfare issues. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or liberties.
It operates within the existing framework of federal-state partnerships and aims to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, aligning with the broader goals of promoting the general welfare.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).