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 Title IV of the Social Security Act. The bill mandates states to develop and implement family partnership plans that focus on identifying, recruiting, screening, licensing, supporting, and retaining foster and adoptive families. It also requires states to collect and report data on foster family capacity, congregate care utilization, and challenges faced by foster and adoptive parents.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased data collection and reporting requirements for states regarding their foster care systems. States will be required to develop and implement family partnership plans, potentially leading to more targeted recruitment and support efforts for foster and adoptive families. The changes aim to improve outcomes for children in foster care by increasing permanency and placement stability.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced data-driven decision-making in foster care recruitment and retention.
- Improved support and resources for foster and adoptive families.
- Increased kinship placements and reduced reliance on congregate care.
- Better alignment of foster and adoptive families with the needs of children in care.
- Increased engagement of children and youth in recruitment efforts on their behalf.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden and costs for states to comply with new data collection and reporting requirements.
- Potential delays in implementation if state legislation is required.
- Risk that data collection efforts may not translate into meaningful improvements in foster care outcomes.
- Possible resistance from states to implementing the mandated family partnership plans.
- The effectiveness of the act depends heavily on the quality and accuracy of the data collected and reported.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It falls under Congress's power to legislate for the general welfare by providing for the needs of children and families, a vulnerable population. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this bill incentivizes state action through federal funding related to the Social Security Act, which is a permissible use of federal power.
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).