S.162 - Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
S.162, 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 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 in recruiting families that reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in foster care.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to increased data collection and reporting requirements for states regarding their foster care systems. This increased transparency is intended to drive improvements in recruitment and retention efforts. It also aims to reduce unnecessary placements in congregate care and increase permanency for children in foster care.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families.
- Improved data-driven decision-making in foster care systems.
- Increased placement stability for children in foster care.
- Reduction in unnecessary placements in congregate care.
- Better alignment of foster and adoptive families with the needs of children in care.
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 challenges in accurately assessing and addressing the reasons why parents stop fostering or adoptions disrupt.
- The effectiveness of the family partnership plans will depend on the quality of consultation with stakeholders.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it seeks 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 providing for the general welfare allows for legislation in this area. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but the Social Security Act already establishes a framework for federal-state cooperation in child 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).