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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4634 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4634
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act 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 regarding the importance of long-term relationships to
future success.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2026
Mr. Husted introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act 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 regarding 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.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (3) through (7) as
paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively; and
(3) 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;
and
``(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;''.
(b) Guidance.--Not later than 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 defined in section 475(5) of such Act.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take
effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
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