Promoting safe and stable families through kinship placement support services programs

(a) Addition of kinship placement support services to the promoting safe and stable families program Section 431(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking (including adoptive and extended families) and inserting (including kinship guardians, adoptive, and extended families).; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (13) Kinship placement support services (A) In general The term kinship placement support services means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided on behalf of children and youth in kinship care arrangements, including kinship guardianship placements, who are in, or at risk of entering or re-entering, foster care. (B) Services and activities described The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following: (i) Crisis stabilization services, including case management services designed to stabilize families in crisis such as transportation, assistance with housing and utility payments, and access to adequate health care, child care assistance, educational resources, and establishing a kinship placement crisis stabilization fund for purposes of making direct cash payments to kin caregivers for immediate needs of children placed with such caregivers in order to facilitate kinship placements and prevent the entry of children into foster care. (ii) Family finding, including intensive family-finding efforts that utilize search technology to find biological family members for children in, or at risk of entering, foster care. (iii) Re-establishing family relationships and supporting family group decision-making. (iv) Other assistance or services related to strengthening and supporting kinship families, including families led by siblings, to improve the well-being of children and their kin caregivers, and, if requested, assistance in becoming a licensed foster family home.. (b) Maintenance of effort requirement Section 432(a)(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)(7)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking assurances that Federal funds and inserting assurances that— (i) Federal funds; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (ii) the total amount of State expenditures made for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter to support kinship placements shall not be less than the total amount of such expenditures made for fiscal year 2025; and; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and spending requirements after prohibition. (c) Conforming amendments (1) Section 430 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629) is amended— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting kinship placement support services, after family reunification services,; (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (C) by inserting after paragraph (2), the following: (3) To support kinship placements to maintain family connections while ensuring the safety and well-being of children and youth and the well-being of their kin caregivers.. (2) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 432(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)) are each amended by inserting kinship placement support services, after family reunification services,.