Inclusion of information on foster and adoptive families in annual child welfare outcomes report to Congress

Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2025 or any succeeding fiscal year— (A) State-by-State data on the number, demographics, and characteristics of foster and adoptive families in the State, and the number of potential foster and adoptive families not being utilized in the State and the reasons why; (B) a summary of the challenges of, and barriers to, being a foster or adoptive parent, including with respect to recruitment, licensure, engagement, retention, and why parents stop fostering, adoptions disrupt or dissolve, or foster or adoptive families struggle, as reported by States based on surveys of foster and adoptive parents; and (C) a summary of the challenges and barriers States reported on efforts to recruit a pool of families that reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in foster care in the State, and efforts to overcome those barriers..

Section 479A(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking the period and inserting; and; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (8) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2028 or any succeeding fiscal year— (A) State-by-State data on the number, demographics, and characteristics of foster and adoptive families in the State, and the number of potential foster and adoptive families not being utilized in the State and the reasons why; (B) a summary of the challenges of, and barriers to, being a foster or adoptive parent, including with respect to recruitment, licensure, engagement, retention, and why parents stop fostering, adoptions disrupt or dissolve, or foster or adoptive families struggle, as reported by States based on surveys of foster and adoptive parents; and (C) a summary of the challenges and barriers States reported on efforts to recruit a pool of families that reflect the racial and ethnic background of children in foster care in the State, and efforts to overcome those barriers..