Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4769

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Families

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-25: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2026-05-15T08:07:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 aims to improve outcomes for children and youth involved in or formerly in foster care by funding mentoring programs. It authorizes grants to help establish, expand, or operate structured mentoring initiatives through networks of public and private community groups, emphasizing long-term, supportive relationships to boost emotional, social, and academic development.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Findings Section: Congress highlights the value of mentoring, citing research showing benefits like higher college enrollment (55% more likely), reduced school absences (52% less likely), and lower involvement in the justice system. It notes that about 391,000 youth were in foster care in 2021, with mentoring being especially effective for this group, including peer mentoring from those with lived experience.

• Grant Program (New Section 439A in the Social Security Act):
• Eligibility and Scope: Grants go to nonprofits, state child welfare agencies, local school districts, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or faith-based groups. Programs target children currently in foster care (removed from parents by a state or tribal agency) and those with prior foster experience (up to age 26).
• Mentoring Definition: A managed program pairing screened, trained adult or peer mentors with youth for at least one year. It includes one-on-one, group, or peer activities focused on academics, skill-building, risk reduction, and healthy relationships to provide role models and normalcy.
• Application Requirements:
• Detailed program design, including outcomes, participant numbers, and inclusivity for diverse groups (e.g., youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, those with disabilities).
• Recruitment strategies to attract diverse mentors reflecting the youth served.
• Intensive training for mentors on topics like child development, trauma, education rights, cultural competence, and child welfare coordination.
• Screening processes, including criminal background checks (excluding those with child-related convictions or recent safety-related crimes) and commitment to long-term involvement.
• Community engagement, coordination with other services (e.g., education, mental health), and equal access for all providers.
• Agreements for record-keeping, audits, and program evaluations.
• Award Considerations: Prioritizes programs with strong youth input, effective recruitment (especially for older foster youth), training quality, coordination with local services, and supervision capacity. Factors in local foster youth numbers.
• Use of Funds: For mentor training and support, recruitment, compensation (including for peers), participant costs, and youth development activities. Grant sizes are scaled to an organization's budget and capacity.
• Reporting and Oversight: Annual reports to Congress on program numbers, mentor demographics and participation, youth outcomes (e.g., academic data, waitlists), and transitions to college. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) conducts evaluations.
• Funding: Authorizes $50 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with ongoing funding as needed.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

This bill amends Subpart 2 of Part B, Title IV of the Social Security Act (which funds family support and child welfare services) by adding a new section (439A) specifically for foster youth mentoring grants. It introduces a dedicated federal funding stream for these programs, which were not previously outlined in this way, emphasizing specialized training, peer involvement, and long-term commitments tailored to foster care challenges like frequent placements and transitions to adulthood.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HHS will administer grants, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing child welfare coordination with state, local, and tribal agencies.
• On Citizens: Primarily benefits foster youth (current and former, up to age 26) by improving mental health, reducing substance use and justice system involvement, and supporting education and life skills. It could expand access to mentoring for underserved groups, reducing waitlists and promoting stability.
• On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. child welfare systems, including tribal programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Foster Youth and Alumni: Primary beneficiaries, including children in care (especially ages 11-20) and young adults up to 26, gaining mentors for support and development.
• Mentoring Organizations and Providers: Nonprofits, faith-based groups, schools, and community entities that can apply for and run programs, receiving funding for operations.
• Child Welfare Agencies: State and tribal agencies involved in foster care, which must coordinate with mentoring efforts and may see reduced placement disruptions.
• Mentors and Peers: Adults and former foster youth recruited and trained, with opportunities for compensation.
• Families and Communities: Biological/adoptive families, local service providers (e.g., education, mental health), and broader communities engaged in program design and support.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal support for child welfare under the Social Security Act without altering core foster care laws (e.g., no changes to removal processes). Emphasizes protections like background checks and confidentiality, aligning with child safety standards. Requires equal access for faith-based and tribal groups, promoting inclusivity.
• Constitutional: No major issues; it supports equal protection for vulnerable youth and respects tribal sovereignty through explicit inclusion of Indian tribes. Avoids First Amendment concerns by ensuring voluntary participation and non-discriminatory access.
• Political: Bipartisan introduction signals broad support for addressing foster care gaps, potentially influencing future child welfare funding. It promotes evidence-based interventions (e.g., long-term mentoring), which could reduce long-term public costs in justice and social services, but implementation depends on congressional appropriations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

Cosponsors (22)

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-25: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-07-25: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-25: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-25 — PDF (15 pages)