Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act

Bill Number: H.R. 4972
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Families
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-08-15: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Last Updated: 2026-05-14T08:08:27Z

AI-Generated Summary

Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act (H.R. 4972)

Purpose

This bill aims to improve the foster care system by addressing shortages of suitable foster homes, supporting the placement of sibling groups together, and enhancing checks and balances for children's safety and well-being. It achieves this by allowing foster children to be placed in "cottage family homes" (a type of group home with family-like care) and making such placements eligible for federal foster care maintenance payments, which help cover the costs of a child's care.

Key Provisions

State Plan Requirement: States must include cottage family homes as an option in their foster care plans under the Social Security Act.
Eligibility for Payments: Children placed in cottage family homes qualify for foster care maintenance payments, similar to traditional foster family homes.
Definition of Cottage Family Home: A cottage family home is defined as a licensed or approved residence operated by a public or private child care agency that:
Maintains children's connections to their families through regular contact and involvement in care plans (unless a court orders otherwise).
Facilitates placing siblings together to strengthen family ties.
Provides age-appropriate activities, extracurriculars, and community involvement like children in typical family homes.
Uses a trauma-informed approach (care that recognizes the effects of trauma on children and responds sensitively).
Prohibits seclusion, mechanical/chemical restraints, or prone physical restraints; allows only short-term physical restraint if needed to prevent harm and approved by agency policy.
Includes a system for children to report concerns, denied rights, or mistreatment.
Implements ongoing quality improvement by gathering feedback from children on care quality.
Limits to a single-family style home with no more than 2 children per bedroom (unless in the child's best interest).
Features live-in parents who apply a "reasonable and prudent parent standard" (a guideline for making decisions that promote a child's well-being) and provide 24-hour substitute care.
No Time Limits on Payments: There is no cap on the duration of foster care maintenance payments for children in cottage family homes.
Effective Date: Changes take effect upon enactment, applying to payments starting in the next calendar quarter. States get up to 6 months if they need new laws to comply.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends Section 471(a)(37) of the Social Security Act to explicitly include cottage family homes in state foster care plans, expanding beyond traditional foster family homes.
Modifies Section 472(a)(2)(C) to make cottage family homes eligible for maintenance payments, treating them similarly to placements with parents or relatives.
Adds a new subsection to Section 472(c) defining "cottage family home" with detailed standards for care, safety, and family involvement.
Updates Section 472(k)(2) to exempt cottage family homes from time limits on payments, ensuring long-term support without federal restrictions.
Preserves state flexibility by prohibiting the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services from limiting or penalizing states that classify cottage family homes as foster family homes or adjust them to meet children's needs.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: State child welfare agencies may see reduced pressure from foster home shortages, with more options for placements and federal funding support. The federal Department of Health and Human Services gains oversight to ensure compliance but cannot override state decisions on home classifications.
Citizens: Foster children could benefit from more stable, family-like environments with better safety measures, sibling placements, and access to normal activities, potentially improving emotional and developmental outcomes. Families and caregivers in cottage homes may receive steady funding for care.
International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic child welfare policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Foster Children and Siblings: Primary beneficiaries through safer, more connected placements.
Child Care Agencies: Public and private operators of cottage family homes, who must meet new standards to qualify for funding.
States and Local Governments: Gain flexibility in foster care management but must update plans and licensing to incorporate cottage homes.
Federal Government: The Department of Health and Human Services oversees implementation and payments under the Social Security Act.
Live-in Parents/Caregivers: Responsible for daily care in cottage homes, supported by funding and guidelines.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens federal standards for foster care under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act by integrating cottage family homes without mandating them, emphasizing child safety and family preservation. The bill's preservation of state flexibility avoids potential federalism challenges (tensions between federal and state authority).
Constitutional: Aligns with the government's role in protecting children's welfare under the Constitution's general welfare clause, without infringing on states' rights to regulate child care.
Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by members from both parties) highlights consensus on child welfare reform. It could influence future funding debates by expanding eligible placements, potentially increasing federal costs while promoting accountability through trauma-informed and restraint-limited care.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]

Cosponsors (25)

Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24], Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]

Recent Actions

2025-08-15: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
2025-08-15: Introduced in House
2025-08-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act — issued 2025-08-15 — PDF (6 pages)