CONNECT Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4634
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-17T20:28:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to update the goals of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood under the Social Security Act. It seeks to better reflect research findings and input from youth with foster care experience, emphasizing the role of sustained relationships in supporting long-term success for young people leaving foster care.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is named the "Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act" or "CONNECT Act."
- Amendments to Section 477(a):
- Removes the existing paragraph (2).
- Redesignates paragraphs (1) and (3) through (7) as (3) through (8).
- Inserts two new purposes:
- (1) Helping youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older build and keep supportive, long-term relationships with adults (including relatives or close non-relatives), mentors, and peers, including those with foster care experience, to reduce isolation and create lasting support networks.
- (2) Supporting youth still in foster care (who experienced it at age 14 or older) in exercising rights under section 475A to help shape their permanency plans, receive information on services, and access peer support, mentoring, connections with relatives, and referrals to other programs.
- Guidance Requirement: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue guidance to states and tribal child welfare agencies after consulting with youth who have lived experience in foster care. This guidance must cover:
- Examples of services eligible for federal funding.
- Best practices for peer support, mentoring, and building lifelong connections (including sibling, tribal, and community ties), with minimum qualifications and training.
- Standards for outreach and notification to eligible youth.
- Protocols for documenting support activities in case plans.
- Effective Date: Changes take effect one year after the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill revises the core purposes of the Chafee program by prioritizing relationship-building and permanency plan involvement over prior listed goals.
- It introduces new requirements for federal guidance and documentation standards tied to existing case plan rules under sections 475 and 475A of the Social Security Act.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: States and tribal child welfare agencies may need to adjust services, training, and documentation practices to align with the updated purposes and new guidance.
- On Citizens: Youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older could gain more structured support for developing relationships and participating in permanency planning.
- On International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Youth with lived experience in foster care, particularly those aged 14 and older.
- State and tribal child welfare agencies.
- The Department of Health and Human Services.
- Mentors, peers, and family members involved in support networks for transitioning youth.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within the existing framework of the Social Security Act and does not introduce new constitutional issues or major shifts in federal authority.
- It builds on current child welfare requirements without altering core program funding or eligibility structures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (4 pages)