Overview
Title
To reauthorize child welfare programs under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
This bill is like a big plan to help kids who need extra care; it wants to continue giving money to programs that help them live better lives, and to make changes so things work smoother, but it needs to be really clear about how every penny is spent so nothing goes to waste.
Summary AI
S. 5336 proposes the reauthorization of child welfare programs under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act. The bill aims to enhance various aspects of child welfare, like supporting court improvements, addressing parental substance use disorders, streamlining funding for Indian tribes, and supporting youth transitioning out of foster care. It also emphasizes strengthening kinship care and reducing neglect by tackling poverty-related issues, alongside other reforms that intend to modernize and reduce administrative burdens in the welfare system. The Act would take effect on October 1, 2025, with accommodations for necessary state legislation or tribal organization changes.
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AnalysisAI
To reauthorize child welfare programs under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes, the bill aims to update and extend funding and support mechanisms for child welfare services across the United States. Introduced by Senator Cornyn and Senator Bennet, it is noteworthy for its comprehensive approach to various aspects of child welfare, from enhancing family support to emphasizing technological updates in court proceedings, particularly addressing the needs of vulnerable populations like children aging out of foster care and those impacted by familial substance abuse.
General Summary of the Bill
This bill, named the "Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act," seeks to renew and modernize child welfare programs between 2025 and 2029. The broad set of proposed amendments includes improving court processes, streamlining administrative procedures, expanding grant programs to address parental substance abuse, and enhancing support for foster care. The bill also places emphasis on the role of kinship and relative caregivers, while ensuring that technological advancements are utilized to ease administrative burdens.
Summary of Significant Issues
One considerable concern is the reauthorization of significant funding without clear outlines for effectiveness or accountability measures, potentially leading to financial impropriety or inefficiency. The bill proposes a robust annual expenditure of $420 million, yet falls short in detailing justifications or performance metrics to measure success. Furthermore, language surrounding the use of technology and support for state agencies often remains vague, raising questions about practical implementation and oversight.
Additionally, sections tackling issues like enhancing regional partnership grants or improving relationships between incarcerated parents and their children lack specific criteria and clarity. This vagueness can lead to inconsistent application, which poses the risk of unequal service provision across different states. Also, the increased involvement of various stakeholders such as Indian tribes, while admirable for inclusivity, presents complexities in ensuring that funding truly aids intended populations without unnecessary burdens.
Impact on the Public
The bill could significantly impact the public by addressing gaps in the welfare system and aiming to keep families together. If effectively implemented, it could lead to substantial improvements in the well-being of children and families across the nation. The modernization efforts might ease the administrative processes for agencies, which could, in turn, enhance service delivery efficiency.
However, without explicit outcomes or rigorous evaluation criteria, there might be missed opportunities to ensure funds are directed towards impactful interventions. If not effectively monitored, new funding and program initiatives could lead to inefficiencies or resource wastage.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders like state agencies, the bill proposes increased responsibilities to adopt new technologies and maintain more comprehensive data systems. These changes could lead to financial and operational strain without guaranteed federal support. Indian tribes are expected to benefit from dedicated funding streams and technical assistance, but ambiguity in legislative language might prove challenging to navigate.
Youth aging out of the foster care system may find stronger support through virtual caseworker visits and tailored welfare plans, potentially aiding their transition into independence. At the same time, the bill's unfunded mandates might limit the extent of support states can feasibly provide.
Overall, the "Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act" seeks targeted enhancements in child welfare but requires further refinement to ensure funds and efforts translate into measurable and equitable improvements for America's children and families.
Financial Assessment
The bill titled "Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act" includes several financial allocations and amendments within its various sections. Here's an analysis of these financial aspects, highlighting potential issues:
Reauthorization of Child Welfare Programs
The bill authorizes significant financial allocations by amending the current funding for several child welfare programs:
- Reauthorization of subpart 2 specifies funding of $420 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. The change extends funding from an earlier period of 2017 through 2023 to 2025 through 2029.
The shift in funding period represents a continuation of financial support at high levels without detailed justification, raising concerns about transparency and potential financial inefficiency. There is no accompanying information on what these significant funds are specifically intended to accomplish, nor any metrics for assessing their effectiveness.
Enhancements to the Court Improvement Program
The bill proposes an increase in reservations for the court improvement program:
- $40 million is allocated for the fiscal year 2026 and for each succeeding fiscal year.
While additional funding for court improvements might seem beneficial, the lack of clear metrics or criteria for success raises concerns. The vague reference to "best practices" and the establishment of "backup systems" may lead to the misallocation of these funds or increased administrative burden without impactful outcomes.
Expanding Regional Partnership Grants
The financial adjustments also extend to regional partnership grants:
- A reservation of $30 million for fiscal year 2026 and each subsequent year signals increased financial commitment.
However, the rationale behind this increment, especially the alleviation of the planning phase requirement, remains ill-defined. This could foster unchecked spending increases and inconsistent application of the funds between various partnerships.
Streamlining Funding for Indian Tribes
The section dedicated to Indian tribes introduces numerous complex changes:
- The bill stipulates modifications to reporting requirements and allows the tribal authority to negotiate indirect cost rates. Funding also includes a $2 million increase for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029 for tribal court improvement programs.
Despite these financial provisions, complex legal language and technical amendments may hinder proper implementation, with possible discrepancies in execution and monitoring outcomes.
Demonstration Projects for Incarcerated Parents and Foster Children
An authorization of up to $35 million annually for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2029 is granted to support meaningful relationships between foster children and their incarcerated parents. This substantial allocation is outlined without explicit criteria for distribution or evaluation, inviting concerns about financial oversight and the potential inclusion of less qualified entities.
Strengthening Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
The bill introduces caseworker visits and virtual visit frameworks, but fails to specify allocation amounts specifically for these new initiatives. This raises questions about equitable implementation and funding across various states, possibly leading to disparities in support for vulnerable youth.
Recognizing the Importance of Relative and Kinship Caregivers
While aiming to strengthen support for kinship caregivers, the financial references here remain ambiguous, particularly concerning oversight and financial guidance for involved community-based organizations. This ambiguity may contribute to misuse or inefficient allocation of the funds aimed at this cause.
In summary, while the bill proposes substantial financial allocations toward the improvement of child welfare programs, several sections feature vague justifications, criteria, and oversight measures for these funds. These issues underscore the need for clearer definitions and tighter control mechanisms to ensure the effective and efficient use of taxpayer money.
Issues
The reauthorization of child welfare program funding from '2017 through 2023' to '2025 through 2029' lacks transparency regarding the necessity and effectiveness of spending, potentially leading to wasteful expenditure. This is especially significant given the large funding amount of $420,000,000 annually without detailed justification. (Section 4)
The section addressing 'Enhancements to the court improvement program' involves increased funding reservations and extended state match requirements without clear justification or metrics for success, which might lead to financial strain on states and wasteful expenditure. The vague language around 'best practices' and 'backup systems' increases ambiguity. (Section 5)
The section on 'Expanding regional partnership grants' proposes increased funding without sufficient explanation or criteria, especially concerning the planning phase waiver and the definition of 'rigorous evaluation.' This could result in unchecked funding increases and inconsistent application of the funds. (Section 6)
The section titled 'Modernization; reducing administrative burden' includes vague language, particularly concerning the respect for the sovereignty of Indian tribes and the updating of State plan requirements. This vagueness could lead to varying interpretations and inconsistent compliance among states and tribes. (Section 7)
The 'Streamlining funding for Indian tribes' section introduces complex reporting requirements and technical amendments that may be difficult for stakeholders to interpret without legal expertise. The effectiveness and impact of funds reserved for Indian tribes lack detailed monitoring and reporting measures. (Section 8)
The addition of 'Demonstration projects for improving relationships between incarcerated parents and children in foster care' authorizes $35 million annually without explicit distribution or evaluation criteria. The requirements for partnerships may be too broad, potentially involving less qualified entities. (Section 14)
The section on 'Strengthening support for youth aging out of foster care' introduces virtual visits, but the lack of specific frequency and funding sources raises concerns about the equitable and effective implementation across states. (Section 10)
The 'Recognizing the importance of relative and kinship caregivers' section has ambiguous language concerning financial guidance and quality control for community-based organizations, which might lead to misuse or ineffective allocation of funds. (Section 11)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill specifies that it can be referred to as the “Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act.”
2. References Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, any mention of changing or eliminating a section is specifically referring to parts of the Social Security Act, unless it is explicitly stated otherwise.
3. Table of contents Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The document outlines the organization of a legislative act, listing various sections that include updates and improvements to child welfare programs, court systems, support for families, caretakers, and caseworkers, as well as guidance for data collection and funding strategies related to tribal communities and foster care services.
4. Reauthorization of child welfare programs Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section extends funding for child welfare programs by amending existing laws to renew financial support from 2025 to 2029, and also sets a $10,000,000 limit on certain funding allocations.
Money References
- (b) Reauthorization of subpart 2; enhanced support.—Section 436(a) (42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) is amended by striking “each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2025 and $420,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029”.
- (d) Funding limitation.—Section 423(a)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 623(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting “, not to exceed $10,000,000” before the semicolon.
5. Enhancements to the court improvement program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section discusses changes to the court improvement program, including increasing funds, extending the state's funding match requirement, and enhancing the use of technology for remote hearings. It emphasizes ensuring court continuity during emergencies, requiring the Secretary to provide guidance every five years on best practices for remote court proceedings and consulting with Indian tribes on guidelines involving Indian children.
Money References
- (a) Increase in reservation of funds.—Section 436(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(2)) is amended by inserting “for fiscal year 2025 and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year” before “for grants”.
6. Expanding regional partnership grants to address parental substance use disorder as cause of child removal Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed changes aim to enhance the effectiveness of regional partnerships addressing parental substance use disorders by increasing funding, expanding the scope of evidence-based services, improving the evaluation of program results, utilizing funds in collaboration with other federal programs, and adjusting partner requirements to include juvenile courts and optional state or local agencies.
Money References
- (a) Increase in reservation of funds.—Section 436(b)(5) (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(5)) is amended by striking “each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2025 and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year”.
- (b) Reauthorization.—Section 437(f) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)(A)— (A) by striking “In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, the” and inserting “The”; and (B) by striking “2017 through 2023” and inserting “2025 through 2029”; and (2) in paragraph (10), by striking “for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023”. (c) Authority To waive planning phase.—Section 437(f)(3)(B)(iii) (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)(3)(B)(iii)) is amended— (1) by striking all that precedes “grant awarded” and inserting the following: “(iii) SUFFICIENT PLANNING.— “(I) IN GENERAL.—A”; and (2) by striking “may not exceed $250,000, and”; and (3) by adding after and below the end the following: “(II) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary, on a case-by-case basis, may waive the planning phase for a partnership that demonstrates that the partnership has engaged in sufficient planning before submitting an application for a grant under this subsection.”. (d) Expanding availability of evidence-Based services.
7. Modernization; reducing administrative burden Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines various amendments aimed at modernizing and reducing administrative burdens in family services, including introducing digital portals for aiding families, supporting family resource centers, improving access to legal representation, enhancing mental health services for children in foster care, and simplifying paperwork for fund recipients. It also emphasizes respecting tribal sovereignty, increasing public transparency of State plans, and involving community partners in preventing unnecessary child welfare involvement.
441. Reduction of administrative burden Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates the Secretary to lessen the administrative load on fund recipients by streamlining data collection, reducing compliance hours by at least 15%, aligning requirements with other grant programs, and respecting Indian tribes' sovereignty. However, it specifies that these changes should not interfere with necessary legal reporting and compliance monitoring.
442. Public access to State plans Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is tasked with creating a standard format for State plans to ensure they comply with certain sections, analyzing trends in these plans to help with future policy, making the plans available online for the public, and posting national summaries when suitable.
8. Streamlining funding for Indian tribes Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed changes aim to improve funding and support for Indian tribes in child welfare services by reserving a portion of federal funds, enhancing compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, allowing flexibility in reporting and administrative costs for tribes, and increasing funding for tribal court improvements. These adjustments include direct payments to tribes, amendments to state plans, and a future technical assistance plan to help with the Act's implementation.
Money References
- (3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 428 (42 U.S.C. 628) is amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d) and inserting before such subsection the following: “(b) Authority To streamline reporting requirements.—The Secretary shall, in consultation with the affected Indian tribes, modify any reporting requirement imposed by or under this part on an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium if the total of the amounts allotted to the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium under this part for the fiscal year is not more than $50,000, and in a manner that limits the administrative burden on any tribe to which not more than $50,000 is allotted under this subpart for the fiscal year. “(c) Tribal authority To substitute the Federal negotiated indirect cost rate for administrative costs cap.—For purposes of sections 422(b)(14) and 424(e), an Indian tribal organization may elect to have the weighted average of the indirect cost rates in effect under part 220 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations with respect to the administrative costs of the Indian tribal organization apply in lieu of the percentage specified in each such section.”
- (3) INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR TRIBAL COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.—Section 438(c)(3) (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(3)) is amended by inserting “for fiscal year 2025, and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029,” before “for grants”.
429B. Effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a plan, to be developed by the Secretary by October 2025, for effectively implementing the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, in collaboration with tribal organizations and states. It focuses on key issues like identifying Indian children, tribal notification of custody cases, and ensuring compliance with placement preferences and court requirements for Indian children, while also requiring biennial reports to Congress on state compliance and federal support efforts.
9. Accelerating access to Family First prevention services Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section allows the Secretary to give competitive grants to support the evaluation of family prevention services and programs. It sets priorities for applications, mandates annual reports from grant recipients, and specifies that $5 million will be reserved each year from 2026 to 2029 for this purpose.
Money References
- (b) Funding.—Section 437(b) (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(5) PREVENTIVE SERVICES EVALUATION PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 for grants under section 435(f) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.”. ---
10. Strengthening support for youth aging out of foster care Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed changes aim to enhance support for youth transitioning out of foster care by allowing virtual caseworker visits for those aged 18 and over, with their consent. Additionally, states are required to develop child welfare plans in consultation with various stakeholders and must publicly share how the suggestions of involved children and youth are implemented.
11. Recognizing the importance of relative and kinship caregivers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section recognizes the importance of relatives and kinship caregivers by amending existing law to include "youth" and "kinship" terminology and expanding support services such as peer mentoring programs for families and children. Additionally, it makes provisions for "kinship navigators" by updating grant funding parameters and ensuring that there is adequate support and coordination among community-based organizations to help kinship families.
Money References
- — (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 427 (42 U.S.C. 627) is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking “Family connection grants” and inserting “Kinship navigators”; (B) in subsection (a)— (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “helping” and inserting “administering programs to help”; (ii) by striking “of—” and all that follows through “a kinship” and inserting “of a kinship”; (iii) in paragraph (1)(C)— (I) by striking “and” at the end of clause (iii); (II) by adding “and” at the end of clause (iv); and (III) by adding at the end the following: “(v) connections to individualized assistance, as needed;”; (iv) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4); (v) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (G) of paragraph (1) as paragraphs (1) through (7), respectively; (vi) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv) and clause (v) (as added by clause (iii)(III) of this subparagraph) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; (vii) by moving each provision so redesignated 2 ems to the left; and (viii) by striking “caregiving;” and inserting “caregiving.”; (C) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking “1 or more of”; (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (2) the following: “(3) a description of how the entity will directly fund, or provide data to the Secretary for, an evaluation which will publish and submit information to the clearinghouse described in section 476(d)(2) and which is designed to meet the requirements of section 471(e)(4)(C), or a description of how the funds will be used to help the State transition to a program for which the State will seek reimbursement under section 474(a)(7);”; (iii) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking “and” at the end; (iv) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and (v) by adding at the end the following: “(6) if the entity is a State, local or tribal child welfare agency— “(A) documentation of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families when applicable; or “(B) a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant community-based organizations.”; (D) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: “(d) Federal share.—An entity to which a grant is made under this section may use the grant to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of the activities to be carried out by the entity pursuant to this section.”; (E) in subsection (g)— (i) by striking all that precedes “2 percent” and inserting the following: “(g) Reservation of funds for technical assistance.—The Secretary may reserve”; and (ii) by striking “subsection (h)” the 2nd place it appears and inserting “section 437(b)(6)”; and (F) by striking subsection (h). (2) RESERVATION OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.—Section 437(b) (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)), as amended by section 9(b) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: “(6) KINSHIP NAVIGATORS.—The Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under section 427 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.”. (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 474(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 674(a)(7)) is amended by striking “427(a)(1)” and inserting “427(a)”. ---
12. Avoiding neglect by addressing poverty Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends existing laws to allow short-term benefits like housing, utilities, and food assistance to help families in crisis, ensuring children can stay with their families and prevent separation due to poverty. It also requires states to have policies and training in place to handle child welfare cases involving poverty-related neglect, aiming to keep families together.
13. Strengthening support for caseworkers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes to increase funding for caseworker visits starting in fiscal year 2025 and establishes new guidelines for grant allocations to improve foster care services. It emphasizes enhancing caseworker visits by reducing workloads, implementing technology solutions, and offering mental health and safety resources for caseworkers, while also removing penalties tied to visit standards.
Money References
- (a) Reauthorization of, and increase in funding for, caseworker visits.—Section 436(b)(4)(A) (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(4)(A)) is amended by striking “each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023” and inserting “fiscal year 2025 and $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year”.
- (b) Minimum grant amount.—Section 433(e) (42 U.S.C. 629c(e)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following: “(1) BASE ALLOTMENT.—From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall first allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) that has provided to the Secretary such documentation as may be necessary to verify that the jurisdiction has complied with section 436(b)(4)(B)(ii) during the fiscal year, a base allotment of $100,000, and shall then allot to each of those States an amount determined in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection, as applicable.
- , the Secretary shall allot to each jurisdiction specified in subsection (b) of this section to which a base allotment is made under such paragraph (1) an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423 (without regard to the initial allotment of $70,000 to each State).
14. Demonstration projects for improving relationships between incarcerated parents and children in foster care Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines a program that provides grants to State partnerships to help foster children maintain meaningful relationships with their incarcerated parents. The program supports regular communication and in-person visits, offers training for involved parties, and evaluates the program's effectiveness, with funding up to $35 million annually from 2026 to 2029.
Money References
- (h) Limitations on authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section.
439. State partnership planning and demonstration grants to support meaningful relationships between foster children and the incarcerated parents of the children Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section authorizes the government to provide grants to state partnerships to create programs that help maintain relationships between children in foster care and their incarcerated parents. These grants cover program development and activities like communication and visitation, training, and legal assistance, with a federal cost share of up to 75%, and include special provisions for Indian tribes.
Money References
- (2) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall use tribally relevant data in carrying out the evaluation under subsection (f)(2) with respect to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. (h) Limitations on authorization of appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section.
15. Guidance to States on improving data collection and reporting for youth in residential treatment programs Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, working with various departments and experts, must provide guidance to state agencies within two years on how to better collect and share data about young people in residential treatment programs. This includes advice on best practices for data collection related to the well-being and safety of these youth, especially regarding any incidents of maltreatment and oversight of programs receiving federal funding.
16. Streamlining research, training, and technical assistance funding Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines changes to a law related to research, training, and technical support funding. It specifies that $1 million should be used to help grantees with technical assistance and evaluations, particularly in connection with the Indian Child Welfare Act, and eliminates a specific portion of mandatory research funding, adjusting related sections for consistency.
Money References
- (a) Repurposing discretionary research set-Aside.—Section 435(c) (42 U.S.C. 629e(c)) is amended to read as follows: “(c) Evaluation, research, and technical assistance with respect to targeted program resources.—Of the amount reserved under section 437(b)(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than— “(1) $1,000,000 for technical assistance to grantees under section 437(f) and to support design of local site evaluations with the goal of publishing and submitting evaluation findings to the clearinghouse established under section 476(d), or to award grants to allow current or former grantees under section 437(f) to analyze, publish, and submit to the clearinghouse data collected during past grants; and “(2) $1,000,000 for technical assistance required under section 429B of this Act to support effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and to support development of associated State plan measures described pursuant to section 422(b)(9) of this Act.”.
17. Report on post adoption and subsidized guardianship services Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Within two years of this law's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must prepare a report for Congress about children who enter foster care after being adopted or placed in a legal guardianship. The report should include data on adoption disruptions, details about relevant services provided before and after adoption, and information on post-adoption services and funding available in each state.
18. Effective date Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments made by this Act will start on October 1, 2025, and affect certain Social Security payments, but if a state needs to pass new laws to comply, they have until the next legislative session to do so. Additionally, Indian tribal organizations that need extra time to meet these new requirements may be granted an extension by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.