S. 4634

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4634 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4634

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to update the purposes 
of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to 
Adulthood to reflect research and the input of youth with lived 
experience regarding the importance of long-term relationships to 
future success.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 21, 2026

Mr. Husted introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to update the purposes 
of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to 
Adulthood to reflect research and the input of youth with lived 
experience regarding the importance of long-term relationships to 
future success.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Chafee Opportunities for New 
Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act'' or the ``CONNECT Act''.

SEC. 2. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM 
FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.

(a) Updating of Purposes.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (3) through (7) as 
paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after ``conducted--'' the following:
``(1) to help children who have experienced foster care at 
age 14 or older to develop and maintain sustained, supportive 
relationships with adults (including kin or fictive kin who are 
not serving as placement), mentors, and peers (including peers 
who have experienced foster care), with a goal of providing 
multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and ensuring that 
the youth develop lifelong connections and support networks; 
and
``(2) to support youth still in foster care who have 
experienced foster care at age 14 or older in exercising the 
rights referred to in section 475A to participate in developing 
their permanency plan and receive written information about 
available services and steps the agency is taking to support 
the plan, as well as to facilitate pre- and post-permanency 
peer support, mentoring, connections with kin, and referrals to 
additional appropriate programs and services to help youth 
achieve their permanency goals;''.
(b) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and after consulting with youth with lived 
experience in foster care, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall issue guidance to States and Tribal child welfare agencies 
regarding the purposes set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
477(a) of the Social Security Act, that includes, at a minimum--
(1) examples of services and support eligible for Federal 
funding under part B of title IV of such Act, under part E of 
such title as part of completing and following the case plan 
requirements provided for in section 475A of such Act, or under 
section 477 of such Act, including individual youth support, 
family support, and peer support to engage youth during 
reunification, guardianship, or adoption proceedings;
(2) best practices for facilitating peer support, 
mentoring, and the development and maintenance of lifelong 
connections, including practices that support sibling, tribal, 
and community connections, including minimum qualifications and 
training for persons providing mentoring and peer support;
(3) standards of outreach to and notification of eligible 
youth, including youth with a planned permanent living 
arrangement, to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and 
services; and
(4) protocols for documentation of support and 
relationship-building activities under section 477 of such Act 
that are required by section 475A of such Act to be included in 
a child's case plan, sufficient to permit review under the case 
review system defined in section 475(5) of such Act.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
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