This bill amends federal child welfare law to expand support services for children and young people at risk of entering the foster care system. It broadens the definition of who can provide care to include kinship caregivers—relatives or close family friends who take in children—and extends services to youth up to age 26, rather than just younger children. The legislation adds peer-to-peer mentoring and support programs to the list of allowable services, enabling young people and families to learn from others with direct experience in the child welfare system. The bill affects state child welfare agencies and organizations that receive federal funding under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, which provides grants for family preservation and support services. By strengthening support networks for at-risk families and promoting kinship care arrangements, the bill aims to help keep children and youth stable within their communities and avoid unnecessary entry into foster care.
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