This bill requires states to involve youth and families with personal experience in the child welfare system when developing their child welfare programs. Specifically, states must consult with youth, children, and young adults who have been in foster care or the child welfare system, along with parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship caregivers when planning their programs. States must also publish a public report explaining how they incorporated feedback and suggestions from these youth and family members. The legislation applies to all states receiving federal child welfare funding under the Social Security Act and takes effect on October 1, 2026, giving states time to implement these consultation requirements.
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