The PEER Mentors Act of 2024 expands federal child welfare services by requiring states to include peer mentoring programs in their family preservation, family support, family reunification, and adoption services. Specifically, the bill allows states to use mentors with lived experience—such as current or former foster parents and caregivers who have successfully navigated family crises—to help families at risk, support current foster parents, facilitate reunification between children and birth parents, and support adoptive families. The legislation amends the Social Security Act and takes effect on the first day of the first fiscal year after enactment, though states requiring new legislation to comply can request a delay until after their next legislative session. The bill does not specify new federal funding amounts but directs that payments to states for these services continue under existing child welfare funding mechanisms.
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