The Advocates for Families Act of 2025 requires states to allow parents, foster parents, and legal guardians involved in child welfare cases to hire family advocates to represent their interests throughout the process, without requiring the state to pay for these services. States must establish professional standards for family advocates, inform families about their right to representation and available local resources from the start of any child welfare interaction, and report to the federal government on how this right affects their services. The bill does not create a federal funding mechanism, instead allowing families to seek private advocacy representation while states remain responsible for implementing the policy framework. Within two years of the law's enactment, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must report to Congress on states' experiences with family advocate representation and any recommendations for improvement. This legislation primarily affects families involved in child welfare cases, child welfare agencies in all states, and family advocacy organizations that may provide representation services.
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