House · HR 7995 · 119th Congress
CONNECT Act
Summary
This bill updates the Chafee Foster Care Program to help teens in foster care build lasting relationships with adults, mentors, and peers. It also directs the government to give states guidance on best practices for support services. Youth who entered foster care at age 14 or older are the main group affected.
In Favor
Many foster youth age out of the system with no reliable adults in their lives. This bill pushes states to help teens build real, lasting connections before and after leaving care. Research shows that strong support networks help young people avoid poverty, homelessness, and other serious problems.
Against
This bill adds new goals to an existing program without providing extra funding to meet them. States must update services and documentation practices, which takes staff time and money. Smaller or underfunded agencies may struggle to meet the new standards while still handling their current caseloads.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill updates the goals of a federal foster care program to help youth build lasting relationships with adults, mentors, and peers. It targets the problem of young people leaving foster care without strong support networks.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The provisions stay tied to the core purpose of expanding relationship-building and support services for youth in foster care. The bill also requires the federal agency to issue guidance within one year.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Youth who entered foster care at age 14 or older benefit from expanded services. States, tribal child welfare agencies, and the Department of Health and Human Services take on new duties to follow updated program goals and issue guidance.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not state a specific dollar amount or include a cost estimate. It expands the allowed uses of existing federal funding under current foster care assistance programs, which may increase how states draw on those funds.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires federal guidance to be issued within one year, and delays in that process could slow state action. States must also update their programs within one year of the law passing, which may be difficult for some agencies to meet.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 8/23/2026