Sponsors (4)
Establishes a 3‑grant demonstration (up to $1M each) for foster care stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief and pre‑placement services.
Official title: To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization agencies, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 9, 2026 by Donald J. Bacon · Last progress February 9, 2026
This bill creates targeted, short‑term relief and capacity-building grants for foster youth and underserved communities but is small, conditional on surplus funding, and includes governance flexibilities that may limit consistent, broad impact.
Local child-welfare agencies and nonprofits can hire staff and expand service capacity using grant funds, potentially improving delivery of foster-care supports.
Foster youth under age 26 receive emergency relief and improved pre-placement support, increasing immediate safety and stability for those served.
Grants can cover basic needs (clothing up to $250/year, food, food-prep equipment), reducing out-of-pocket costs for families, caregivers, and agencies that serve foster youth.
The program relies on year-over-year excess funds (amounts over $5M), so it may not be funded consistently or at all, creating high uncertainty for beneficiaries and service providers.
Very limited program scale — only three grants (up to $1M each) and a $45,000 administrative set‑aside — means many eligible communities and youth will not receive aid and reduces dollars available for direct services.
The Secretary may approve broad 'other' uses of funds, creating a risk that money could be diverted to activities that deviate from direct youth assistance.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a short demonstration program that awards up to three one‑time grants (up to $1,000,000 each) to qualifying foster care stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief and improve pre‑placement services for young people in foster care. Grants must be spent within three years, have specified permitted uses (staffing, clothing, food, prevention/response services, other emergency assistance), include reporting requirements to Congress, and prioritize outreach to rural areas, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Funding is available only from year‑over‑year increases in certain Social Security Act child welfare funds above a $5,000,000 threshold.