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Legislation to Watch

First Lady Melania Trump Launches Fostering the Future Accounts
America’s First Savings & Investment Vehicle for Foster Youth

First Lady Melania Trump launched her Fostering the Future Accounts, a new financial resource established to empower foster youth to be fiscally autonomous upon reaching the age of majority.

Fostering the Future Accounts give foster children the same chance for asset ownership and long-term wealth building as every other American child. By investing in our foster youth now, we help strengthen America’s workforce, communities, and economic future,

the First Lady explained.

This historic measure is a first for the United States and is designed by the First Lady in tandem with the U.S. Department of Treasury. Already, twenty-three Governors have pledged to set up Fostering the Future Accounts for children within their states’ care.

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ACF Jointly Issues Guidance to Help States Establish Fostering the Future Accounts for Youth in Foster Care

Washington, D.C.—Through the leadership of First Lady Melania Trump and her Fostering the Future initiative, children and youth in foster care now have a pathway to benefit from Trump Accounts, also referred to as Fostering the Future Accounts. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alongside the U.S. Department of the Treasury, today released new guidance to support states, territories, and tribes in establishing these accounts for eligible youth in foster care. This action advances First Lady Melania Trump’s mission to provide opportunities and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in the foster care system by giving states the tools necessary to support the financial independence of youth in care.

The three guidance documents released provide child welfare jurisdictions with a comprehensive framework for implementing Fostering the Future Accounts. The guidance covers eligibility requirements, operational procedures for account set up and management, and protocols for ensuring account continuity when custody arrangements change.

The guidance documents include:

ACF Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) on Fostering the Future Accounts for Youth in Foster Care: Applauds First Lady Melania Trump’s leadership establishing Fostering the Future Accounts, reiterates the Trump administration’s goal for all states to open these accounts for eligible foster youth by December 2027, and announces upcoming national office hours with ACF and the Treasury Department to convene child welfare jurisdiction leaders to discuss implementation considerations and answer outstanding questions.

Joint ACF and Treasury Department Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Fostering the Future Powered by Trump Accounts: Provides practical guidance on how to establish these accounts, how to treat survivor benefits deposits, how to claim allowable Title IV-E administrative costs related to account administration, and more.

ACF DCL on Leveraging Temporary Assistant for Needy Families (TANF) to Support Trump Accounts: Clarifies that states may deposit unobligated TANF funds into a Fostering the Future Account for children, including eligible foster youth.

S.162 Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025

Before this bill passed to the Senate, it was known as HR 3058:

The Senate’s passage of S.162, the Recruiting Families Using Data Act, on June 15th marks an important step toward strengthening the nation’s child welfare system by recognizing that recruiting and retaining foster and adoptive families requires more than good intentions. It requires listening for the needs of foster families, accountability to provide those needs, and the use of data-driven solutions.

The National Foster Parent Association is proud to have advocated for this bill that has been actively supported by Senator Chuck Grassley, R-IA, a longtime advocate for children and families. By requiring states to better understand the experiences and challenges of foster and adoptive parents, this legislation has the potential to improve support systems, increase placement stability, and ensure more children find permanent, loving homes. For adoptive parents, it represents validation that their insights matter and their role is essential to shaping a stronger future for vulnerable children.

READ MORE about this historic bill.

What does S162 do?

It’s all about recruiting and retaining foster families. 

The legislation is designed to help states recruit, retain, and better support foster and adoptive families through improved use of data, and planning. 

Each state would be required to create a Family Partnership Plan focused on recruiting and retention; these plans would utilize data that’s collected about the makeup of foster and adoptive families, in order to better identify the gaps in services so that those gaps can be addressed and improved.

There would be increased reporting requirements for the states back to Congress so that these needs can be continuously evaluated.

Why did the NFPA Champion S.162?

The bill addresses one of the biggest challenges in child welfare: there are not enough foster families available for the children who need them. 

S.162 focuses on understanding why families do not choose to foster, why licensed families leave the fostering system, what supports can keep actively fostering families engaged and on-board, and how states can recruit more effectively.

What will the anticipated impact be?

If fully implemented, S.162 aims to:

  • Improve the support systems that are available to foster families, so that fosters don’t leave the system due to inadequate resources.

  • Reduce disruptions for kids during placement.

  • Increase the number of foster homes that are available  – through better recruitment, and support once a family is actively fostering.

  • Help children to be placed in homes instead of in care facilities.

  • Give policymakers access to better, quality information about what foster care reforms are needed.

We’ll keep you informed as the next steps develop.

READ MORE about this bill.

U

A NEW BILL TO WATCH: Informed Foster Youth Act of 2026

This bill would ensure that youth leaving foster care have the vital documents and available services needed for a successful transition into adulthood.

Submitted by Chuck Grassley, (R- Iowa) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.).

For details, click HERE.

H.R. 7432, ‘Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act’, has passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous vote!

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Bill One-Pager

Congressional Summary

Organizations to Follow

Organization

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What They Do

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 2001 to eliminate the barriers that prevent children from being part of a safe, nurturing, and permanent family. CCAI has served as a trusted, principal source of the information, expertise, and resources needed by members of Congress’ Adoption Caucus, Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), on permanency issues both in the United States and around the world.

To improve education outcomes and holistic well-being of children and youth in foster care across the country, several national organizations, state-based organizations, legal services, independent consultants, foundations, lived experts, researchers, and others who work on behalf of, and in solidarity with, youth and families impacted by the foster care system, have joined together as the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education.

The Administration for Children & Families (ACF) promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, youth, individuals and communities through funding, strategic partnerships, guidance, training and technical assistance.

The Child Welfare League of America is a powerful coalition of hundreds of private and public agencies that has supported children and families since 1920. Our expertise, leadership, and innovation on policies and best practices help improve the lives of millions of children across the country.

CWLA and our partners advance equity through policies and practices that ensure the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities.

The National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services aims to improve mental health outcomes for children and families impacted by child welfare by providing technical assistance that bridges the gap between child welfare and mental health systems.

Serving the Nation’s State Legislators and Staff Since 1975

The National Conference of State Legislatures, created by state legislators and legislative staff in 1975, serves America’s 50 states, commonwealths, territories and the District of Columbia. Every state legislator and staffer is a member of the organization and has complete access to the latest in bipartisan policy research, training resources and technical assistance tailored specifically to their needs. And, NCSL offers members a variety of opportunities to connect and collaborate, notably at its signature event, the NCSL Legislative Summit. 

Find your state liaison.

Advocacy News Items

How Addressing Education Needs Can Link to Improved Permanency Outcomes: What Data and Practice Tell Us

Background: Research shows that students in foster care often experience numnerous educational barriers that impact their educational stability and success, including changing schools upon entry and during their time in care, high rates of absenteeism and school engagement challenges, high rates of exclusionary school discipline, lower rates of academic attainment in reading and math, and lower likelihood of high school completion and postsecondary attainment.

Improving school stability, educational experiences, and academic outcomes for children and youth in foster care can have an impact on a student’s educational success, and, ultimately, life success. It may also support timely and successful permanency by strengthening factors associated with child and family stability.

READ THE FULL BRIEF >>

NFPA Advocacy Position Statement and Advocacy Priorities

We are pleased to announce and provide, for your use, NFPA's new Advocacy Priorities and Position Statement to be used to guide us through this year. NFPA will continue to update these statements on a regular basis.

Arnold Eby

Executive Director, NFPA

Click the images below to review the complete document or download.

Download: Advocacy Position Statement PDF
Download: Advocacy Priorities PDF

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