CONNECT Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
- Committees
- Finance Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 21, 2026
Bottom line
The CONNECT Act aims to strengthen the Chafee Foster Care Program by prioritizing the development of lifelong supportive relationships and peer networks for youth transitioning out of foster care.
What it actually does
This bill, the "CONNECT Act," amends the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood by updating its core purposes. It explicitly directs the program to focus on helping youth aged 14 and older who have experienced foster care to develop and maintain sustained, supportive relationships with adults, mentors, and peers, including kin and fictive kin. It also requires support for youth still in foster care to exercise their rights in permanency planning and facilitates pre- and post-permanency peer support and connections.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that current research and the lived experiences of foster youth highlight the critical importance of stable, long-term relationships for successful transitions to adulthood. They contend that explicitly embedding these relationship-building goals into the Chafee program's statutory purposes will ensure that federal funding and state efforts are directed towards addressing a fundamental need that significantly impacts youth well-being and reduces isolation.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that while the intent is good, adding more specific mandates to the Chafee program without additional funding could strain existing resources, potentially diverting funds from other vital services like housing, education, or employment support. Some might also express concern about the administrative burden of implementing new guidance and documentation protocols, especially for smaller or under-resourced state and tribal agencies.
The bill is very short and straightforward, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core changes.
Section 2(a)
Redefining Purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program
This section revises the statutory goals of the Chafee Foster Care Program. It removes an existing purpose and inserts two new ones. The first new purpose focuses on helping youth aged 14 and older who have been in foster care to build and maintain lasting relationships with supportive adults (including relatives and chosen family), mentors, and peers, aiming to combat isolation and establish lifelong support networks. The second new purpose supports youth still in foster care (14+) in actively participating in their permanency planning and connecting them with peer support, mentors, and family to achieve their permanency goals.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this amendment directly addresses a critical gap in current foster care services by mandating a focus on relational permanency, which is often overlooked in favor of legal permanency. They believe that strong, lasting connections are foundational for successful transitions to adulthood, preventing homelessness, unemployment, and mental health challenges often faced by former foster youth.
Critics contend
Some might argue that while the goal is laudable, explicitly mandating relationship-building could be challenging to implement and measure effectively. They might also contend that agencies already have the flexibility to pursue these goals, and a statutory change might be overly prescriptive, potentially diverting resources from other essential services if not adequately funded.
Tradeoffs
The bill seeks to balance the need for clear programmatic direction with the flexibility required for diverse state and tribal child welfare systems. It also highlights the tension between focusing on immediate needs (housing, education) and long-term relational well-being for transitioning youth.
Section 2(b)
Secretary of HHS to Issue Implementation Guidance
This section requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance to state and tribal child welfare agencies within one year of the bill's enactment. This guidance, developed in consultation with youth who have lived experience in foster care, must provide examples of eligible services, best practices for facilitating peer support and lifelong connections (including sibling and tribal ties), standards for outreach to eligible youth, and protocols for documenting these support activities within a child's case plan.