WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) yesterday introduced the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, which would reauthorize and improve a key child services program that promotes family unity and the safety and wellbeing of children in foster care:

“Creating a safe, healthy, and supportive environment at home is the first step to helping Texas children thrive,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would make strategic and evidence-backed improvements to ensure a 360-degree support system is in place for children in foster care nationwide.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that every kid in America grows up in a loving and supporting home,” said Sen. Bennet. “That’s why we are proposing legislation to cut through bureaucracy and provide critical, flexible investment in child welfare policy. This will allow us to provide communities in Colorado and throughout the country with the flexibility they need to keep kids safe and families together.”

Background:

The Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act would reauthorize and improve Title IV-B of the Social Security Act by:

1. Expanding evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect;
2. Increasing access to training for caseworkers and improving recruitment and retention efforts to address caseworker shortage and bolster the workforce;
3. Reducing administrative burden;
4. Providing grant funding for the Court Improvement Program to support child legal proceedings;
5. Streamlining access to funding, including for Indian tribes;
6. And strengthening support systems for relatives and family transitions, including children entering into kinship diversion, exiting foster care, or transitioning to an adopted family.

Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Danny Davis (IL-07) introduced companion legislation in the House. The cost of this legislation is fully offset by the savings from the Strengthening State and Tribal Child Enforcement Act.  

The legislation is supported by the Abrazo Adoption Associates, Families and Foster Care Coalition, Heart of Texas, Heart of Texas Goodwill, South Texas Alamo Chapter – National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Texas Network of Youth Services, Texas Pediatric Society, TexProtects, along with more than 200 national and state mental health and childcare organizations.