Bill > HR5507

This bill requires states to measure and publicly report on "hidden foster care" arrangements, which are situations where children are separated from their parents without formal court involvement or state foster care system placement. The bill defines hidden foster care as any child separation that occurs without a court order, including scenarios where a child protective services (CPS) agency suggests or implies a child should live with someone else during an investigation. States would be required to submit annual data to the Department of Health and Human Services detailing the number of such arrangements, including specifics like the reasons for separation, length of arrangement, how the arrangement ended, services provided to families, and whether the child was ultimately reunified with parents or entered the formal foster care system. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would then compile these state reports into an annual report to Congress, ensuring the data is collected consistently across states and provides a comprehensive national picture of hidden foster care practices. The bill aims to increase transparency and understanding of child separation practices that currently occur outside of formal foster care oversight, potentially helping to identify potential systemic issues or unintended consequences of current child welfare investigations and interventions.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5507/all-info