The CONNECT Act updates the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program to prioritize the development of lifelong supportive relationships and peer connections for youth transitioning out of foster care.
Gwen Moore
Representative
WI-4
The CONNECT Act updates the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program to prioritize the development of lifelong support networks and meaningful relationships for youth in foster care. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services provide states and tribes with guidance on best practices for mentorship, peer support, and the protection of youth rights. These measures aim to reduce isolation and ensure young people have the necessary connections to successfully transition to adulthood.
New CONNECT Act Mandates Mentorship and Support Networks for Foster Youth Aged 14 and Older.
The CONNECT Act is a targeted update to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program designed to ensure that teenagers in the foster care system don't age out without a solid support system. Starting one year after it becomes law, the bill shifts the program's focus toward building 'lasting, supportive relationships.' This means the system will move beyond just providing a roof and a bed, specifically requiring states to help kids who entered foster care at age 14 or older connect with mentors, peers, and biological family members. For a 16-year-old navigating high school while in the system, this could mean the difference between being a 'case number' and having a consistent adult mentor to call when they need advice on a job interview or a place to spend the holidays.
Building a Lifelong Team
Under the new rules, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide states and tribes with a playbook on how to actually foster these connections. This isn't just a suggestion; the bill requires specific guidance on services like peer support and individual mentoring during the critical phases of reunification or adoption. It also mandates that youth are informed of their rights to participate in their own 'permanency plan'—the roadmap for where they will live long-term. For the social workers and agency staff on the ground, this means new protocols for documenting these relationship-building activities, ensuring that a child’s social health is tracked with the same rigor as their physical health or school attendance.
Accountability and Real-World Input
One of the most practical shifts in this bill is the requirement for HHS to consult with people who have actually lived through the foster care system before issuing new guidance. By bringing 'lived experience' to the table, the bill aims to create standards for mentor training and outreach that actually resonate with teens. It also sets up a system to ensure that youth who are in 'planned permanent living arrangements'—often a fancy term for long-term foster care—don't fall through the cracks. They must be proactively referred to programs that help them build a community, acknowledging that even if a traditional adoption doesn't happen, no young adult should have to navigate the world entirely alone.