Families raising children with relatives would get more support and resources from federal programs.
This bill aims to help the more than 2.4 million children being raised by relatives or close family friends outside the foster care system. It would update federal child abuse prevention laws to better support these "grandfamilies" and other kinship caregivers. This means more resources, training, and a focus on keeping children with family when parents cannot care for them.
Today, federal child abuse prevention laws do not specifically focus on the unique needs of the over 2.4 million children being raised by relatives outside the foster care system. This bill would change that by requiring state child welfare programs to prioritize placing children with relatives and offer specific training and support for these caregivers. It would also ensure that kinship families have a voice in federal advisory boards and program planning.
HR 9878 · 119th Congress · July 22, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
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