Bills · S 162
PASSED SENATE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 162Adoption and foster careFamily services
Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 21· LAST ACTION JUN 15
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
4BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 4 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tries to tackle a critical shortage of foster and adoptive families in many states, which often leaves children in less ideal situations like group homes or without stable placements. By requiring states to use data and involve those with direct experience – like foster families and youth – in creating their recruitment strategies, the bill aims to make these efforts more effective and responsive to real needs.
If this bill becomes law, voters can expect states to develop more thoughtful and specific strategies for finding families, which could lead to more children finding permanent homes faster and more children being placed with relatives. It would also mean more transparency and accountability from states on their foster care systems, as they would be required to report detailed data to Congress on their family capacity, challenges, and successes. If it doesn't become law, states would continue their current approaches, potentially leading to ongoing struggles in recruiting and retaining families, and less comprehensive data available to assess and improve the system.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
States must develop and implement a 'family partnership plan' for identifying, recruiting, screening, licensing, supporting, and retaining foster and adoptive families.
This provision creates a comprehensive, structured approach for states to improve their foster and adoptive family systems.
PROVISION 02
These plans must detail how states will use data to set goals, measure progress, reduce congregate care, increase permanency, and improve placement stability and kinship placements.
It mandates a data-driven strategy to ensure recruitment and retention efforts are effective and targeted, leading to better outcomes for children.
PROVISION 03
The plans must be developed in consultation with birth, kinship, foster, and adoptive families, community providers, and youth with lived experience in foster care.
This ensures that the strategies are informed by the direct experiences and perspectives of those most affected by the foster care system.
PROVISION 04
States must annually collect and report on their foster family capacity, congregate care utilization, and feedback from families and youth on challenges and reasons for placement failures.
This provides critical information for states to understand their current needs and challenges, allowing for continuous improvement and problem-solving.
PROVISION 05
The annual federal Child Welfare Outcomes Report to Congress must include State-by-State data on foster and adoptive families, challenges faced, and efforts to recruit racially and ethnically diverse families.
This increases transparency and accountability at the national level, providing Congress and the public with a clearer picture of state-level performance and needs.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
R· Iowa
YRS IN OFFICE
51
BILLS LED
92
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 50%
DEM 3 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
11 EVENTSJUN 15
Received in the House.
JUN 15
Held at the desk.
JUN 12
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
JUN 11
Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 162
Congress119th
StatusPassed Senate
IntroducedJan 21, 2025
Last actionJun 15, 2026
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PASSED SENATE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 21, 2025
Senate BillS 162Adoption and foster careFamily services
Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 21, 2025· LAST ACTION JUN 15, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
