Foster Youth MIECHV Coordination (SSA §477 Amendment)

Current understanding

S5096 (introduced) would amend section 477 of the Social Security Act — the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood — to strengthen coordination between state Chafee programs and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program for expectant and parenting youth who have experienced foster care. The bill aims to link independent-living supports for current and former foster youth with evidence-based home visiting services during pregnancy and early parenting. Status: introduced in the Senate.

Evidence log

• 2026-07-23 — A bill to amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to improve supports for expectant and parenting youth who have experienced foster care by strengthening coordination with the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and for other purposes.: cross-connection with child-welfare-services-reauthorization: Both touch federal child welfare/foster care authorities; the S5096 amendment sits within the SSA Title IV-E Chafee framework that the broader child welfare reauthorization also addresses. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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