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S 4634

CONNECT Act

119th Congress Introduced by Jon Husted

The bill prioritizes fostering sustained, meaningful relationships for foster youth 14+, expanding permanency planning participation and guidance to support lifelong connections.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4634

Overview

  • Bill: S. 4634 (CONNECT Act)
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Introduced: May 21, 2026 by Sen. Husted (Co-sponsor: Jon Husted)
  • Purpose: Amend section 477 of the Social Security Act to update the purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, incorporating research and youth with lived experience on the importance of long-term relationships for future success.

Purpose and intent

  • Align the Chafee Foster Care Program with contemporary evidence and input from youth who have experienced foster care.
  • Emphasize the creation and maintenance of sustained, supportive relationships for youth aged 14 and older as a core outcome.
  • Expand support for youth in care to actively participate in permanency planning and to receive information about services and steps agencies are taking to support their plans.
  • Promote long-term connections (with adults, mentors, peers, kin, and fictive kin) as a pathway to reduce isolation and improve long-term outcomes.

Key provisions

Section 477(a) amendments

  • Replaces and reorganizes existing purposes:
    • New Paragraph (1): Establishes the goal of helping foster youth aged 14+ develop and maintain sustained, supportive relationships with adults (including kin or fictive kin not serving as placement), mentors, and peers (including peers with foster care experience). Objective: create multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and build lifelong connections and support networks.
    • New Paragraph (2): Expands support for youth in foster care (aged 14+) to exercise rights under section 475A related to permanency planning. Requires youth to receive written information about services and agency steps supporting the plan. Includes facilitation of pre- and post-permanency peer support, mentoring, kin connections, and referrals to additional programs and services to help achieve permanency goals.
  • Other existing purposes in section 477(a) are struck or redesignated to reflect the updated framework (the bill reorganizes the numbering accordingly).

Section 477(a) guidance (new subsection)

  • Within one year after enactment, HHS Secretary must issue guidance to States and Tribal child welfare agencies, in consultation with youth with lived experience, covering:
    • (1) Examples of services and support eligible for federal funding under:
    • Part B of title IV-B (child welfare services)
    • Part E (foster care program)
    • Section 477 provisions
    • As part of completing and following the case plan requirements under section 475A
    • (2) Best practices for peer support, mentoring, and developing/maintaining lifelong connections, including practices that support sibling, tribal, and community connections; sets minimum qualifications and training for providers of mentoring and peer support
    • (3) Standards for outreach to and notification of eligible youth (including those with planned permanent living arrangements) to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and services
    • (4) Protocols for documenting support and relationship-building activities under section 477 required by section 475A, sufficient for review under the case review system (as defined in section 475(5))

Effective date

  • The amendments take effect on the date that is one year after enactment.

Who and what is affected

  • Eligible youth in foster care aged 14 and older (and those still in care) who are participants or prospective participants in the Chafee Foster Care Program.
  • State and Tribal child welfare agencies administering Chafee funds and related services.
  • Caregivers, mentors, kin, fictive kin, and peer networks involved in foster youth support and permanency planning.
  • Federal funding streams under Title IV-B Part B, Part E, and the Chafee program (section 477) that support services, case planning, and permanency-related activities.

Potential impact

  • Enhanced emphasis on building long-term, varied relationships for foster youth as a central strategy for successful aging out of care.
  • Greater youth involvement in permanency planning and access to information about services and agency steps.
  • Standardized guidance and best practices for mentoring, peer support, and kin/community connections across states and tribes.
  • Improved documentation and accountability for relationship-building activities within case plans, aiding review and oversight.

Note

  • The bill is in initial stages (referred to the Senate Finance Committee). If enacted, the guidance required within one year would shape implementation across jurisdictions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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