Biden-Harris Administration Initiatives to Enhance Child Welfare and Family Support

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to enhancing child welfare and supporting families to ensure that children grow up in safe and nurturing environments. Addressing the challenges faced by over four million families referred to child protective services annually and the approximately 200,000 children entering foster care each year, the administration aims to improve child and family well-being through a series of new policies and initiatives.

Key Policy Announcements

1. Separating Poverty from Neglect Recognizing that financial hardship should not lead to family separation, the administration is urging states to distinguish between child maltreatment and economic hardship. New policy guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encourages states to revise their definitions of neglect to exclude issues related to insufficient financial means, focusing instead on providing families with necessary support. Additionally, new training guidelines for mandated reporters will emphasize connecting economically vulnerable families with support services rather than initiating removal procedures.

2. Expansion of Prevention Services The administration is expanding the use of federal funding for preventive services aimed at assisting families before crises occur. New policies will offer increased flexibility for Tribal governments in utilizing prevention services and permit federal funds to cover costs related to family engagement in prevention programs, such as case management and transportation. Future guidance will explore integrating Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to further prevent child welfare system involvement.

3. Support for Kinship Care and Youth Needs To improve outcomes for children placed with relatives, new measures will incentivize states and Tribes to promote kinship care. Federal funds will now be available for background checks to expedite kinship foster care licensing, and a new website will highlight effective kinship practices. Additional resources will support grandparents and kin caregivers, and HHS will conduct listening sessions to identify further flexibilities needed for adopting kinship-first approaches.

4. Innovations and Research The administration is advancing research to better understand and improve the intersections of prevention, family support, and child well-being. HHS will support projects that examine innovative approaches to prevent youth homelessness, link Medicaid and child welfare data for health insights, and study families who voluntarily place their children in care to enhance community-based services.

Previous Achievements

The Biden-Harris Administration has already made significant strides in child welfare:

• Title IV-E Prevention Program: This program, now in 42 states and four Tribes, provides open-ended funding for effective family preservation approaches.

• Tribal Sovereignty: Expanded funding and support for Tribal communities enhance family stability and integrate child welfare funding with workforce initiatives.

• Home Visiting Programs: Funding for these programs has doubled, increasing early support for families and children.

• Kinship Care: New rules simplify licensing for kin caregivers and ensure they receive the same financial assistance as other foster care providers.

• Support for Youth in Foster Care: Housing vouchers and demonstration grants are being used to prevent homelessness among transitioning youth.

• Disability Protections: New rules ensure that parents and children with disabilities are not discriminated against in child welfare services.

• Child Poverty Reduction: The expansion of the Child Tax Credit significantly reduced child poverty, particularly among minority groups.

• Affordable Child Care: Increased funding and improved subsidy programs help lower child care costs for low-income families.

• Housing Relief: Extensive rental assistance has been provided, including measures to cap rent increases and support renters during the pandemic.

Through these comprehensive efforts, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to strive toward a child welfare system that supports family integrity, prioritizes prevention, and fosters the well-being of all children and families.