H.R. 756House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:06 AM UTC

The Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2023 amends title IV of the Social Security Act to create a demonstration grant program for foster care stabilization agencies. The program provides up to three $1 million grants to help foster youth receive emergency relief and better pre‑placement services. It targets foster youth up to age 26 and the agencies that serve them, especially in rural and tribal communities.

Key Provisions

The Secretary may award three demonstration grants of up to $1 million each to foster care stabilization agencies for emergency relief and pre‑placement services.
Grantees have three years to spend the funds; any unspent money must be returned to the Secretary.
Agencies must submit applications describing how they will use the funds; the solicitation is posted publicly with special outreach to rural areas and Indian, tribal, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
Grant funds can be used for hiring staff, providing clothing (up to $250 per youth per year), purchasing food and equipment, supporting abuse‑prevention services, and other emergency assistance deemed appropriate.
The Secretary must reserve $45,000 of the grant amounts for administration, oversight, and technical assistance.
The Secretary must report to Congress on how the grants were used, outcomes for foster youth, clothing and necessities provided, and the number of home transfers for each youth.
Definitions are provided for “foster care stabilization agency,” “foster youth” (individuals in foster care under age 26), and “home transfer” (initial and subsequent placements).
If the annual funding for this subsection exceeds the previous year by more than $5 million, the additional amount must be used for the program.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

Work and Welfare Subcommittee

December 17, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 2, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

February 2, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

Work and Welfare Subcommittee

December 17, 2024

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 756 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Mar 21, 2023

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Biennial Report on Americans with Disabilities Act Public Services and Accommodations Inspections--116th Congress, from the Office of Congressional…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 2, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 756

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2023

Mr. Bacon (for himself, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, and Ms. Scanlon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization agencies, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2023.

Grants to improve pre-placement services for foster youth

Section 426 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 626) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Grants To improve pre-Placement services for foster youth

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary shall award 3 demonstration grants of not more than $1,000,000 to foster care stabilization agencies for the purpose of providing emergency relief to foster youth and improving pre-placement services for foster youth waiting for placement.

(2)

Duration

A foster care stabilization agency that receives a grant under this subsection shall have 3 years to spend funds awarded by the grant and return any unused grant funds to the Secretary.

(3)

Application

A foster care stabilization agency that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that shall include the following:

(A)

A description of how grant funds will be used to provide emergency relief to foster youth by the foster care stabilization agency.

(B)

A description of how grant funds will be used to improve pre-placement services offered by the foster care stabilization agency.

(4)

Application dissemination

The Secretary shall ensure that the solicitation of applications for a grant under this subsection is posted publically on the website of the Administration for Children and Families and shall make special dissemination efforts to rural areas and among Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.

(5)

Use of funds

A grant awarded under this subsection may be used to carry out any of the following activities:

(A)

Hiring of personnel necessary to provide emergency relief to foster youth and ensure that services, resources, and assistance reach such youth.

(B)

Provision of clothing and other personal necessities to a foster youth for a total not to exceed $250 per foster youth, per year.

(C)

Purchase of food and equipment needed to prepare food for foster youth.

(D)

Provision of service and support to prevent and respond to occurrences of child abuse and neglect with respect to foster youth.

(E)

Any other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.

(F)

Any other purpose that the Secretary determines appropriate.

(6)

Reservation

The Secretary shall reserve $45,000 of any amounts referred to in paragraph (9) for administration, oversight, and technical assistance activities related to this subsection.

(7)

Report

The Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report that—

(A)

describes how grants awarded under this subsection have been used to provide emergency relief to foster youth;

(B)

describe how grants awarded under this subsection have been used on pre-placement services;

(C)

contains data on the extent of clothing and other necessities purchased with grant funds awarded under this subsection that have been provided to foster youth;

(D)

provides an evaluation of case outcomes for foster youth who have benefitted from grant funds; and

(E)

states the number of home transfers for each foster youth that has benefitted from grant funds.

(8)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

Foster care stabilization agency

The term foster care stabilization agency means a local public or private nonprofit entity, including a community or faith-based organization, with expertise and experience providing direct services to 1 or more of the following:

(i)

Children who are under the care and placement responsibility of a State or tribal agency that administers a plan under this part or part E.

(ii)

Foster youth who have not attained 18 years of age.

(iii)

Foster youth who have attained 18 years of age.

(B)

Foster youth

The term foster youth means an individual in foster care who has not attained 26 years of age.

(C)

Home transfer

The term home transfer means the initial placement of a foster youth in foster care, and any subsequent placement of that foster youth while in foster care.

(9)

Funding

To the extent that the total of the amounts made available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year exceeds $5,000,000 more than the amount so made available for the previous fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the amounts to carry out this subsection.