S. 5096 – Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act

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Updated July 30, 2026 at 1:52 AM UTC

The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act updates the Social Security Act to better serve young people who have been in foster care and are now expecting a child or parenting. It links these youth and their families to the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and requires states to certify they can provide that information. The bill also lets states use existing funds to offer customized case‑management and coordination services for these families. The changes become active one year after the law is passed.

Key Provisions

Adds a new requirement (paragraph 8) that states must connect foster youth in eligible families who receive services under section 477 to evidence‑based home‑visiting and support services provided through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Requires each state’s chief executive officer to certify that the state has processes to ensure participating youth receive information about those home‑visiting services.
Amends the funding rules so states can use their allotments to provide tailored case‑management and resource‑coordination services specifically for expectant or parenting youth who have been in foster care.
Sets the changes to take effect one year after the law is enacted and applies to payments under section 477 for plans approved after that date.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

July 23, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 23, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

July 23, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 23, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5096

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 23, 2026

Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Warnock) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act.

2.

Ensuring expectant and parenting youth have access to services provided through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

(a)

Purpose

Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (6), by striking and;

(2)

in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(8)

to connect foster youth in eligible families (as such term is defined in section 511(l)) who receive services under this part with evidence-based home visiting and support services provided under section 511.

.

(b)

Applications

Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(L)

A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has processes in place to ensure that a youth participating in the program under this section who is in an eligible family (as such term is defined in section 511(l)) is provided with information regarding evidence-based home visiting and support services provided in the State under section 511.

.

3.

Tailored case management and resource coordination services for parenting and expectant youth who have experienced foster care

Section 477(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

(1)

In general

A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount—

(A)

to provide tailored case management and resource coordination services to youth otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section who are expectant or parenting; or

(B)

in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section.

.

4.

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to payments under section 477 of the Social Security Act pursuant to plans approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after such date.