November 19—WASHINGTON U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act on November 18, which would reauthorize and improve a key child care program. child services that promote family unity. and the safety and well-being of children in foster care.

“Creating a safe, healthy and supportive environment at home is the first step in helping Texas children thrive,” Cornyn said in a press release. “This legislation would make strategic, evidence-based improvements to ensure a 360-degree support system is in place for children in foster care across the country.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that every child in America grows up in a loving, supportive home,” Bennet said. “That’s why we’re proposing legislation to cut red tape and provide a critical, flexible investment in child welfare policy. This will allow us to provide communities in Colorado and across the country with the flexibility that they need to ensure the safety of children and the cohesion of families.”

The Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act would reauthorize and improve Title IV-B of the Social Security Act by:

— Expand evidence-based services to prevent child abuse and neglect;

— Increase access to training for social workers and improve recruitment and retention efforts to address the social worker shortage and strengthen the workforce;

— Reduce the administrative burden;

— Provide grants to the Court Improvement Program to support children’s court proceedings;

— Rationalize access to financing, including for Indian tribes;

—And strengthen support systems for loved ones and family transitions, including children entering parental diversion, exiting foster care, or transitioning to an adoptive family.

Reps. Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Danny Davis (IL-07) introduced companion legislation in the House. The cost of this legislation is fully offset by savings from the Strengthening State and Tribal Children’s Law Enforcement Act.

The legislation is supported by Abrazo Adoption Associates, Families and Foster Care Coalition, Heart of Texas, Heart of Texas Goodwill, South Texas Alamo Chapter — National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Texas Network of Youth Services, Texas Pediatric. Society, TexProtects, as well as more than 200 national and state mental health and child care organizations.