H.R. 5647: Advocates for Families Act of 2025

The Advocates for Families Act of 2025 aims to amend existing child welfare legislation to improve support and resources for parents, foster parents, and legal guardians involved in child welfare cases. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

State Plan Requirements

The bill requires states to include certain provisions in their child welfare plans to receive federal support. These provisions are designed to facilitate access to family advocates for parents and guardians involved in child welfare cases. Specifically, the bill mandates that:

• Parents, foster parents, or legal guardians must have the right to seek and receive the services of a family advocate. This advocate can represent their interests in any child welfare case involving their child without the state having to cover the costs of these services.
• States must establish standards and regulations to govern the professional conduct of family advocates.
• States are required to inform parents, foster parents, or legal guardians about their right to be represented by a family advocate at the beginning of any child welfare case. This includes providing information about local resources for obtaining such representation.
• States must report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on how honoring this right affects child welfare services and offer any recommendations for enhancing the exercise of this right by parents and guardians.

Reporting to Congress

The bill also establishes a reporting requirement for the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Within two years of the bill's enactment, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary must submit a report to several congressional committees. This report will cover:

• The status of parents, foster parents, and legal guardians’ access to family advocates.
• Feedback from states based on their experiences and compliance concerning these advocate services.

Overall Impact

The fundamental objective of this legislation is to enhance the support system for families involved in child welfare cases. By ensuring that families have access to advocates, the bill seeks to provide a voice and representation for parents and guardians during complex legal processes, which may include investigations, hearings, or any form of legal intervention involving their children.

Relevant Companies

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