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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is advancing a strategy to strengthen the foster care system and improve outcomes for children and families. A central goal is to ensure that safe, supportive homes are ready and available for in foster care, rather than children waiting for placement. Through the “A Home for Every Child” initiative, ACF is working to:

• Reduce entries into foster care through prevention services
• foster homes through targeted recruitment
• Prioritize kinship care
• Improve retention of current caregivers

To support these efforts, ACF is also working to reduce regulatory burdens and eliminate wasteful spending. These actions aim to increase local flexibility and ensure responsible use of taxpayer resources.  

The Role of States 

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) administrators play a critical role in advancing the “A Home for Every Child” initiative by promoting wraparound services, such as Two Generation/Whole Family projects, that prevent children from ever entering the foster care system.  By strengthening the alignment of family economic security and child welfare through Whole-Family approaches, states provide key leadership and coordination of wraparound support systems that help families remain safely together.   Working in collaboration with Community Action Agencies (CAAs), whole-family services promote family reunification, build self-sufficiency, and strengthen long-term economic security. State CSBG Offices coordinate supports — including housing assistance, employment and workforce development, parenting education, and access to benefits — that help address the underlying challenges that place children at risk of entering foster care.   States can also encourage cross-system collaboration between CAAs and child welfare partners to support recruitment and retention of foster and kinship caregivers, improve resource navigation, and expand case management. By strengthening these partnerships, states help ensure families receive coordinated, whole-family support that promotes long-term stability and protects children.   State-by-state foster care resources are available on ACF’s website. NASCSP encourages state administrators to review these resources and stay tuned for additional updates and guidance from ACF.