CONNECT Act

The CONNECT Act updates the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program to better support older youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older. It requires the program to help these young people build lasting relationships with mentors, peers, and family members to reduce isolation and create support networks. The bill also mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services issue guidance within a year of enactment, outlining eligible services, best practices for mentoring, and standards for notifying eligible youth about available programs. These changes aim to ensure youth in foster care receive written information about their permanency plans and have access to peer support and referrals to help achieve their long-term goals.