Hidden Foster Care Transparency Act

The Hidden Foster Care Transparency Act (S 2902) requires states to report detailed data on "hidden foster care arrangements" to the federal government. These arrangements occur when children are separated from parents without court oversight or formal foster care placement - such as through informal kinship care or safety planning after a child protection investigation. States must submit annual reports tracking metrics like the number of affected children, types of allegations leading to separation, services provided to families, and outcomes (e.g., reunification or entry into formal foster care). The Secretary of Health and Human Services will compile this data into an annual congressional report, aiming to create a national picture of these unregulated placements. This bill focuses solely on transparency, not altering foster care procedures.