Washington foster care laws

Federal laws — these apply in every state

These are United States laws, so they protect foster youth in Washington and everywhere else in the country.

• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 93-247

  Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

  Check the official source for the start date

  Signed January 31, 1974

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law was the first major federal effort to require states to set up systems for reporting and investigating child abuse and neglect, which is often the first step that can lead a child into foster care.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 95-608

  Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978

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  Signed November 8, 1978

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law sets special rules to keep Native American children connected to their families and tribes when child welfare agencies consider foster care or adoption placements.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 96-272

  Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980

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  Signed June 17, 1980

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law created federal funding for adoption assistance and foster care, and required states to make reasonable efforts to keep families together before removing a child.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 103-382

  Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994

  Check the official source for the start date

  Signed October 20, 1994

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law says that agencies cannot deny or delay a child's foster or adoptive placement just because of the child's or family's race, color, or national origin, while also requiring efforts to recruit diverse foster and adoptive families.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 105-89

  Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997

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  Signed November 19, 1997

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law pushed states to move children more quickly toward safe, permanent homes (like adoption) instead of staying in foster care for years, and gave states financial bonuses for finalized adoptions.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 106-169

  Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (Chafee Program)

  Check the official source for the start date

  Signed December 14, 1999

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law created the John H. Chafee program, giving states more money and flexibility to help teens in foster care learn the life skills they need to live on their own after they age out of the system.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 110-351

  Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

  Check the official source for the start date

  Signed October 7, 2008

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law let states use federal funds to support relatives who become foster parents, allowed young people to stay in foster care until age 21 with federal support, and improved help for Native American children in tribal foster care.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 113-183

  Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act

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  Signed September 29, 2014

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law requires states to identify and protect foster youth at risk of sex trafficking, encourages normal teenage activities for kids in foster care, and makes sure youth leaving care have key documents like a birth certificate and ID.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 115-123

  Family First Prevention Services Act

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  Signed February 9, 2018

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law lets states use federal foster care money to pay for services like counseling and parenting classes that can help keep at-risk children safely with their families instead of entering foster care, while also limiting funding for large group homes.

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• SIGNED INTO LAWP.L. 116-260

  Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act

  Check the official source for the start date

  Signed December 27, 2020

  Sponsored by U.S. Congress

  This law gave extra emergency funding and flexibility during COVID-19 so that older foster youth would not be forced to leave foster care and lose support during the pandemic.

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