Under the proposed legislation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be empowered to issue demonstration grants to eligible state partnerships. These partnerships would serve to develop, implement, and sustain programs that foster meaningful relationships between foster children and their incarcerated parents. The funds from these grants would be disbursed in annual installments over a five-year period. Additionally, the Secretary could provide a one-year planning grant to enhance these efforts further, if requested and deemed beneficial for project effectiveness.
An “eligible state partnership” includes the collaboration between a state’s child welfare agency and the state agency responsible for adult corrections. Other entities experienced in serving incarcerated parents and their children may also be included in this partnership. Remarkably, the bill makes specific accommodations to include Indian tribes or tribal consortia within the definition of eligible partnerships, acknowledging the unique needs and structures of these communities.
Applicants seeking these grants must provide a detailed summary of their proposed program, elucidating how it will support meaningful relationships between foster children and incarcerated parents. The application must also include a description of planned activities, a framework identifying eligible foster children, and clear roles and responsibilities for each entity in the partnership. The completion of these applications involves assurances of full participation in mandatory evaluations to gauge program effectiveness.
The bill outlines several key program activities that grant recipients must undertake, provided they are in the child’s best interest. These activities include revising organizational policies to facilitate regular and appropriate communication and visitation between foster children and their incarcerated parents. Key aims of these activities include involving parents in case planning, ensuring regular sharing of case information, and providing opportunities for incarcerated parents to demonstrate their commitment to their children.
Enhanced visitation is a significant focus, requiring grantees to facilitate weekly communication and at least nine days of in-person visits annually. These visits should integrate best practices, reduce or eliminate costs, and avoid being used as punishment for incarcerated parents. Additional components of the program involve providing ongoing training for child welfare and correctional facility staff, offering case management services to jailed parents, and facilitating access to necessary legal services.
The Federal Government will shoulder up to 75% of the costs for activities under this grant. The Secretary is also tasked with providing technical assistance, including helping grantees understand best practices, establish performance indicators, and organize annual technical meetings to share experiences and insights.
To measure the impact of these initiatives, the Secretary will conduct evaluations focusing on various outcomes such as parent and child well-being, parental involvement, and placement stability. These evaluations will identify ways to improve program practices and their implementation. Initial findings will be reported to Congress three years after the enactment of the act, followed by a final report six years post-enactment.
The bill also grants the Secretary the authority to waive or modify certain requirements for Indian tribes or tribal organizations to align with their specific needs, culture, and circumstances. The use of tribally relevant data in evaluations further ensures that the program’s impact on these communities is appropriately measured.
With a funding authorization of up to $35 million annually from 2026 through 2029, the PARENT Act of 2024 represents a significant investment in strengthening the bonds between foster children and their incarcerated parents. This initiative acknowledges the profound impact of family relationships on children’s development and seeks to mitigate the adverse effects of parental incarceration through supportive and sustained engagement.