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>>183294Investing in the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Program: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 provided $30 million for foster youth housing. The Foster Youth to Independence program, now named in honor of First Lady Melania Trump, has supported over 1,400 housing vouchers for youth nationwide since January 20, 2025. President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget proposes to continue this funding.
Championing New Foster Care Legislation: The First Lady championed new foster care legislation when she joined a bipartisan roundtable of the House Ways and Means Committee on April 15, 2026, to advance reforms to the Chafee Foster Care Program, including proposals to expand education and training support, increase flexibility, and improve access to workforce development opportunities. The Committee approved six pieces of legislation with strong bipartisan support on April 29, 2026.
Protecting Social Security Benefits Earned for Foster Youth: On December 11, 2025, the Trump Administration sent letters to states urging immediate action to prevent the diversion of Social Security survivor benefits intended for foster youth after the loss of a parent. In the last six months, the following nine states answered the Trump Administration’s call: Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington state. These states joined Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. in ending the practice of diverting federal benefits that rightfully belong to foster youth.
Expanding Access to Family Care in 19 States Through Fostering the Future-Aligned Partnerships: The Trump Administration has advanced a coordinated, Fostering the Future-aligned effort through HHS/ACF to increase the number of safe, stable, and loving homes available to children in need while reinforcing the importance of keeping families together whenever possible. By working in close partnership with states, child welfare leaders, and lived-experience experts, A Home for Every Child has focused on improving data transparency, reducing unnecessary entries into foster care, and removing barriers that prevent qualified families from fostering or adopting. Early outcomes reflect a growing national coalition committed to these goals, with 19 states and jurisdictions taking action to strengthen their systems and expand capacity, among them Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia have specifically recognized the leadership of First Lady Melania Trump and the Fostering the Future initiative in advancing this work.
Enhancing Benefits to Support Foster and Adoptive Families: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in partnership with HHS/ACF, issued new guidance clarifying paid parental leave for federal employees who foster or adopt enhancing the flexibility of benefits for parents opening their homes to children in need. The White House led by
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