Key Takeaways
- •Lee Marshall (Founder & CEO, Kids to Love) proposed a national task force to audit failing state foster care systems and implement federal accountability for taxpayer-funded adoption programs.
- •Debbie Riley (CEO, Center for Adoption Support and Education) testified that a lack of adoption-competent mental health services causes some parents to relinquish children back to state care.
- •Rep. DeLauro (D, CT-3) and Riley discussed how low Medicaid reimbursement rates create "treatment deserts" where specialized therapists cannot afford to treat vulnerable children in the child welfare system.
- •Rep. Clyde (R, GA-9) advocated for protecting faith-based adoption providers, while Rep. Dean (D, PA-4) argued that federal civil service cuts have caused caseworker burnout and delayed permanency.
- •Appropriators will evaluate using Title IV-E funding to standardize adoption-competency training for the workforce to improve long-term stability for the 120,000 children currently waiting for adoption.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined strategies to improve permanency for the more than 325,000 children currently in the U.S. foster care system, with a specific focus on the 70,000 children awaiting adoption. Witnesses and lawmakers discussed the efficacy of federal funding streams, the critical need for "adoption-competent" mental health services, and the systemic barriers—including workforce shortages and data silos—that delay permanent placements. The session highlighted the tension between traditional state-run systems and privatized or tribal models, while also addressing the long-term outcomes for youth who age out of care without a permanent family connection.
Key Testimony & Policy
Witnesses emphasized that while federal funding for adoption is substantial—exceeding $10 billion in mandatory funding for FY 2026—it is often misaligned with the actual needs of families. Kate McLean, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), argued for a shift toward supporting the "permanency workforce," noting that specialized recruiters and caseworkers are essential for finding homes for older youth and sibling groups. Debbie Riley, CEO of the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), testified that a lack of adoption-competent mental health services is a primary driver of adoption disruption. She advocated for the broad implementation of the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) and the National Competency Training Institute (NTI) curriculums, which are currently funded through the Children’s Bureau but face hurdles in being listed on federal evidence-based clearinghouses.
Dr. Sarah Font of Washington University in St. Louis provided a critical assessment of Title IV-E subsidies, suggesting that unconditional cash payments may not ensure child safety and could even attract "bad actors." She recommended modernizing the matching process through algorithms and fixing the "ID break" in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), which prevents states from tracking children once they are adopted. Lee Marshall, CEO of Kids to Love, presented a privatized model from Alabama that achieves permanency faster than state systems by utilizing a trauma-focused approach and the K-TECH workforce training program to support youth aging out of care. Aurene Martin of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) highlighted the importance of "tribal customary adoption," which provides permanency without terminating parental rights, and called for a dedicated funding category for tribes within the Adoption Opportunities program.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
A significant portion of the hearing involved a debate over the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-3) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) expressed alarm over the firing of more than 500 civil servants at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the closure of five regional HHS offices. They argued these cuts have led to massive caseload backlogs and caseworker burnout. Conversely, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R, GA-9) defended the OBBB, noting it made the $5,000 adoption tax credit refundable and implemented work requirements for able-bodied adults to protect Medicaid resources for the most vulnerable.
Another point of contention was the efficacy of the Adoption Tax Credit. While Rep. Clyde (R, GA-9) praised its refundability, Dr. Font argued that financial costs are rarely the primary barrier to foster care adoption, as most states already make the process free. She contended that the real barriers are judicial delays and workforce shortages. Rep. Michael Simpson (R, ID-2) expressed concern over Medicaid reimbursement rates for therapists, noting that low rates create "provider deserts" where families cannot access the specialized care they need.
Organizations Mentioned
- Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE): Discussed as the developer of the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program, which aims to provide clinicians with specialized skills to treat foster and adoptive children. - Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI): Praised for its role as a nonpartisan resource for the Congressional Adoption Caucus and for its Foster Youth Internship Program. - Kids to Love Foundation: Highlighted for its privatized foster care model in Alabama and its K-TECH program, which provides vocational training in robotics and mechatronics for youth aging out of care. - National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA): Mentioned in the context of advocating for tribal sovereignty and the inclusion of tribal customary adoption in federal funding eligibility. - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) / Children's Bureau: Discussed regarding recent staff reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its role in administering Title IV-E and IV-B funds. - Centene Corporation: Identified as a private partner working with CASE to enhance adoption competency among its network of mental health providers. - Washington University in St. Louis: Mentioned as the home of Dr. Sarah Font’s research on child welfare data and the limitations of current federal adoption subsidies.
What's Next
The most concrete proposal for future action was Lee Marshall’s call for a National Task Force to audit the foster care and adoption system and identify evidence-based gaps. Chairman Robert Aderholt (R, AL-4) expressed interest in this coalition-based approach. Additionally, witnesses urged the subcommittee to pressure the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to include adoption-competent training programs on the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. Lawmakers also signaled they would look into the "ID break" in AFCARS data collection to improve long-term tracking of adopted children.
Transcript
Oh, well, good morning, everyone. It's good to have everyone here this morning, and I just want to say a special thank you to our witnesses who have come to testify on this very important topic today, advancing permanency in child welfare in the United States. Adoption has long played an important role in building families and providing children with safe and stable homes. Today, adoption remains a critical part of our child welfare system. But the data shows that there are still significant ways that we can improve and that we can make it better. Currently, there are more than 325,000 children that are living in the United States under the foster care system. And many of those entered because of abuse, neglect, and family instability. Among these children, tens of thousands are waiting for a permanent adoptive family. In fact, recent data shows that over 70,000 children are waiting to be adopted at the end of 2023, and many already had spent years in foster care. Each year, adoption helps thousands of children find permanent homes. More than 45,000 children were adopted from foster care in FY 2024 alone. Despite the progress that's been made, challenges still remain. Some children age out of the system without ever finding a permanent home, and in 2023, over 15,000 young people left foster care without adoption or reunification, entering adulthood without a long-term stability with family support that, of course, a family always provides. Encouraging adoption can change these outcomes in so many powerful ways. There are many benefits from adoption, as I think everyone in this room knows. But let me just say first, adoption provides stability and permanence. Children who are adopted often gain the emotional security of a long-life family connection, something that I don't think anyone would disagree that every child needs. Also, stable homes improve outcomes in education, health, and overall well-being. Second, adoption strengthens communities and society as a whole. When children grow up in supportive environments, they are much, much more likely to succeed in school, to contribute to their communities, and avoid many of the challenges associated with instability or with homelessness. Third, encouraging adoption supports the child welfare system. By helping more children transition from temporary foster care to permanent homes, adoption reduces the strain on foster care resources and allows agencies to focus on children who most urgently need care. And I think it also should be noted that adoption today takes many forms. Families adopt through foster care, through kinship adoptions, through private domestic adoptions, and through international adoptions. Many adoptive families are single parents, they're relatives, or they're blended families. As policymakers, advocates, and citizens, we have an opportunity to encourage adoption by supporting adoptive families, improving adoption awareness, and ensuring that the process is accessible and it's also ethical. Policies such as post-adoption services and recruitment of adoption parents can make a meaningful difference. And ultimately, adoption is more than just policy. It is about people. It's about ensuring that every child has the chance to grow up in a safe, a supportive, and loving home. And when we encourage adoption, we invest not only in individual children, but also the future of our communities of this country. Before I turn to the ranking member for her remarks, I do want to introduce our panel of witnesses. First, we have Ms. Kate McLean. She is the executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. I look forward to hearing from her and about how the institution works to identify and remove barriers for vulnerable children and families. And let me just add a side note here. I've had the chance to get to know Kate over the last several years as I've served as co-chair of the Congressional Adoption Caucus on Adoption and worked hand-in-hand with her team at CCAI. Next, we'll hear from Ms. Debbie Riley. She is the CEO of the Center for Adoption Support and Education, whose expertise includes adoption therapy and developing adoptive competent training programs. We'll also hear from Dr. Sarah Font, who is a professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on the impacts of the child welfare system on families and using data to improve agencies' outcomes. And next, we have Ms. Lee Marshall, founder and CEO of Kids to Love. She will also speak with us. She is a long-time friend in Huntsville, in Alabama, and runs an amazing program down there working to help in the foster care space. So, glad that she was able to join us. And last, and certainly not least, we have Ms. Aurene Martin, and she is board secretary of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and she has extensive experience in federal Indian law and policy, having served in several tribal and federal key government positions. We appreciate all of you taking time today to be here to share your insights from folks that are on the ground and can tell us first-hand. And at this point, I'd like to recognize the committee's ranking member, Ms. DeLauro, for her remarks that she would like to make at this time.
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