Create Accountable Respectful Environments (CARE) for Children Act

Addressing Foster Home Shortages: The bill aims to address or assist in resolving the shortage of appropriate foster homes for children (Section 2).

Keeping Siblings Together: The provision for cottage family homes includes a requirement that they act as a resource to facilitate sibling groups being placed together to strengthen family ties (Section 2(c)(A)(iii)).

Supporting Family Connections: Cottage family homes are required to encourage and support the child and their family in maintaining strong connections through regular contact and involvement in a plan of care (Section 2(c)(A)(ii)).

Ensuring Age-Appropriate Activities: These homes must provide children access to age or developmentally-appropriate activities, including extracurricular, social, or other home and community activities (Section 2(c)(A)(iv)).

Safety and Well-being Standards: The bill establishes safety measures, such as requiring a trauma-informed approach (Section 2(c)(A)(v)), prohibiting the use of seclusion or mechanical/chemical restraints (Section 2(c)(A)(vi)), and prohibiting prone physical restraint (Section 2(c)(A)(vi)).

Child Advocacy and Feedback: The bill requires a system for children to alert staff about concerns, unfair treatment, or threats (Section 2(c)(A)(vii)), and a methodology to solicit information from children regarding their perceptions of care quality (Section 2(c)(A)(viii)).

Living Standards: Cottage family homes must be single-family style residences with no more than 2 children per bedroom, unless it is in the best interest of the children (Section 2(c)(A)(ix)).