Bill · S. 5065· Senate(119-S-5065)
Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act
- Introduced
- 7/22/2026
- Last activity
- 7/22/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Maggie Hassan
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act. It amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to provide better protections for children raised in kinship families outside of the foster care system. Millions of children are raised in kinship families by relatives or close friends without their parents in the home. The bill updates advisory boards, national clearinghouses, and grant programs to focus on the unique needs of these grandfamilies. It also adds requirements for training kinship caregivers and prioritizing kinship placements.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would children be better off under this?+8
The bill specifically enhances protections and support systems for children in kinship care.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+7
The bill emphasizes training for caregivers to handle children with mental health and behavioral challenges.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+5
The bill provides support and training for grandparents acting as primary caregivers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(a) adds organizations providing services to kinship families, birth parents, kinship caregivers, and foster care alumni to the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. This is positive because it brings direct personal and organizational experience into the advisory process.
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Section 3(b) requires coordination with the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network to share information about practices used to support children in kinship families. This is a positive step to help distribute helpful resources to support these children.
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Section 3(c) updates grant procedures to reflect equity for children placed with kin, prioritize placement with kin, and support permanent families and community networks. This benefits children by encouraging placement with relatives as a first choice.
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Section 3(e) supports the unique needs of kinship families through community-based grants and provides training for kinship caregivers on mental health challenges, accessing services, and understanding substance use disorders and trauma. This is positive because it gives caregivers practical tools and training to handle difficult situations.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any explicit mentions of potential negative consequences, burdens, or negative impacts for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+8Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+7Improves Opioid Crisis Response+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Childcare Affordability+5
- 7/22/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine