Find and Protect Foster Youth Act

HR 2426, the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act, requires the federal government to evaluate state and tribal child welfare systems' protocols for identifying and responding to children missing from foster care. It mandates the Secretary to identify obstacles in these systems, share best practices, and provide technical assistance to states and tribes on tracking missing youth and improving services. The bill also specifically requires improved screening for sex trafficking risk when children return to foster care after running away, including new tools for caseworkers to assess trafficking risk and document appropriate services. These changes directly affect foster youth, particularly those missing or at risk of exploitation, and the states and tribes managing foster care systems. The law authorizes funding through fiscal year 2027 to support these efforts.