Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (22 Jul 2026): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
What this bill does
H.R. 9878, the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act, would amend the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to add new protections and support structures for children being raised by relatives or close family friends—often called "kinship families" or "grandfamilies"—outside the formal foster care system. It would expand the membership of the federal Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect to include organizations serving kinship families and individuals with lived experience, direct the National Clearinghouse on child abuse information to coordinate with a national kinship support technical assistance center, and require states receiving certain federal grants to prioritize kinship placements, engage relatives as supports, and work toward licensing kin as foster parents. It also updates state prevention grant reporting requirements and community-based prevention grant programs to address children diverted from foster care to live with relatives, and to fund training for kinship caregivers on topics such as behavioral health, substance use disorders, and trauma.
The bill primarily affects kinship caregivers (frequently grandparents), the children in their care, state child welfare agencies, and organizations that receive federal CAPTA grants. It does not create a new program but modifies existing federal grant conditions and reporting requirements to better recognize and support families who take in related children informally, without those children entering foster care.
The bill was introduced on July 22, 2026, by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), with a cosponsor, and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. As an introduced bill, it would need committee consideration, potential amendment, and votes in both the House and Senate before it could become law; no further action has yet occurred.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
22 Jul 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 9878 do?
- H.R. 9878, the Help Grandfamilies Prevent Child Abuse Act, would amend the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to add new protections and support structures for children being raised by relatives or close family friends—often called "kinship families" or "grandfamilies"—outside the formal foster care system. It would expand the membership of the federal Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect to include organizations serving kinship families and individuals with lived experience, direct the National Clearinghouse on child abuse information to coordinate with a national kinship support technical assistance center, and require states receiving certain federal grants to prioritize kinship placements, engage relatives as supports, and work toward licensing kin as foster parents. It also updates state prevention grant reporting requirements and community-based prevention grant programs to address children diverted from foster care to live with relatives, and to fund training for kinship caregivers on topics such as behavioral health, substance use disorders, and trauma. The bill primarily affects kinship caregivers (frequently grandparents), the children in their care, state child welfare agencies, and organizations that receive federal CAPTA grants. It does not create a new program but modifies existing federal grant conditions and reporting requirements to better recognize and support families who take in related children informally, without those children entering foster care. The bill was introduced on July 22, 2026, by Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), with a cosponsor, and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. As an introduced bill, it would need committee consideration, potential amendment, and votes in both the House and Senate before it could become law; no further action has yet occurred.
- Has H.R. 9878 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 9878. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 9878?
- H.R. 9878 was sponsored by Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 9878?
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. (22 Jul 2026).
Related bills in Families
Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act
Free Child Care for America Act
Expressing support for the designation of September 2026 as "National Kinship Care Month".
CEDS Act
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