Bill invests in state child protective services to ensure adequate supports in place for children in crisis
Casey: “All Adults, All Levels of Government Have Moral Duty to Protect Children.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Children and Families, and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced the Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act to increase federal funding under Title I and Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to ensure adequate support for state Child Protective Services (CPS) and community-based prevention services. Casey has worked to reauthorize and fund CAPTA throughout his Senate career.
“As a leader of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act reauthorization, I have long worked to expand resources to keep families together and protect children, including by passing emergency funding during the pandemic,” said Senator Casey. “This program only works if we fund it. Our bill will bolster CAPTA funding for another decade to support families and help states keep kids safe.”
“The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act is monumental legislation signifying our nation’s commitment to the well-being of children and families. However, CAPTA has been underfunded for decades, making it impossible for states to fully comply with federal law by protecting our most vulnerable children. It’s Congress' responsibility to provide the funds needed to successfully implement the law,” said Senator Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act to increase CAPTA funding and improve investments in the child welfare system for our children. By increasing funding that states and community-based partners desperately need to serve children in need, more families will be better positioned to thrive.”
Senator Casey is a longtime fighter for policies that protect America’s children. In his Five Freedoms for America’s Children agenda, significant, long-term investment in CAPTA is a priority. In March 2021, Casey introduced the Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act to provide $500 million in emergency funds for local child protective services and $1 billion for community-based child abuse prevention programs that work to prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens by providing support to at-risk families. Casey also secured $350 million in emergency funding for child abuse prevention and treatment in the American Rescue Plan.
The Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act authorizes:
- An additional $250 million in mandatory funding for Title I for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034 to improve response to child maltreatment
- An additional $250 million in mandatory funding for Title II for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2034 to support community-driven, evidence-based, and trauma-informed services that strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment and child welfare system involvement
This legislation is supported by the Committee for Children, Children’s Advocacy Institute, Child Welfare League of America, Prevent Child Abuse America, Zero To Three, National Family Support Network, Social Current, Children and Families Futures, National Child Abuse Coalition, Triple P America, Inc., Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Trust Fund Alliance, and American Academy of Pediatrics.
Read more about the Family Strengthening Infrastructure Act here.
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