50 States Join A Home for Every Child, Creating Nationwide Momentum to Strengthen Families and Recruit Foster Families
WASHINGTON, DC–The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, joined “A Home for Every Child,” an ACF initiative aimed at increasing the ratio of licensed foster homes relative to children in foster care. The overwhelming state response represents a sweeping national commitment to one clear goal: ensuring every child in foster care has access to a safe, stable, loving home. Nationwide, there are 57 licensed foster homes for every 100 children in care, a gap the initiative plans to close through efforts that strengthen families, prioritize prevention, and recruit and retain qualified foster families.
The 52 participating states and jurisdictions joined A Home for Every Child thanks to the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, whose Fostering the Future Executive Order prioritized shifting federal oversight away from bureaucratic compliance and toward measurable outcomes. A Home for Every Child operationalized parts of their Executive Order by offering states an alternative Program Improvement Plan (PIP) under the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) —replacing lengthy paperwork exercises with a single, unifying measure: a state’s ratio of licensed foster homes to children in care. Child welfare jurisdictions nationwide have volunteered to participate because PIPs — long criticized as burdensome busywork that pulled caseworkers away from families — are now a vehicle for state innovation and shared accountability.
“Every state has now joined the Trump Administration’s A Home for Every Child initiative to move more children from foster care into safe, permanent homes,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “HHS is cutting red tape, strengthening families, and helping states recruit more foster families so children spend less time waiting for a home. Together with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, we are driving real results for America’s foster children.”
“When we launched A Home for Every Child to deliver on President Trump’s and First Lady Melania Trump’s Executive Order on Fostering the Future, we knew states were ready for a new approach — but the response has exceeded every expectation,” said ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “Fifty states joining this initiative sends a powerful message: America is ready to rally around children in foster care and the families who step forward for them.”
“A Home for Every Child marks a transformational moment for child welfare by giving states the flexibility to best serve children and families,” said Cody Inman, delegated Commissioner for the Administration for Children, Youth & Families. “ACF is grateful for President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s commitment to fostering a brighter future for America.”
To further incentivize participation and encourage states to improve their ratios, ACF launched the “A Home for Every Child Innovation Challenge.” Beginning October 2026 through September 2027, all 52 participating states and jurisdictions will compete for $7 million in cash awards, to be given to the states with the highest and most improved ratios of foster homes to children in care.
“Idaho has been a leader in efforts to increase the ratio of homes to kids,” said Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Juliet Charron. “We’re thrilled to join the Trump administration in bringing this initiative to the national level and look forward to supporting Idaho families even further as we compete with and learn from the other participating states.”
“Every child deserves the safety, stability, and sense of belonging that comes with a loving family,” said Arizona Department of Child Safety Director Kathryn Ptak. “Arizona's participation in the A Home for Every Child initiative strengthens our commitment to ensuring there is a safe, nurturing foster home available for every child who needs one.”
“A Home for Every Child provides a clear, meaningful goal that guides our work every day,” said South Dakota Department of Social Services Cabinet Secretary Matthew K. Althoff. “Every decision we make, every initiative we pursue, and every strategy our leaders develop can be seen contributing to our achievement of this noble goal. As a result, South Dakota's child welfare staff’s commitment to its mission is strengthened and its focus is held on improving outcomes for children and families.”
Prior to kicking off the Innovation Challenge, ACF will launch a public scorecard reporting monthly data on each state's ratio. The scorecard — the first-ever resource for close to real-time data connected to state child welfare outcomes — delivers further on First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future Executive Order.
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