Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Fosters the Future for American Children and Families

FOSTERING THE FUTURE FOR AMERICAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize America's foster care system and empower young Americans transitioning out of foster care with greater tools, resources, and opportunities to promote lifelong independence and success. This Executive Order represents a major milestone that will have lasting impact on the lives of children and families across the Nation.

• The Order launches the "Fostering the Future" initiative, led by First Lady Melania Trump, to enhance the quality of Federal resources and capabilities while developing public- and private-sector partnerships that expand educational, employment, and mentorship opportunities for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood.
• It establishes an online "Fostering the Future" platform to connect youth to critical resources and build personalized plans to support their education, housing, career development, and pathway toward independence.
• It sets forth a strategy to reallocate underutilized Federal funds to promote educational success, career advancement, financial literacy, and self-sufficiency for individuals transitioning out of foster care.
• The Order increases flexibility in Education and Training Vouchers for short-term, career-focused programs and facilitates tax-credit scholarships for foster children.
• It strengthens partnerships with faith-based organizations and houses of worship and directs action to stop discrimination based on religious beliefs, ensuring every qualified person is able to serve families and children in need.
• The Order directs that the Secretary of Health and Human Services update regulations and improve State-level child-welfare data collection, transparency, and publication to strengthen positive outcomes for children and families.
• It promotes the modernization of State child-welfare information systems and the use of AI-powered tools to improve caregiver recruitment, retention, and child matching.
• The Order requires an annual scorecard to evaluate State performance in reducing unnecessary foster care entries, shortening investigation times, reducing child injuries and placement disruptions, and accelerating permanent family care placements.

MODERNIZING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM: President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are ensuring our Nation's foster care system harnesses the unparalleled generosity and resources available across our Nation to serve every child.

• Today, too many children who age out of foster care face starkly inadequate long-term socioeconomic outcomes, leaving them disproportionately behind in building stable, prosperous lives.
• Many young people transitioning out of foster care lack access to stable housing, mentorship, and workforce opportunities-challenges the "Fostering the Future" initiative directly addresses through public- and private-sector collaboration.
• Without the strong support systems and quality mentorship this Executive Order will bring, youth aging out of foster care often face steeper paths to success: only about half complete high school, fewer than 5% earn a four-year college degree, roughly one in five experience homelessness upon leaving care, and just half are gainfully employed by age 24.
• Caseworkers are often overburdened, and child-welfare systems rely on outdated technology that hinder effective outcomes.
• Some jurisdictions and organizations maintain policies that prohibit qualified families from fostering or adopting due to sincerely-held religious beliefs or adherence to basic biological truth.

SUPPORTING CHILDREN: The Trump Administration has been a champion of policies that empower families, faith-based organizations, and communities to support children in need.

• During President Trump's first term, the First Lady launched BE BEST to focus on the social, emotional, and physical health of children, and she continues to use this platform to highlight the people and programs dedicated to ensuring a better future for the next generation.
• The First Lady championed passage of the TAKE IT DOWN Act within the first 100 days of the second Trump term, which provides protections for children from online exploitation.
• President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts increased access to the Adoption Tax Credit, increased and made permanent the Child Tax Credit, and established Trump Accounts for newborns to give the next generation a jump start on saving.
• The Trump Administration is expanding educational freedom and opportunity for families and returning power over education to parents and communities.
• President Trump is modernizing America's workforce programs to replace the failed "college for all" model with career-focused training that meets the real needs of today's youth.