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

President Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize America's foster care system and empower youth transitioning out of foster care with greater tools, resources, and opportunities for lifelong independence and success.

1. Launches "Fostering the Future" Initiative

• Led by First Lady Melania Trump.
• Enhances federal resources and develops public- and private-sector partnerships to expand educational, employment, and mentorship opportunities for youth aging out of foster care.

2. Online "Fostering the Future" Platform

• Connects youth to critical resources.
• Helps build personalized plans for education, housing, career development, and independence.

3. Reallocates Underutilized Federal Funds

• Promotes educational success, career advancement, financial literacy, and self-sufficiency for individuals transitioning out of foster care.

4. Increases Flexibility in Education and Training Vouchers

• Expands support for short-term, career-focused programs.
• Facilitates tax-credit scholarships for foster children.

5. Strengthens Faith-Based Partnerships

• Stops discrimination based on religious beliefs.
• Ensures every qualified person can serve families and children in need.

6. Improves Data Collection and Transparency

• Directs HHS Secretary to update regulations and improve state-level child-welfare data collection, transparency, and publication.

7. Modernizes Child-Welfare Information Systems

• Promotes use of AI-powered tools to improve caregiver recruitment, retention, and child matching.

8. Annual State Performance Scorecard

• Evaluates states on:

• Too many children aging out of foster care face inadequate long-term socioeconomic outcomes.
• Many lack access to stable housing, mentorship, and workforce opportunities.
• Stark statistics for youth aging out of foster care:
• Caseworkers are overburdened, and child-welfare systems rely on outdated technology.
• Some jurisdictions prohibit qualified families from fostering or adopting due to religious beliefs or adherence to biological truth.

First Lady's "Be Best" Initiative

• Launched during President Trump's first term to focus on the social, emotional, and physical health of children.
• Continues to highlight programs dedicated to a better future for the next generation.

Take It Down Act

• Championed by the First Lady within the first 100 days of the second Trump term.
• Provides protections for children from online exploitation.

Working Families Tax Cuts

• Increased access to the Adoption Tax Credit.
• Increased and made permanent the Child Tax Credit.
• Established Trump Accounts for newborns to give the next generation a jump start on saving.

Educational Freedom

• Expanding educational freedom and opportunity for families.
• Returning power over education to parents and communities.

Workforce Modernization

• Replacing the failed "college for all" model with career-focused training that meets the real needs of today's youth.

Key Provisions of the Executive OrderThe Problem: Current Foster Care ChallengesSupporting Children: Trump Administration Track Record