The Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities—including nonprofits, state child welfare agencies, local educational agencies, Indian tribes, and faith-based organizations—to establish or expand mentoring programs for children in foster care and youth with foster care experience up to age 26. Grantees must implement structured mentoring programs with screened and trained adult or peer mentors, provide intensive training on child development, trauma, education rights, and child welfare coordination, and ensure culturally responsive recruitment and service delivery. The bill requires programs to involve regular meetings lasting at least one year, maintain detailed records and evaluation data, and consult with foster youth, community entities, and relevant government agencies in program design and implementation.
