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HR 4839 116th Congress House Families Adoption and foster care Child safety and welfare Family services Poverty and welfare assistance State and local government operations

Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

Introduced: October 23, 2019 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 23, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Oct 23, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act

This bill requires states to consider foster family homes or cottage homes to be the least restrictive setting for children who have attained six years of age and have been removed from their homes, if suitable relatives or other designated caregivers are not available. A cottage home is a residential operation

  • in which not more than 12 children reside;
  • that implements a trauma-informed treatment plan for its residents;
  • that involves family members of a child in the treatment for the child, and maintains contact with the family of the child, if available and if the involvement is clinically appropriate for the well-being of the child;
  • that is licensed by the state where it is located; and
  • that is accredited.

The bill makes cottage homes eligible for foster care maintenance payments.

What's happening now October 23, 2019

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 8443 Related bill Cottage Homes to Improve Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Steube, W. Gregory
Florida · Feb 3, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4839: Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4839/
MLA
"H.R. 4839: Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4839/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4839, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4839/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4839: Caring Homes and Improved Lives for Dependents (CHILD) Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4839/)
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