ACF Launches Technical Assistance Center to Support Implementation of Fostering the Future Accounts

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced they will be launching the National Fostering the Future Account Advancement Center to provide technical assistance services to states, territories, and tribes as they establish, contribute to, and maintain Fostering the Future Accounts. This new resource will advance First Lady Melania Trump's mission to create opportunities and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in the foster care system by equipping jurisdictions with the tools necessary to ensure youth in care can achieve financial independence.

"Thanks to the leadership of First Lady Melania Trump, foster youth now have access to opportunity that helps them build a strong financial foundation for their future," said Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. "Through ACF's new technical assistance center, we will ensure states have the support they need to implement Fostering the Future Accounts and provide foster youth with long-term financial stability."

Following the First Lady's announcement that unveiled Fostering the Future Accounts , ACF and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released joint guidance in June to support jurisdictions in establishing these accounts for eligible youth in foster care. Fostering the Future Accounts allow foster youth to accumulate resources that may be used for major life milestones, including education, workforce training, or a down payment on a house. Various federal funds and private gifts are also available to fund the accounts.

To date, 25 states, representing bipartisan support, have already committed to create Fostering the Future Accounts. To help these states (as well as future states who may join the initiative) achieve the Trump Administration's goal of opening accounts for all eligible youth by December 2027, ACF is now providing additional resources through the National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement (NCWCIA) at ACF's Children's Bureau.

Within NCWCIA, the National Fostering the Future Account Advancement Center will deliver integrated services, resources, and technical assistance tailored to each jurisdiction's unique needs as they build infrastructure, operationalize account administration, engage youth and families, strengthen workforce capacity, and sustain implementation over time. This approach will ensure states can receive the expertise and support needed to create the best outcomes for foster youth. And to ensure Fostering the Future Accounts are accessible, understandable, and responsive to the needs of youth, parents, and relative or kin, the Center will also support caseworkers, supervisors, fiscal staff, and agency leadership through implementation support and change management strategies that strengthen organizational capacity and clarify roles and responsibilities related to enrollment, account management, and account transfer processes. The National Fostering the Future Accounts Advancement Center will work collaboratively with Treasury to support states and help amplify existing Treasury resources, including their hotline on Fostering the Future Accounts, which may be reached at (833) 872-4547.

The National Fostering the Future Accounts Advancement Center will officially launch on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. For states, tribes, territories, and stakeholders interested in learning more, ACF and Treasury will host a webinar at 12:00pm ET. More information on how to register for the webinar can be found at FTFAAC Meeting Registration .

For more information about the forthcoming National Fostering the Future Account Advancement Center and to access technical assistance resources, visit the National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement .

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