Executive Order 14359: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families

What does Executive Order 14359 do?

The order assigned federal officials tasks on caregiver support, opportunities for children and coordination with state and private partners under existing law.

Later official evidence reviewed October 4, 2026: ACF’s December 19, 2025, Technical Bulletin 14 says the bulletin is the first phase of EO 14359’s child-welfare data work. It calls for revisiting Child and Family Services Reviews and their Program Improvement Plans while making state data more useful and transparent.

Reading the operative provisions of Executive Order 14359

EO 14359 directs federal agencies to coordinate support for children and families involved in foster care, including education, employment, health and transition-to-adulthood opportunities. It assigns HHS a coordinating role and asks agencies to work with states, tribes, local governments and private partners. The Federal Register text of EO 14359 sets federal tasks; it does not replace state child-welfare systems or create a new individual benefit by itself.

Foster care is administered primarily by states and tribes under federal and state law. Federal agencies can support education and training programs, share resources and coordinate benefits, but placement decisions and case plans remain with the responsible child-welfare authority and courts. A national initiative can improve referrals and reduce gaps between systems, while eligibility for each service depends on the program that provides it.

Young people leaving foster care may face transitions involving housing, education, employment and health coverage. The order’s coordination goals should be measured by access to services, continuity of support and outcomes after transition, not only by interagency meetings. Any new grant or benefit needs a legal authority and funding source. The order’s role is to organize federal support and partnerships around existing programs.