Promoting Childhood Independence and Resilience Act of 2026

(a) In general. Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study on how States and State child welfare agencies can best empower parents to give children opportunities to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities without direct adult supervision.

(b) Report. Within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall transmit to each State and to the Committees on Ways and Means and on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and on Finance of the Senate a report that—

(1) sets forth the recommendations of the Secretary on how reasonable childhood independence activities can promote independence and resilience in American children;

(2) identifies community supports, public awareness campaigns, toolkits, other resources supporting childhood independence, or other best practices that could help parents choose to allow their children to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities without direct adult supervision;

(3) sets forth recommendations for how child protective services and child welfare agencies could ease parental fear and anxiety and increase the ability and willingness of parents to allow children to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities without direct supervision; and

(4) includes a review of whether the risk assessment protocols or the investigation or prosecutorial practices of State child welfare systems penalize, threaten, or deter parents who allow their children to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities, and sets forth recommendations to ensure that the protocols and practices support and empower parents who allow their children to participate in reasonable childhood independence activities.