Establishes SOUL as a permanency plan for youth in foster care, allowing them to form a legal support family without terminating existing familial.
The SOUL Amendment Act of 2025 establishes the Support, Opportunity, Unity, Legal Relationships (SOUL) as a permanency plan for youth in the District of Columbia's foster care system. SOUL allows youth to establish a legal relationship with a support family, which can include caregivers and supporters, without terminating existing familial legal relationships. The Family Court must consider SOUL as the permanency plan if the youth requests it, unless it is not in the youth's best interest.
Included in complete analysis
- Overview
- Core Provisions
- Implementation
- Impact
- Legal Framework
- Critical Issues
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