New law brings major changes to North Carolina’s foster care system
WFMYNEWS2 – June 27, 2025
House Bill 612 is now law.
It aims to improve how children in foster care are protected and supported across North Carolina. Signed into law today by Governor Josh Stein, the bill gives the state new authority to step in when county Department of Social Services (DSS) decisions put a child at risk.
New State Oversight and Accountability
Gaile Osborne, executive director of Foster Family Alliance, said the law introduces important accountability measures.
“There’s gonna be accountability and oversight by the state who can actually step in and intervene and make recommendations that are tied to an outcome; they're gonna hold these counties accountable," Osborne said.
The legislation also clarifies case planning, expands adoption options, and encourages quicker permanency for children stuck in the system, reducing the time they spend waiting for stable homes.
A Step Toward Faster Permanency
Lisa Tucker Cauley, with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), said the bill will help move children out of foster care more quickly.
“My hope is that this bill will expedite the time that children spend in foster care because we can use it with other resources that we have,” Cauley said.
