Gov. Stein Signs Foster Care Reform Assistance Bills into Law

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has signed the Fostering Care in NC Act, a bipartisan bill designed to overhaul the state’s foster care system. The new law grants the Department of Health and Human Services greater authority and oversight over county-run social services, while strengthening protocols for investigating abuse and neglect within the foster care system.

The legislation, which received support from both sides of the aisle, was inspired in part by a documentary exposing critical failures in North Carolina’s foster care network. As part of the broader reform, the state also introduced Path NC, a digital platform that will track foster children across county lines to ensure better coordination and care.