By The FAMiLY Leader Staff
April 8, 2026
DES MOINES, Iowa — Yesterday, Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2096 into law, ushering in meaningful reforms to Iowa’s foster parent training requirements. The bill shifts away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all model toward a more flexible, competency-based approach that better equips families to care for children in need—while opening the door for faith to play its rightful role in motivating and sustaining foster parents.
The new law, which takes effect July 1, removes the previous mandate of 30 hours of initial training (plus six hours annually) for prospective foster parents. Instead, training will be tailored to each individual’s relevant experience, background, and the specific needs and circumstances of the child placed in their home. Core topics such as child welfare, supporting biological families, behavior management, trauma-informed care, attachment, grief, and loss will remain, but agencies and providers can now deliver training in ways that fit real families.
This change addresses long-standing frustrations expressed by foster parents themselves: a “canned, cookie-cutter” process that felt outdated and burdensome rather than truly preparatory.
Faith as a Motivator: No Longer Sidelined
At the bill signing, Greg Baker, Executive Vice President of The FAMiLY Leader, highlighted a key breakthrough for the faith community. “I come from a biased perspective — a Christian church perspective — faith is one of the primary motivators for foster families, yet we weren’t able to use faith as a motivator as we’re training them,” Baker said. “This legislation allows more different ways to train… including our Christian demographic, which will allow them to tap into their faith… and recruit more families into the process, which we do need to do.”
For years, committed Christian families have stepped up to foster and adopt, driven by biblical commands to care for the fatherless and the vulnerable. Yet outdated rules often forced secular-only frameworks that ignored or sidelined that motivation. SF 2096 changes that by enabling faith-integrated, tailored training that honors the whole person—preparing families not just with skills, but with the sustaining power of their deepest convictions.
Rooted in The FAMiLY Leader’s 4-i Model: iNFLUENCE Policy and iGNITE Partnerships Working Together
This policy victory reflects the practical outworking of The FAMiLY Leader’s 4-i transformational model:
- iNSPIRE the Church — Equipping believers to live out their faith boldly.
- iMPACT Elections — Raising up Christ-like leaders.
- iNFLUENCE Policy — Shaping laws and government action by bringing the timeless voice of God’s Word to family-impacting issues, advocating for righteousness in government, and promoting policies that protect and strengthen families according to God’s design.
- iGNITE Partnerships — Building collaborative relationships between the Church and government to solve real community problems.
The iNFLUENCE Policy pillar played a vital role by actively engaging lawmakers and advocating for reforms that remove unnecessary barriers while upholding biblical principles of family, mercy, and justice. Through persistent legislative advocacy, we helped advance a bill that recognizes the unique strengths faith-based families and agencies bring to foster care—rather than forcing them into a purely secular mold.
Complementing this work is the iGNITE Partnerships pillar—advanced through our Church Ambassador Network—which has been central to foster care progress in Iowa. For years, we have worked as a bridge between pastors, churches, and state leaders to create holistic solutions. These efforts include:
- Preventing children from entering the foster system by allowing Christian ministries to intervene early in family crises.
- Supporting foster families through faith-friendly programs like The Table Project.
- Demonstrating that churches and government can partner effectively without compromising religious liberty.
Through the combined strength of iNFLUENCE Policy (shaping the law) and iGNITE Partnerships (implementing real-world solutions), we have already contributed to a significant drop in Iowa’s foster care placements. The flexibility in SF 2096 builds on that foundation, empowering faith-based agencies, ministries, and families to serve more effectively within the state system.
Governor Reynolds and lawmakers from both parties recognized that government alone cannot meet every need. By reducing barriers and allowing customized training, the law invites the Church to bring its full strength—compassion, community, and Christ-centered hope—into the foster care space.
A Biblical Vision for Families
At The FAMiLY Leader, we believe every child deserves a stable, loving home, and every family deserves support that aligns with their values. This bill advances that vision by honoring religious liberty and recognizing that faith often provides the resilience and motivation needed for the demanding calling of foster care.
We give thanks to Governor Reynolds for her leadership, to the bipartisan legislators who supported SF 2096, and to the foster families and advocates who shared their stories. Most of all, we thank the pastors, Church Ambassadors, and believers across Iowa who have prayed, engaged, and partnered to see shalom—biblical wholeness—restored in our communities.
What’s Next? The FAMiLY Leader will continue working through our iNFLUENCE Policy and iGNITE Partnerships efforts to help churches and faith-based organizations develop and deliver approved training that equips the next generation of foster families. If your church wants to get involved in supporting foster care, preventing family breakdown, or learning more about the Church Ambassador Network, visit thefamilyleader.com or contact us today.
Together, through faith, family, and faithful partnerships, we can ensure more Iowa children experience the love and stability of a home rooted in God’s design.
We’d love for you to join us on this mission. Please consider donating today!
