Sec. 3. Programs for mentoring children in foster care
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Subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 629 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: It is the purpose of this section to authorize the Secretary to make grants to eligible applicants to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. In this section: The term children in foster care means children who have been removed from the custody of their biological or adoptive parents by a State child welfare agency.
The term mentoring means a structured, managed program— in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for consistent relationships; that can include direct one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types of mentoring services; that involves meetings and activities on a regular basis; and that is intended to meet, in part, the child’s need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model. The term eligible entity means— a nonprofit organization; a State child welfare agency; a local educational agency; an Indian tribe or a tribal organization; or a faith-based organization.
The Secretary shall carry out a program to award grants to eligible entities to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. To be eligible for a grant under paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application containing the following: A description of the proposed program to be carried out using amounts provided under this grant, including— the number of mentor-child matches proposed to be established and maintained annually under the program; the targeted age range of youth to be served by the program; such information as the Secretary may require concerning the methods to be used to recruit, screen, support, and oversee individuals participating as mentors, and to evaluate outcomes for participating children, including information necessary to demonstrate compliance with requirements established by the Secretary for the program; and such other information as the Secretary may require.
An assurance that the program will engage in recruitment strategies for mentors that realistically portray the benefits, practices, supports, and challenges of participating in the program. An assurance that all mentors covered under the program will receive intensive and ongoing training in the following areas: Child development, including the importance of bonding. Family dynamics, including the effects of domestic violence and trauma. The foster care system and foster care principles and practices.
Cultural competence practices and relationship building strategies. Positive youth development practices. Recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect. Confidentiality requirements for working with children in foster care. Working in coordination with the child welfare system. Other matters related to working with children in foster care. An assurance that all mentors covered under the program are appropriately screened and have demonstrated a willingness to comply with all aspects of the mentor program, including— a description of the methods to be used to conduct criminal background checks on all prospective mentors; and a description of the methods to be used to ensure that the mentors are willing and able to serve as a mentor on a long-term, consistent basis.
A demonstration that, in developing and implementing the program, the eligible entity will, to the extent feasible and appropriate— consult with— public and private community entities, including religious organizations and Indian tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations; and family members of children who may be potential clients of the program; coordinate the mentoring program and the eligible entity’s activities with other Federal, State, and local programs serving children and youth; and consult and coordinate with appropriate Federal, State, and local corrections, workforce development, and substance abuse and mental health agencies.
An assurance that public and private entities and nonprofit community organizations, including religious organizations and Indian organizations, will be eligible to participate on an equal basis. An agreement that the eligible entity will maintain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with such reviews or audits as the Secretary may find necessary for purposes of oversight of project activities and expenditures. An agreement that the eligible entity will cooperate fully with the Secretary’s ongoing and final evaluation of the program under the plan, by means including providing the Secretary access to the program, the program’s staff, program-related records and documents, and each public or private community entity receiving funding under the plan.
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration— the feasibility and strength of a plan to recruit and support transition-aged foster youth; the overall qualifications and capacity of the eligible entity and its partners to effectively carry out a mentoring program under this subsection; the level and quality of training provided to mentors under the program; evidence of coordination of the program with the social services and education programs of the State or political subdivision; the ability of the eligible entity to provide supervision and support for mentors under the program and the youth served by such mentors; the number of children in foster care served by the State or political subdivision; and any other factors that the Secretary determines to be significant with respect to the need for, or the potential success of, carrying out a mentoring program under this section.
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection may use such funds to— develop and carry out a training program and ongoing support for mentors; recruit mentors for children in foster care; and provide activities that will help the development of a child in foster care who is participating in the program. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall scale grants to account for the eligible entity’s annual budget and capacity. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that includes the following with respect to the year involved:
A description of the number of programs receiving grant awards under this subsection. A description of the number of mentors who serve in the programs described in subparagraph (A). A description of— the number of children in foster care who participated in mentoring programs funded by the grant funds under this subsection; data on the academic achievement of the children in mentoring programs funded by the grant funds under this subsection; and the number of children in foster care on waiting lists for such mentoring programs.
Any other information that the Secretary determines to be relevant to the evaluation of the program under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020; and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. .
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Sec. 3
Programs for mentoring children in foster care
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