Sec. 201. Amendments to title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
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Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq. ) is amended to read as follows: The purposes of this title are— to support community-based family strengthening services and statewide systems-building approaches to ensure the development, operation, expansion, evaluation, and coordination of initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect; and to increase access to a continuum of primary preventive services for diverse populations, including families with low incomes, families who are racial or ethnic minorities, families that include children with disabilities or caregivers with disabilities, children and youth overrepresented in the child welfare system, families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and families in rural communities, that help strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Secretary shall make grants under this title on a formula basis, from allotments made in accordance with subsection (c), to the entities designated by the States as the lead entities under section 203(b) for the purposes of— supporting community-based family strengthening services, to assist families to build protective factors linked to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, that— are accessible to diverse populations, effective, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive; build upon the strengths of families; provide families with early, comprehensive support; promote the development of healthy familial relationships and parenting skills, especially for young parents and parents of young children; increase family stability; improve family access to other formal and informal community-based resources, such as referral to early childhood health and developmental services, mental health services, and supports to meet the needs of families that include children with disabilities or caregivers with disabilities; and meaningfully involve parents in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such services, including the parents of families with low incomes, parents who are racial or ethnic minorities, parents of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, parents of children and youth overrepresented in the child welfare system, parents experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and parents in rural communities; promoting the development of a continuum of primary preventive services for families, through State- and community-based collaborations, public-private partnerships, and the leveraging of Federal, State, local, and private funds; financing the establishment, maintenance, expansion, or redesign of core services described in section 205(d)(3)(A), to address unmet needs described in the inventory in section 204(b)(1)(C)(i); financing public information and education activities that focus on the healthy and positive development of parents and children and the promotion of child abuse and neglect prevention activities, including— comprehensive outreach strategies to engage diverse populations; and efforts to increase awareness, of adults who work with children in a professional or volunteer capacity, regarding the availability of community-based family strengthening services; and providing professional development and technical assistance (including activities to support the implementation of services) to improve the effectiveness of community-based family strengthening services including on the use of evidence-based or evidence-informed practices, public health approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect, and culturally responsive practices.
The Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 209 for a fiscal year to make awards to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations and for migrant programs. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated under section 209 exceeds the amount appropriated under section 209 for fiscal year 2021 by more than $4,000,000, the Secretary shall reserve, from the total amount appropriated— 5 percent for awards to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect; and 1 percent for migrant programs to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Secretary shall allot the amount appropriated under section 209 for a fiscal year and remaining after the reservations under subsection
(b)and section 207 among the States as follows: 70 percent of such remaining amount shall be allotted among the States by allotting to each State an amount that bears the same proportion to such remaining amount as the number of children under the age of 18 residing in the State bears to the total number of children under the age of 18 residing in all States (except that no State shall receive less than $200,000 under this paragraph). 30 percent of such remaining amount shall be allotted among the States by allotting to each State an amount that bears the same proportion to such remaining amount as the amount of private, State, or other non-Federal funds leveraged and directed in the preceding fiscal year through the lead entity (as designated for the preceding fiscal year) of the State bears to the total of the amounts of private, State, or other non-Federal sources leveraged and directed in the preceding fiscal year through such an entity of all States. Funds allotted by the Secretary to a State under this section shall be— for a 3-year period; and provided to the State on an annual basis. In this title, the term lead entity means a public, quasi-public, or nonprofit private entity (which may be an entity that has not been established pursuant to State legislation, executive order, or any other written authority of the State) that— exists to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect and has a demonstrated ability to work with State and local public agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations to provide professional development and technical assistance; and has the capacity and commitment to partner meaningfully with family advocates, parents who are or have been recipients of community-based family strengthening services, and adults who experienced child abuse or neglect as children, to provide leadership in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the programs and policy decisions of the entity described in this subsection. A State shall be eligible for a grant under this title for a fiscal year if the Governor of a State has designated a lead entity to administer funds under this title for the purposes identified under section 201, including to develop, implement, operate, enhance, or expand community-based family strengthening services. In designating a lead entity under paragraph
(1)the Governor shall— take into consideration the capacity and expertise of potential lead entities; and take into consideration (equally) whether a potential lead entity is— a trust fund advisory board of the State; or an existing entity that— leverages Federal, State, local, and private funds for a broad range of child abuse and neglect prevention activities and family resource programs; and is directed by an interdisciplinary, public-private entity that includes participants from communities to be served by the lead entity. On designating a lead entity under this title, the Governor of the State shall provide assurances to the Secretary as part of the application submitted by the lead entity under section 204 that the lead entity— will provide or will be responsible for providing— community-based family strengthening services, in accordance with section 205, including through collaborative, public-private partnerships with community-based providers; leadership to elevate the importance of primary prevention of child abuse and neglect across the State through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, public-private structure with balanced representation from private and public sector members, and representation of parents, adults who experienced child abuse or neglect as children, community-based providers, and parents with disabilities; and direction and oversight of programs of community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title through the use of identified goals and objectives, clear lines of communication and accountability, the provision of leveraged or combined funding from Federal, State, local, and private sources, centralized assessment and planning activities, the provision of training and technical assistance, and reporting and evaluation functions; has a demonstrated commitment to parental leadership in the development, operation, and oversight of the community-based family strengthening services; has a demonstrated ability to work with State and local public agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations to develop and maintain a continuum of primary preventive services designed to support children and families; has the capacity to provide operational support (both financial and programmatic), professional development, technical assistance, and evaluation assistance to community-based providers, through innovative, interagency funding and interdisciplinary service delivery mechanisms; will integrate its efforts with individuals and organizations experienced in working in partnership with diverse populations, including families with low incomes, families who are racial or ethnic minorities, families that include children with disabilities or caregivers with disabilities, children and youth overrepresented in the child welfare system, families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and families in rural communities; and will engage with diverse populations to identify and address unmet needs when developing the inventory required under section 204(b)(1)(C)(i) and when distributing funds to community-based providers under section 205. To receive a grant under this title, a lead entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including the contents described in subsection (b). Each application submitted under subsection
(a)by a lead entity shall include each of the following: A description of— the lead entity responsible for the administration of funds provided under this title, including how the lead entity will conduct oversight of community-based providers that receive subgrants under section 205; how the lead entity will ensure community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title will be integrated into a continuum of primary preventive services for children and families, including how the lead entity will— utilize statewide and local systems-building approaches to increase access to community-based family strengthening services for diverse populations; determine which communities to serve; support place-based approaches to meeting the needs of children and families; and ensure such services are designed to serve children and families in hard-to-reach areas; an inventory as of the date of submission of such application, that includes a description of— the unmet needs in the State, identified through engagement with diverse populations; and the community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title and other relevant services provided in the State; how the lead entity will ensure, in the policy decision-making, implementation, and evaluation of community-based providers supported by grant funds under this title, the meaningful involvement of— parents who are or who have been recipients of community-based family strengthening services; family advocates; and adults who experienced child abuse or neglect as children; the criteria the lead entity will use to select and fund community-based providers, including how the lead entity will take into consideration a provider's ability to— collaborate with State and local public agencies and community-based nonprofit organizations and engage in long-term and strategic planning to support the development of a continuum of primary preventive services across the State; meaningfully partner with parents in the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based family strengthening services; and incorporate evidence-based or evidence-informed practices; outreach activities the lead entity and community-based providers will undertake to maximize the participation of diverse populations, including families with low incomes, families who are racial or ethnic minorities, families that include children with disabilities or caregivers with disabilities, children and youth overrepresented in the child welfare system, families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and families in rural communities; how the performance of the State program will be assessed using the measures described in section 206 and by other measures that may be established by the lead entity; the actions the lead entity will take to advocate for systemic changes in State policies, practices, procedures, and regulations to— improve the delivery of community-based family strengthening services; and promote primary prevention activities to strengthen and support families in order to reduce child abuse and neglect and contact with the child protective services system; and the lead entity's plan for providing operational support, professional development, and technical assistance to community-based providers, related to the use of trauma-informed practices, public health approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect, culturally responsive practices, and the use of evidence-based or evidence-informed practices. A budget for the development, operation, and expansion of the community-based family strengthening services that demonstrates that the State will expend, in non-Federal funds, an amount (in cash, not in kind) equal to not less than 20 percent of the amount received under this title for activities under this title. An assurance that— the lead entity will use grant funds received under this title to provide community-based family strengthening services in accordance with section 205 in a manner that— helps families build protective factors that are linked to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, including knowledge of parenting and child development (including social and emotional development), parental resilience, social connections, and time-limited and need-based concrete support available to families; is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and takes into consideration the assets and needs of communities in which the lead entity serves; and promotes coordination between community-based providers, State and local public agencies, community-based nonprofit organizations, and relevant private entities to develop and expand a continuum of primary preventive supports that promote child, parent, and family well-being, with a focus on increasing access to those supports for diverse populations; funds received under this title will be used to supplement, not supplant, other State and local public funds designated for the establishment, maintenance, expansion, and redesign of community-based family strengthening services; and the lead entity will provide the Secretary with reports at such time and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The assurances described in section 203(c). A lead entity that receives a grant under this title shall use the grant funds to develop, implement, operate, expand, and enhance community-based family strengthening services, including by providing subgrants to community-based providers described in subsection (b). In this title, the term community-based provider means an entity that provides community-based family strengthening services, including an entity that is a State or local public agency or a community-based nonprofit organization. In awarding subgrants under this section, a lead entity shall give priority to community-based providers proposing evidence-based or evidence-informed local programs to serve low-income communities or to serve young parents or parents of young children. A lead entity or a community-based provider that receives funds under this section shall use the funds to develop, implement, operate, expand, and enhance community-based family strengthening services, which may include— assessing community assets and needs through a planning process that— involves other relevant community-based organizations, including those that have already performed a local needs assessments and can positively contribute to the planning process; meaningfully involves parents; and uses information and expertise from local public agencies, local nonprofit organizations, and local private sector representatives; developing a comprehensive strategy, which may leverage public-private partnerships, to provide a continuum of primary preventive services to children and families, especially to families experiencing difficulty meeting basic needs or with other risk factors linked with child abuse and neglect, such as families with young parents, parents of young children, or parents who experienced domestic violence or child abuse or neglect as children; providing, directly or through community referral services, core child abuse and neglect prevention services, such as— parent support and education programs that build protective factors linked to the prevention of child abuse and neglect; mutual support and self-help programs; parental leadership skills development programs that support parents as leaders in their families and communities; respite care services; and outreach and follow up services, which may include voluntary home visiting services; and connecting individuals and families to community referral services, including referral to— adoption services for individuals interested in adopting a child; early childhood care and education programs such as a child care program, a Head Start program (including an Early Head Start program) carried out under the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. ), a developmental screening program, or a program carried out under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1419 , 1431 et seq.); services and supports to meet the additional needs of families with children with disabilities or caregivers with disabilities; nutrition programs, which may include the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children program under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1786 ) and the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ); educational services, academic tutoring, adult education and literacy services, and workforce development activities, such as activities described in section 134 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174 ); self-sufficiency and life management skills training; mental health services; peer counseling; and domestic violence service programs that provide services and treatment to children and their nonabusing caregivers; developing and maintaining leadership roles for the meaningful involvement of parents in the development, operation, evaluation, and oversight of the services provided by the lead entity or community-based providers; providing leadership in mobilizing local public and private resources to support the provision of community-based family strengthening services; and coordinating services with State and local public agencies, community-based nonprofit organizations, and relevant private entities, to promote child, parent, and family well-being, including coordinating services through the development, operation, and expansion of State and local systems to develop a continuum of primary preventive services to strengthen families and to prevent child abuse and neglect. Each lead entity receiving a grant under this title shall collect information on the extent to which the State program carried out under this title meets measures relating to— the effective development, operation, and expansion of community-based family strengthening services that meet the requirements of this title, including the use of systems-building approaches to increase access to such services for diverse populations; the community-based family strengthening services supported under this title and an inventory of the types of such services provided in accordance with section 205 and a description that shall specify whether those services are evidence-based or evidence-informed; the extent to which the lead entity has addressed the unmet needs identified by the inventory required under section 204(b)(1)(C)(i); the involvement of a diverse representation of families in the design, operation, and evaluation of community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title; and the continued leadership of parents in the ongoing planning, implementation, and evaluation of such community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title, demonstrated in an implementation plan; the satisfaction among families who received community-based family strengthening services supported by grant funds under this title; the establishment or maintenance of innovative funding mechanisms that blend Federal, State, local, and private funds, and of innovative, interdisciplinary service delivery mechanisms, for the development, operation, expansion, and enhancement of the community-based family strengthening services; the effectiveness of activities conducted under this title in meeting the purposes of the program, demonstrated through the results of evaluation, or the outcomes of monitoring, conducted by the lead entity; and the number of children and families that received community-based family strengthening services funded under this title, including a disaggregated count of families with children with disabilities and families with caregivers with disabilities. The lead entity shall submit to the Secretary a report containing the information described in subsection (a). From the amount appropriated under section 209 for a fiscal year and remaining after the reservation under section 202(b), the Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent to support the activities of lead entities— to create, operate, and maintain a peer review process; to create, operate, and maintain an information clearinghouse; to fund a yearly symposium on State system change efforts that result from the provision of the community-based family strengthening services; to establish, operate, and maintain a computerized communication system between lead entities; and to contribute to funding State-to-State technical assistance through biannual conferences. Nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit grandparents, kinship care providers, foster parents, adoptive parents, or any other individual, in a parenting role from receiving or participating in services and programs under this title. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. .
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Sec. 201
Amendments to title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
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