A bill to amend the Head Start Act to address the needs of victims of child abuse and neglect, children in foster care, children in kinship care, and homeless children.

Summary: Improving Head Start Access for Homeless and Foster Children Act of 2005 - Amends the Head Start Act to include consideration of the needs of homeless children, children in foster care, and children referred by child welfare agencies under specified requirements for Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Head Start Access for 
Homeless and Foster Children Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(18) The term `family' means all persons living in the 
        same household who are--
                    ``(A) supported by the income of at least 1 parent 
                or guardian (including any relative acting in place of 
                a parent, such as a grandparent) of a child enrolling 
                or participating in the Head Start program; and
                    ``(B) related to the parent or guardian by blood, 
                marriage, or adoption.
            ``(19) The term `homeless child' means a child described in 
        section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
            ``(20) The term `homeless family' means the family of a 
        homeless child.''.

SEC. 3. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Quality Improvement.--Section 640(a)(3) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by inserting ``children in 
                foster care, children referred to Head Start programs 
                by child welfare agencies, '' after ``background''; and
                    (B) in clause (v), by inserting ``, including 
                collaboration to increase program participation by 
                underserved populations, including homeless children, 
                children in foster care, and children referred to Head 
                Start programs by child welfare agencies'' before the 
                period; and
            (2) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (ii)(IV)--
                            (i) by inserting ``homeless children, 
                        children in foster care, children referred to 
                        Head Start programs by child welfare agencies, 
                        '' after ``dysfunctional families''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and families'' after 
                        ``communities'';
                    (B) in clause (v)--
                            (i) by inserting ``homeless children, 
                        children in foster care, children referred to 
                        Head Start programs by child welfare 
                        agencies,'' after ``dysfunctional families''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and families'' after 
                        ``communities'';
                    (C) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (viii); 
                and
                    (D) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
                            ``(vi) To conduct outreach to homeless 
                        families and to increase Head Start program 
                        participation by homeless children.''.
    (b) Collaboration Grants.--Section 640(a)(5)(C)(iv) of the Head 
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)(5)(C)(iv)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``child welfare (including child 
        protective services),'' after ``child care,'';
            (2) by inserting ``home-based services (including home 
        visiting services),'' after ``family literacy services''; and
            (3) by striking ``and services for homeless children'' and 
        inserting ``services provided through grants under section 106 
        of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5106a) and parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 620 et seq. and 670 et seq.), and services for 
        homeless children (including coordination of services with the 
        Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youth 
        designated under section 722 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432)), children in foster care, and 
        children referred to Head Start programs by child welfare 
        agencies''.
    (c) Allocation of Funds.--Section 640(g)(2) of the Head Start Act 
(42 U.S.C. 9835(g)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) by inserting ``organizations and agencies 
                providing family support services, child abuse 
                prevention services, protective services, and foster 
                care, and'' after ``(including''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and public entities serving 
                children with disabilities'' and inserting ``, public 
                entities, and individuals serving children with 
                disabilities and homeless children (including local 
                educational agency liaisons designated under section 
                722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)))'';
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and homeless 
        families'' after ``low-income families''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ``(including the 
        local educational agency liaison designated under section 
        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)))'' after ``community involved''.
    (d) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--Section 640 of the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9835) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) The Secretary shall issue regulations to remove barriers to 
the enrollment and participation of homeless children in Head Start 
programs. Such regulations shall require Head Start agencies to--
            ``(1) implement policies and procedures to ensure that 
        homeless children are identified and prioritized for 
        enrollment;
            ``(2) allow homeless children to apply to, enroll in, and 
        attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as 
        proof of residency, immunization and other medical records, 
        birth certificates, and other documents, are obtained; and
            ``(3) coordinate individual Head Start programs with 
        programs for homeless children (including efforts to implement 
        subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.)).''.

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 641(d)(4) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836(d)(4)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``including providing 
        services, to the extent practicable, such as transportation, to 
        enable such parents to participate'' after ``level'';
            (2) in subparagraph (E)(iv), by striking ``; and'' and 
        inserting a semicolon;
            (3) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) to meet the needs of homeless children 
                (including, to the extent practicable, the 
                transportation needs of such children), children in 
                foster care, and children referred to Head Start 
                programs by child welfare agencies;''.

SEC. 5. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES AND 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by inserting ``homeless 
                children, children being raised by grandparents or 
                other relatives, children in foster care, children 
                referred to Head Start Programs by child welfare 
                agencies,'' after ``children with disabilities,''; and
                    (B) in clause (vi), by striking ``background and 
                family structure of such children'' and inserting 
                ``background, family structure of such children 
                (including the number of children being raised by 
                grandparents and other relatives and the number of 
                children in foster care), and the number of homeless 
                children''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(2)(C), by striking ``disabilities)'' 
        and inserting ``disabilities, homeless children, children being 
        raised by grandparents or other relatives, children in foster 
        care, and children referred to Head Start programs by child 
        welfare agencies)''.

SEC. 6. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

    Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``mental health 
                services and treatment, domestic violence services, 
                and'' after ``participating children'';
                    (B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (11)(B), by striking the period 
                and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) inform foster parents or grandparents or other 
        relatives raising children enrolled in the Head Start program, 
        that they have a right to participate in programs, activities, 
        or services carried out or provided under this subchapter.'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``, the agencies 
        responsible for administering section 106 of the Child Abuse 
        Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), parts B and E 
        of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 620 et seq. 
        and 670 et seq.), and programs under subtitle B of title VII of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et 
        seq.), homeless shelters, other social service agencies serving 
        homeless children and families,'' after ``(42 U.S.C. 9858 et 
        seq.)''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) collaborating to increase the program participation 
        of homeless children.''.

SEC. 7. HEAD START TRANSITION.

    Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``local educational 
        agency liaisons designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)),'' after ``social workers'';
            (2) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``and family outreach 
        and support efforts under subtitle B of title VII of the 
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et 
        seq.)'' before the semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``; and '' and inserting 
        a semicolon;
            (4) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) developing and implementing a system to increase 
        program participation of underserved populations, including 
        homeless children.''.

SEC. 8. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

    Section 645(a)(1) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840(a)(1)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (i) and 
        inserting the following:
                    ``(i) programs assisted under this subchapter may 
                include--
                            ``(I) participation of homeless children, 
                        children whose families are receiving public 
                        assistance, children in foster care, and 
                        children who have been referred to a Head Start 
                        program by a child welfare agency; or
                            ``(II) to a reasonable extent, 
                        participation of other children in the area 
                        served who would benefit from such programs,
                whose families do not meet the low-income criteria 
                prescribed pursuant to subparagraph (A); and''; and
            (2) in the flush matter following subparagraph (B), by 
        adding at the end the following: ``A homeless child shall 
        automatically be deemed to meet the low-income criteria.''.

SEC. 9. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH INFANTS AND 
              TODDLERS.

    Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``(including 
                parenting skills training, training in basic child 
                development, and training to meet the special needs of 
                their children)'' after ``role as parents'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(including home visiting 
                        and other home-based services)'' after ``with 
                        services'';
                            (ii) by striking ``disabilities)'' and 
                        inserting ``disabilities and homeless infants 
                        and toddlers (including homeless infants and 
                        toddlers with disabilities)); and
                            (iii) by striking ``services);'' and 
                        inserting ``services, housing services, family 
                        support services, and other child welfare 
                        services);''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``, and the 
                agencies responsible for administering section 106 of 
                the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 
                5106a) and parts B and E of title IV of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 620 et seq. and 670 et seq.)'' 
                before the semicolon; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(2)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) providing professional development 
                        designed to increase the program participation 
                        of underserved populations, including homeless 
                        infants and toddlers, infants and toddlers in 
                        foster care, and infants and toddlers referred 
                        by child welfare agencies.''.

SEC. 10. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

    Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``disabilities)'' 
                and inserting ``disabilities, children in foster care, 
                and children referred by child welfare agencies)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, including 
                the needs of homeless children and their families'' 
                before the semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (D) in paragraph (11) by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in 
        increasing the program participation of homeless children.''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by inserting ``training for personnel providing 
                services to children determined to be abused or 
                neglected, children receiving child welfare services, 
                and children referred by child welfare agencies,'' 
                after ``language),''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and family'' after 
                ``community''.

SEC. 11. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking ``disabilities)'' 
        and inserting ``disabilities, homeless children, children who 
        have been abused or neglected, and children in foster care''; 
        and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B) by inserting ``, including 
        those that work with children with disabilities, children who 
        have been abused and neglected, children in foster care, 
        children and adults who have been exposed to domestic violence, 
        children and adults facing mental health and substance abuse 
        problems, and homeless children and families'' before the 
        semicolon.

SEC. 12. REPORTS.

    Section 650(a) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``disabled and'' and inserting ``disabled children, homeless 
        children, children in foster care, and'';
            (2) in paragraph (8), by inserting ``homelessness, whether 
        the child is in foster care or was referred by a child welfare 
        agency,'' after ``background''; and
            (3) in paragraph (12), by inserting ``substance abuse 
        treatment, housing services,'' after ``physical fitness''.