I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5889 

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate 

information, resources, and if requested, technical assistance to early 

childhood care and education providers and professionals working with 

young children on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 

who may be impacted by trauma related to substance abuse. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2018 

Mr. BRAT (for himself and Mr. O’HALLERAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

to disseminate information, resources, and if requested, 

technical assistance to early childhood care and education 

providers and professionals working with young children 

on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 

who may be impacted by trauma related to substance 

abuse. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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•HR 5889 IH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognizing Early 

3 Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 

4 2018’’. 

5 SEC. 2. RECOGNIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA RE6 LATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 

7 (a) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The Sec8 retary of Health and Human Services shall disseminate 

9 information, resources, and, if requested, technical assist10 ance to early childhood care and education providers and 

11 professionals working with young children on— 

12 (1) ways to properly recognize children who 

13 may be impacted by trauma related to substance 

14 abuse by a family member or other adult, and 

15 (2) how to respond appropriately in order to 

16 provide for the safety and well-being of young chil17 dren and their families. 

18 (b) GOALS.—The information, resources, and tech19 nical assistance provided under subsection (a) shall— 

20 (1) educate early childhood care and education 

21 providers and professionals working with young chil22 dren on understanding and identifying the early 

23 signs and risk factors of children who might be im24 pacted by trauma due to exposure to substance 

25 abuse, 


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•HR 5889 IH

1 (2) suggest age-appropriate communication 

2 tools, procedures, and practices for trauma-informed 

3 care, including ways to prevent or mitigate the ef4 fects of trauma, 

5 (3) provide options for responding to children 

6 impacted by trauma due to exposure to substance 

7 abuse that consider the needs of the child and fam8 ily, including recommending resources and referrals 

9 for evidence-based services to support such family, 

10 and 

11 (4) promote whole-family and multi12 generational approaches to prevent separation and 

13 support re-unification of families whenever possible 

14 and in the best interest of the child. 

15 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Such information, re16 sources, and if applicable, technical assistance, shall not 

17 be construed to amend the requirements under— 

18 (1) the Child Care and Development Block 

19 Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), 

20 (2) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 

21 seq.), or 

22 (3) the Individuals with Disabilities Education 

23 Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.). 

Æ 


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