CONNECT Act

To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice systems. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams CONNECT Act 2. Authority to award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice systems (a) In general Section 436 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 629f (c) Authority To award grants to States To enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice systems (1) Purpose The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make grants to State child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to collaborate in the collection of data relating to dual status youth and to develop practices, policies, and protocols to confront the challenges presented and experienced by dual status youth. (2) Authority to award grants (A) In general The Secretary may award competitive grants jointly to a State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency to facilitate or enhance collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of the State in order to carry out programs to address the needs of dual status youth. (B) Funding Any grants awarded under this subsection shall be awarded from the amounts made available under subsection (a) of this section, after the application of subsection (b) of this section and before the determination of allotments under section 433. (C) Length of grants (i) In general A grant shall be awarded under this subsection for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, subject to clause (ii). (ii) Extension of grant On application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the period for which a grant is awarded under this subsection. (3) Additional requirements (A) Application In order for a State to be eligible for a grant under this subsection, it shall submit an application, to be approved by the Secretary, that includes— (i) a description of the proposed leadership collaboration group (including the membership of such group), and how such group will manage and oversee a review and analysis of current practices while working to jointly address enhanced practices to improve outcomes for dual status youth; (ii) a description of how the State proposes to— (I) identify dual status youths; (II) identify individuals who are at risk of becoming dual status youths; (III) identify common characteristics shared by dual status youths in the State; and (IV) determine the prevalence of dual status youths in the State; (iii) a description of current and proposed practices and procedures that the State intends to use to— (I) screen and assess dual status youths for risks and treatment needs; (II) provide targeted and evidence-based services, including educational, behavioral health, and pro-social treatment interventions for dual status youths; and (III) provide for a lawful process to enhance or ensure the abilities of the State and any relevant agencies to share information and data about dual status youths while maintaining confidentiality and privacy protections under State and Federal law; and (iv) a certification that the State has involved local governments, as appropriate, in the development, expansion, modification, operation, or improvement of proposed policy and practice reforms to address the needs of dual status youths. (B) No supplantation of other funds Any amounts paid to a State under a grant under this subsection shall be used to supplement and not supplant other State expenditures on dual status youths or children involved with either the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. (C) Report A State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency receiving a grant under this subsection shall jointly submit to the Secretary and to the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice a report on the activities carried out under the grant at the end of each fiscal year during the period of the grant. Such report shall include— (i) a description of the scope and nature of the dual status youth population in the State, including the number of dual status youth; (ii) a description of the evidence-based practices and procedures used by the agencies to carry out the activities described in subclauses (I) through (III) of subparagraph (A)(iii); and (iii) an analysis of the effects of such practices and procedures, including information regarding— (I) the collection of data related to individual dual status youths; (II) aggregate data related to the dual status youth population, including— (aa) characteristics of dual status youths in the State; (bb) case processing time­lines; and (cc) information related to case management, the provision of targeted services, and placements within the foster care or juvenile justice system; and (III) the extent to which such practices and procedures have contributed to— (aa) higher educational attainment for dual status youths; (bb) fewer delinquency referrals for dual status youths; (cc) shorter stays in intensive restrictive placements for dual status youths; or (dd) such other outcomes for dual status youths as the State child welfare agency and State juvenile justice agency may identify. (4) Training and technical assistance The Secretary may support State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies by offering a program, developed in consultation with organizations and agencies with subject matter expertise, of training and technical assistance to assist the agencies in developing programs and protocols— (A) to facilitate or enhance collaboration between State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies; and (B) for effectively working with Federal agencies and child welfare and juvenile justice agencies from other States. (5) Report Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary and the Attorney General of the Department of Justice shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, a report on the grants provided under this subsection. (6) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Dual status youth The term dual status youth (B) Leadership collaboration group The term leadership collaboration group (C) State juvenile justice agency The term State juvenile justice agency 42 U.S.C. 5601 (D) State child welfare agency The term State child welfare agency . (b) Conforming amendment Subsections (b) and (c) of section 433 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 633 section 436(b) subsections (b) and (c) of section 436

Summary: Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams or the CONNECT Act This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make joint, competitive grants to state child-welfare and juvenile-justice agencies for the purpose of facilitating or enhancing collaboration between them in order to address the needs of youth who come into contact with both systems. HHS may offer training and technical assistance to the agencies regarding the development of programs and protocols.