Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act

To provide additional temporary supports and flexibilities for older foster youth, grandparents, and other kinship families, home visiting for pregnant and parenting families, and other child welfare services, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) COVID– 19 The term COVID–19 public health emergency Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2) COVID– 19 The term COVID–19 public health emergency period (3) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Continued safe operation of child welfare programs and support for older foster youth (a) Funding increases (1) Increase in support for Chafee programs Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, to carry out section 477 of the Social Security Act, in addition to any amounts otherwise made available for such purpose. (2) Education and training vouchers Of the amount made available by reason of paragraph (1) of this subsection, not less than $50,000,000 shall be reserved for the provision of vouchers pursuant to section 477(h)(2) of the Social Security Act. (3) Inapplicability of State matching requirement to additional funds In making payments under subsections (a)(4) and (e)(1) of section 474 of the Social Security Act from the additional funds made available as a result of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the percentages specified in subsections (a)(4)(A)(i) and (e)(1) of such section are, respectively, deemed to be 100 percent. (4) Maximum award amount The dollar amount specified in section 477(i)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act through the end of fiscal year 2021 is deemed to be $12,000. (5) Inapplicability of nytd penalty to additional funds In calculating any penalty under section 477(e)(2) of the Social Security Act with respect to the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) for the COVID–19 public health emergency period, none of the additional funds made available by reason of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be considered to be part of an allotment to a State under section 477(c) of such Act. (b) Maximum age limitation on eligibility for assistance During fiscal years 2020 and 2021, a child may be eligible for services and assistance under section 477 of the Social Security Act until the child attains 27 years of age, notwithstanding any contrary certification made under such section. (c) Special rule With respect to funds made available by reason of subsection (a) that are used during the COVID–19 public health emergency period to support activities due to the COVID–19 pandemic, the Secretary may not require any State to provide proof of a direct connection to the pandemic if doing so would be administratively burdensome or would otherwise delay or impede the ability of the State to serve foster youth. (d) Programmatic flexibilities During the COVID–19 public health emergency period: (1) Suspension of certain requirements under the education and training voucher program The Secretary shall allow a State to waive the applicability of the requirement in section 477(i)(3) of the Social Security Act that a youth must be enrolled in a postsecondary education or training program or making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program if a youth is unable to do so due to the COVID–19 public health emergency. (2) Authority to use vouchers to maintain training and postsecondary education A voucher provided under a State educational and training voucher program under section 477(i) of the Social Security Act may be used for maintaining training and postsecondary education, including less than full-time matriculation costs or other expenses that are not part of the cost of attendance but would help support youth in remaining enrolled as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection. (3) Authority to waive limitations on percentage of funds used for housing assistance and eligibility for such assistance Notwithstanding section 477(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act, a State may use— (A) more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under section 477(c)(1) of such Act for a fiscal year, for room or board payments; and (B) any of such amounts for youth otherwise eligible for services under section 477 of such Act who— (i) have attained 18 years of age and not 27 years of age; and (ii) experienced foster care at 14 years of age or older. 4. Preventing aging out of foster care during the pandemic (a) Addressing foster care age restrictions during the pandemic A State operating a program under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act may not require a child who is in foster care under the responsibility of the State to leave foster care solely by reason of the child’s age. A child may not be found ineligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of such Act solely due to the age of the child or the failure of the child to meet a condition of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act before October 1, 2021. (b) Re-Entry to foster care for youth who age out during the pandemic A State operating a program under the State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (and without regard to whether the State has exercised the option provided by section 475(8)(B) of such Act to extend assistance under such part to older children) shall— (1) permit any youth who left foster care due to age during the COVID–19 public health emergency to voluntarily re-enter foster care; (2) provide to each such youth who was formally discharged from foster care during the COVID–19 public health emergency, a notice designed to make the youth aware of the option to return to foster care; (3) facilitate the voluntary return of any such youth to foster care; and (4) conduct a public awareness campaign about the option to voluntarily re-enter foster care for youth who have not attained 22 years of age, who aged out of foster care in fiscal year 2020 or fiscal year 2021, and who are otherwise eligible to return to foster care. (c) Protections for youth in foster care A State operating a program under the State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act shall— (1) continue to ensure that the safety, permanence, and well-being needs of older foster youth, including youth who remain in foster care and youth who age out of foster care during that period but who re-enter foster care pursuant to this section, are met; and (2) work with any youth who remains in foster care after attaining 18 years of age (or such greater age as the State may have elected under section 475(8)(B)(iii) of such Act) to develop, or review and revise, a transition plan consistent with the plan referred to in section 475(5)(H) of such Act, and assist the youth with identifying adults who can offer meaningful, permanent connections. (d) Authority To use additional funding for certain costs incurred To prevent aging out of, facilitating re-Entry to, and protecting youth in care during the pandemic (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a State to which additional funds are made available as a result of section 3(a) may use the funds to meet any costs incurred in complying with subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section. (2) Restrictions (A) The costs referred to in paragraph (1) must be incurred after the date of the enactment of this section and before October 1, 2021. (B) The costs of complying with subsection (a) or (c) of this section must not be incurred on behalf of children eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act, including youth who have attained 18 years of age who are eligible for the payments by reason of the temporary waiver of the age requirement or the conditions of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act. (C) A State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that eligibility for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act is determined when a youth remains in, or re-enters, foster care as a result of the State complying with subsections (a) and (c) of this section. (D) A child who re-enters care during the COVID–19 public health emergency period may not be found ineligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act solely due to age or the requirements of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act before October 1, 2021. (e) Termination of certain provisions The preceding provisions of this section shall have no force or effect after September 30, 2021. 5. Family First Prevention Services Program pandemic flexibility During the COVID–19 public health emergency period, each percentage specified in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of section 474(a)(6) of the Social Security Act is deemed to be 100 percent. 6. Emergency funding for the Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (a) In general Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $85,000,000 to carry out section 436(a) of the Social Security Act for fiscal year 2020, in addition to any amounts otherwise made available for such purpose. For purposes of section 436(b) of such Act, the amount made available by the preceding sentence shall be considered part of the amount specified in such section 436(a). (b) Inapplicability of State matching requirement to additional funds In making payments under section 434(a) of the Social Security Act from the additional funds made available as a result of subsection (a) of this section, the percentage specified in section 434(a)(1) of such Act is deemed to be 100 percent. 7. Court Improvement Program (a) Reservation of funds Of the additional amounts made available by reason of section 6 of this Act, the Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under subsection (b) of this section, which shall be considered to be made under section 438 of the Social Security Act. (b) Distribution of funds (1) In general From the amounts reserved under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall— (A) reserve not more than $500,000 for Tribal court improvement activities; and (B) from the amount remaining after the application of subparagraph (A), make a grant to each highest State court that is approved to receive a grant under section 438 of the Social Security Act for the purpose described in section 438(a)(3) of such Act, for fiscal year 2020. (2) Amount The amount of the grant awarded to a highest State court under this subsection shall be the sum of— (A) $85,000; and (B) the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount reserved under subsection (a) that remains after the application of paragraph (1)(A) and subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, as the number of individuals in the State in which the court is located who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States the highest courts of which were awarded a grant under this subsection (based on the most recent year for which data are available from the Bureau of the Census). (3) Other rules (A) In general The grants awarded to the highest State courts under this subsection shall be in addition to any grants made to the courts under section 438 of the Social Security Act for any fiscal year. (B) No additional application The Secretary shall award grants to the highest State courts under this subsection without requiring the courts to submit an additional application. (C) Reports The Secretary may establish reporting criteria specific to the grants awarded under this subsection. (D) Redistribution of funds If a highest State court does not accept a grant awarded under this subsection, or does not agree to comply with any reporting requirements imposed under subparagraph (C) or the use of funds requirements specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall redistribute the grant funds that would have been awarded to that court under this subsection among the other highest State courts that are awarded grants under this subsection and agree to comply with the reporting and use of funds requirements. (c) Use of funds A highest State court awarded a grant under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds to address needs stemming from the COVID–19 public health emergency, which may include any of the following: (1) Technology investments to facilitate the transition to remote hearings for dependency courts when necessary as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency. (2) Training for judges, attorneys, and caseworkers on facilitating and participating in remote hearings that comply with due process and all applicable law, ensure child safety and well-being, and help inform judicial decision making. (3) Programs to help families address aspects of the case plan to avoid delays in legal proceedings that would occur as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency. (4) Other purposes to assist courts, court personnel, or related staff related to the COVID–19 public health emergency. 8. Allowing home visiting programs to continue serving families safely (a) In general For purposes of section 511 of the Social Security Act, during the COVID–19 public health emergency period— (1) a virtual home visit shall be considered a home visit; (2) funding for, and staffing levels of, a program conducted pursuant to such section shall not be reduced on account of reduced enrollment in the program; and (3) funds provided for such a program may be used— (A) to train home visitors in conducting a virtual home visit and in emergency preparedness and response planning for families served, and may include training on how to safely conduct intimate partner violence screenings remotely, training on safety and planning for families served; (B) for the acquisition by families enrolled in the program of such technological means as are needed to conduct and support a virtual home visit; and (C) to provide emergency supplies to families served, regardless of whether the provision of such supplies is within the scope of the approved program, such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, hand soap, and hand sanitizer. (b) Virtual home visit defined In subsection (a), the term virtual home visit (c) Authority To delay deadlines (1) In general The Secretary may extend the deadline by which a requirement of section 511 of the Social Security Act must be met, by such period of time as the Secretary deems appropriate, taking into consideration the impact of the COVID–19 public health emergency on eligible entity home visiting programs and the impact of families enrolled in home visiting programs. The Secretary may delay the deadline for submission, waive performance measures, or allow for alternative data sources to be used to show improvement in performance in the manner provided in section 511(d)(1) of such Act. (2) Delay of deadline for statewide needs assessment The Secretary may delay the October 1, 2020, deadline for reviewing and updating any needs assessment required by section 511(b)(1) or 511(h)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act, but any such delay shall not affect the timing for, or amount of, any payment to the State involved from the fiscal year allotments available to the State under section 502(c) of such Act. (3) Guidance The Secretary shall provide to eligible entities funded under section 511 of the Social Security Act information on the parameters used in extending a deadline under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection. (d) Extension of grant obligation period Notwithstanding section 511(j)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act, funds made available to an eligible entity for fiscal year 2018 under section 511 of such Act shall remain available for expenditure by the eligible entity through September 30, 2021. (e) Timely release of title v funds The authorities provided in this section shall not be interpreted to authorize or require any delay in the timely release of funds under title V of the Social Security Act. 9. Kinship navigator programs pandemic flexibility (a) Inapplicability of matching funds requirements During the COVID–19 public health emergency period, the percentage specified in section 474(a)(7) of the Social Security Act is deemed to be 100 percent. (b) Waiver of evidence standard During the COVID–19 public health emergency period, the requirement in section 474(a)(7) of the Social Security Act that the Secretary determine that a kinship navigator program be operated in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices that meet the applicable criteria specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C) of such Act shall have no force or effect. (c) Other allowable uses of funds A State may use funds provided to carry out a kinship navigator program— (1) for evaluations, independent systematic review, and related activities; (2) to provide short-term support to kinship families for direct services or assistance during the COVID–19 public health emergency period; and (3) to ensure that kinship caregivers have the information and resources to allow kinship families to function at their full potential, including— (A) ensuring that those who are at risk of contracting COVID–19 have access to information and resources for necessities, including food, safety supplies, and testing and treatment for COVID–19; (B) access to technology and technological supports needed for remote learning or other activities that must be carried out virtually due to the COVID–19 public health emergency; (C) health care and other assistance, including legal assistance and assistance with making alternative care plans for the children in their care if the caregivers were to become unable to continue caring for the children; (D) services to kinship families, including kinship families raising children outside of the foster care system; and (E) assistance to allow children to continue safely living with kin. (d) Territory cap exemption Section 1108(a)(1) of the Social Security Act shall be applied without regard to any amount paid to a territory pursuant to this section that would not have been paid to the territory in the absence of this section. 10. Adjustment of funding certainty baselines for Family First Transition Act funding certainty grants Section 602(c)(2) of division N of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 ( Public Law 116–94 (1) in subparagraph (C), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking The calculation Except as provided in subparagraph (G), the calculation (2) by adding at the end the following: (G) Adjustment of funding certainty baselines (i) Hold harmless for temporary increase in fmap For each fiscal year specified in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall increase the maximum capped allocation for fiscal year 2019 or the final cost neutrality limit for fiscal year 2018 for a State or sub-State jurisdiction referred to in subparagraph (A)(i), by the amount equal to the difference between— (I) the amount of the foster care maintenance payments portion of such maximum capped allocation or final cost neutrality limit; and (II) the amount that the foster care maintenance payments portion of such maximum capped allocation or final cost neutrality limit would be if the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to the State under clause (ii) for the fiscal year so specified were used to determine the amount of such portion. (ii) Applicable Federal medical assistance percentage For purposes of clause (i)(II), the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to a State for a fiscal year specified in subparagraph (B) is the average of the values of the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to the State in each quarter of such fiscal year under section 474(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 674(a)(1) 42 U.S.C. 1396d . 11. Technical correction to temporary increase of Medicaid FMAP Section 6008 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( Public Law 116–127 (d) Application to title IV-E If the District of Columbia receives the increase described in subsection (a) in the Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia with respect to a quarter, the Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia, as so increased, shall apply to payments made to the District of Columbia under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 670 42 U.S.C. 1396 .

Summary: Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act This bill increases FY2020 funding, raises the maximum age of eligibility, and provides other flexibilities for certain foster care programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.