Ensuring Healthy Beginnings Act

To amend title V of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give priority to eligible entities that partner with certain community partners with respect to grants awarded under the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Healthy Beginnings Act 2. Giving priority to certain eligible entities under maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation program (a) In general Section 511(c) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 711(c) (5) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to applications submitted by an eligible entities that are working in partnership with qualified community partners. (6) Standardized materials The Secretary shall develop standard materials on the availability of the items and services described in subsection (k)(5) for dissemination by eligible entities whose applications are given priority under paragraph (5). . (b) Definitions Section 511(k) of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (4) Community partner The term community partner (A) A local educational agency, elementary school, or secondary school (as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (B) A law enforcement agency. (C) A hospital, community health center, or a local healthcare organization that furnishes items and services primarily to pregnant women, infants, and young children. (5) Qualified community partner The term qualified community partner (A) Outreach services. (B) Literature, including pamphlets, newsletters, or online mass distributions. (C) Assistance in obtaining any information on assistance which a pregnant woman, first-time mother, or a family described in such subsection may be eligible to receive, including counseling, employment and training assistance, educational assistance, and health care services. (D) Assistance in obtaining and coordinating the provision of other public benefits provided through Federal, State or local agencies or other community partners, including any of the following services: (i) Marriage counseling. (ii) Child assistance services. (iii) Suicide prevention services. (iv) Substance abuse awareness and treatment services. (v) Mental health awareness and treatment services. (vi) Financial counseling. (vii) Anger management counseling. (viii) Domestic violence awareness and prevention services. (ix) Employment assistance. (x) Transportation services. (xi) Child care services. (xii) Housing counseling. (xiii) Assistance with preparing and updating family care plans. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to grants awarded on or after the date of the enactment of this section.

Summary: Ensuring Healthy Beginnings Act This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services, in awarding grants for maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation programs, to give priority to applications submitted by certain governmental entities that are working in partnership with qualified community partners. A "qualified community partner" is a local educational agency, elementary or secondary school, a law enforcement agency, or a health care entity that provides specified services and assistance to pregnant women, infants, and young children.