Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants for providing evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023 2. Caregiver Skills Training Pilot Program (a) Authorization The Secretary shall carry out a program, to be known as the Caregiver Skills Training Pilot Program, under which the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to provide evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children (1) improving the well-being of children and their caregivers; and (2) teaching caregivers of such children evidenced-based intervention strategies to promote— (A) improvement in the well-being of such children and their caregivers; and (B) the greater inclusion of such children in family and community life. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall be— (1) a nonprofit or other community-based organization; (2) a Federally qualified health center; (3) an academic health center; (4) a health system; or (5) a collaboration or consortium of 2 or more entities listed in paragraphs (1) through (4). (c) Application To seek a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes— (1) a description of— (A) the applicant’s experience delivering evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays; (B) the activities that the applicant proposes to carry out through the grant; and (C) how such activities will achieve the purposes described in subsection (a); and (2) a plan for— (A) coordination with community-based organizations, State and local early intervention providers, State Medicaid systems, schools, and other providers of early intervening services; (B) collaboration with health care payors (including public and private insurance), State departments of insurance, health plans, and other relevant payors; (C) expanding the skills training program proposed to be carried out through the grant; (D) achieving sustainability of such program; and (E) establishing and maintaining a stakeholder implementation committee under subsection (f). (d) Selection of grantees (1) Selection criteria In awarding a grant to an eligible entity or a collaboration or consortium of 2 or more entities described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall require at least one of the recipients to— (A) have at least 3 years of demonstrated experience— (i) delivering culturally competent services for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities, as well as collaborating directly with their families, including in medically underserved communities; (ii) providing services to children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities, as well as collaborating directly with their families; (iii) providing individual caregiver coaching to caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities; and (iv) working with self-advocates or adults with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities; and (B) demonstrate the ability to access resources from and collaborate with— (i) health care providers; (ii) allied health professionals; (iii) educators; (iv) social workers; and (v) nonprofessional family caregivers who assist with daily living and developmental activities, including for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities. (2) Reducing disparities In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary may consider, as appropriate, the extent to which an eligible entity can deliver evidence-based, culturally competent caregiver skills training programs for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, or linguistic backgrounds. (e) Use of funds The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant— (1) to provide, at no or minimal cost to participants— (A) evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities; and (B) such training in areas related to children’s learning and development, including— (i) communication skills; (ii) social engagement; (iii) daily living skills; and (iv) caregiver response strategies to severe and challenging behaviors; and (2) to establish and maintain a stakeholder implementation committee under subsection (f). (f) Stakeholder implementation committee (1) In general As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to use the grant to establish and maintain a stakeholder implementation committee to advise on ensuring that the training provided pursuant to the grant is accessible and culturally relevant. (2) Composition The members of the stakeholder implementation committee shall all be from the local community served pursuant to the grant (or the relevant metropolitan statistical area) and shall include, at a minimum, the following: (A) Family caregivers of children with autism or other developmental disabilities, including autistic caregivers and other caregivers with disabilities. (B) Pediatric health care and early intervention providers with experience providing services to children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities. (C) Educators with experience working with children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities. (D) Representatives of local organizations familiar with the cultural values and priorities of individuals in the local community. (E) Local government officials. (g) Requirements (1) Number of recipients and States The Secretary shall award grants under subsection (a) to not fewer than 25 eligible entities in not fewer than 15 States. (2) Amount The total amount of each grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be not less than $500,000 over a 5-year period. (h) Supplement not supplant Amounts received through a grant under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other amounts received to provide— (1) behavioral, medical, habilitative, and other services covered by the Medicaid program or private health insurance; (2) services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. (3) adaptations of a training program using evidence-based approaches to serve children of different ages, communities, and underrepresented groups. (i) Activities of the Secretary The Secretary shall— (1) assist recipients of grants under subsection (a) in— (A) the implementation of caregiver skills training programs using lessons learned from other evidenced-based activities or caregiver programs conducted or supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration; (B) ensuring the programs of the recipients assist medically underserved communities, when possible; and (C) developing plans for achieving sustainability of the programs of the recipients; (2) conduct an annual evaluation of activities funded through grants under subsection (a), in consultation with the grant recipients, including evaluation of the effectiveness of such grants at improving health outcomes and quality of life for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities and their family caregivers; and (3) convene at least one national or regional meeting of such grant recipients to discuss best practices. (j) Reports (1) Initial report Not later than 6 months after awarding the first grant under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and to other appropriate congressional committees, a report on the implementation of this section. Such report shall include— (A) how many grants have been awarded; (B) the name and location of the grant recipients; (C) the communities impacted by the grants; (D) a description of the kind of activities to be carried out with the grants; (E) an analysis, conducted by the Secretary, based on the evaluation under subsection (i)(2), of the effectiveness of such grants at improving health outcomes and quality of life for children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities and their family caregivers; and (F) best practices to increase access to caregiver skills training programs described in subsection (a) in medically underserved communities. (2) Final report Not later than the end of fiscal year 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and to other appropriate congressional committees, a final report on the implementation of this section, including— (A) the information, analysis, and best practices listed in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1); and (B) recommendations on how to expand and extend the program under this section. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) The term family caregiver (2) The term Federally qualified health center 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) (3) The term Secretary (l) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Summary: Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2023 This bill establishes a pilot program to provide training for caregivers on improving the well-being of children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities or delays. To carry out the program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award grants to, among other eligible entities, health systems and nonprofits to provide the training. HRSA must also establish a national center to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and to evaluate the program.