IIB 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5890 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 14, 2018 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions 
AN ACT 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to provide assistance to States in complying with, and 
implementing, certain provisions of section 106 of the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act in order 
to promote better protections for young children and 
family-centered responses, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Assisting States’ Im-
plementation of Plans of Safe Care Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ASSISTING STATES WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF 
PLANS OF SAFE CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall provide written guidance and, if ap-
propriate, technical assistance to support States in com-
plying with, and implementing, subsections (b)(2)(B)(iii) 
and (d)(18) of section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a) in order to promote 
better protections for young children and family-centered 
responses. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The guidance and technical as-
sistance shall— 
(1) enhance States’ understanding of require-
ments and flexibilities under the law, including clari-
fying key terms; 
(2) address State-identified challenges with de-
veloping, implementing, and monitoring plans of safe 
care; 
(3) disseminate best practices related to devel-
oping and implementing plans of safe care, including 
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differential response, collaboration and coordination, 
and identification and delivery of services, while rec-
ognizing needs of different populations and varying 
community approaches across States; 
(4) support collaboration between health care 
providers, social service agencies, public health agen-
cies, and the child welfare system, to promote a fam-
ily-centered treatment approach; 
(5) prevent separation and support reunifica-
tion of families if in the best interests of the child; 
(6) recommend treatment approaches for serv-
ing infants, pregnant women, and postpartum 
women whose infants may be affected by substance 
use that are designed to keep infants with their 
mothers and families whenever appropriate, includ-
ing recommendations to encourage pregnant women 
to receive health and other support services during 
pregnancy; 
(7) support State efforts to develop technology 
systems to manage and monitor implementation of 
plans of safe care; and 
(8) help States improve the long-term safety 
and well-being of young children and their families. 
(c) CONSTRUCTION.—The guidance and technical as-
sistance shall not be construed to amend the requirements 
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