the child in the least restrictive environment 
and be consistent with the short- and long-term 
goals for the child, as specified in the perma-
nency plan for the child; and 
‘‘(iii) develop a list of child-specific short- 
and long-term mental and behavioral health 
goals. 
‘‘(B)(i) The State shall assemble a family and 
permanency team for the child in accordance with 
the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii). The quali-
fied individual conducting the assessment required 
under subparagraph (A) shall work in conjunction 
with the family of, and permanency team for, the 
child while conducting and making the assessment. 
‘‘(ii) The family and permanency team shall 
consist of all appropriate biological family members, 
relative, and fictive kin of the child, as well as, as 
appropriate, professionals who are a resource to the 
family of the child, such as teachers, medical or 
mental health providers who have treated the child, 
or clergy. In the case of a child who has attained 
age 14, the family and permanency team shall in-
clude the members of the permanency planning team 
for the child that are selected by the child in accord-
ance with section 475(5)(C)(iv). 
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‘‘(iii) The State shall document in the child’s 
case plan— 
‘‘(I) the reasonable and good faith effort of 
the State to identify and include all such indi-
viduals on the family of, and permanency team 
for, the child; 
‘‘(II) all contact information for members 
of the family and permanency team, as well as 
contact information for other family members 
and fictive kin who are not part of the family 
and permanency team; 
‘‘(III) evidence that meetings of the family 
and permanency team, including meetings relat-
ing to the assessment required under subpara-
graph (A), are held at a time and place conven-
ient for family; 
‘‘(IV) if reunification is the goal, evidence 
demonstrating that the parent from whom the 
child was removed provided input on the mem-
bers of the family and permanency team; 
‘‘(V) evidence that the assessment required 
under subparagraph (A) is determined in con-
junction with the family and permanency team; 
and 
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‘‘(VI) the placement preferences of the 
family and permanency team relative to the as-
sessment and, if the placement preferences of 
the family and permanency team and child are 
not the placement setting recommended by the 
qualified individual conducting the assessment 
under subparagraph (A), the reasons why the 
preferences of the team and of the child were 
not recommended. 
‘‘(C) In the case of a child who the qualified in-
dividual conducting the assessment under subpara-
graph (A) determines should not be placed in a fos-
ter family home, the qualified individual shall specify 
in writing the reasons why the needs of the child 
cannot be met by the family of the child or in a fos-
ter family home. A shortage or lack of foster family 
homes shall not be an acceptable reason for deter-
mining that a needs of the child cannot be met in 
a foster family home. The qualified individual also 
shall specify in writing why the recommended place-
ment in a qualified residential treatment program is 
the setting that will provide the child with the most 
effective and appropriate level of care in the least re-
strictive environment and how that placement is con-
sistent with the short- and long-term goals for the 
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child, as specified in the permanency plan for the 
child. 
‘‘(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), in this subsection, 
the term ‘qualified individual’ means a trained pro-
fessional or licensed clinician who is not an employee 
of the State agency and who is not connected to, or 
affiliated with, any placement setting in which chil-
dren are placed by the State. 
‘‘(ii) The Secretary may approve a request of a 
State to waive any requirement in clause (i) upon a 
submission by the State, in accordance with criteria 
established by the Secretary, that certifies that the 
trained professionals or licensed clinicians with re-
sponsibility for performing the assessments de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) shall maintain objec-
tivity with respect to determining the most effective 
and appropriate placement for a child. 
‘‘(2) Within 60 days of the start of each place-
ment in a qualified residential treatment program, a 
family or juvenile court or another court (including 
a tribal court) of competent jurisdiction, or an ad-
ministrative body appointed or approved by the 
court, independently, shall— 
‘‘(A) consider the assessment, determina-
tion, and documentation made by the qualified 
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individual conducting the assessment under 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) determine whether the needs of the 
child can be met through placement in a foster 
family home or, if not, whether placement of 
the child in a qualified residential treatment 
program provides the most effective and appro-
priate level of care for the child in the least re-
strictive environment and whether that place-
ment is consistent with the short- and long- 
term goals for the child, as specified in the per-
manency plan for the child; and 
‘‘(C) approve or disapprove the placement. 
‘‘(3) The written documentation made under 
paragraph (1)(C) and documentation of the deter-
mination and approval or disapproval of the place-
ment in a qualified residential treatment program by 
a court or administrative body under paragraph (2) 
shall be included in and made part of the case plan 
for the child. 
‘‘(4) As long as a child remains placed in a 
qualified residential treatment program, the State 
agency shall submit evidence at each status review 
and each permanency hearing held with respect to 
the child— 
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‘‘(A) demonstrating that ongoing assess-
ment of the strengths and needs of the child 
continues to support the determination that the 
needs of the child cannot be met through place-
ment in a foster family home, that the place-
ment in a qualified residential treatment pro-
gram provides the most effective and appro-
priate level of care for the child in the least re-
strictive environment, and that the placement is 
consistent with the short- and long-term goals 
for the child, as specified in the permanency 
plan for the child; 
‘‘(B) documenting the specific treatment or 
service needs that will be met for the child in 
the placement and the length of time the child 
is expected to need the treatment or services; 
and 
‘‘(C) documenting the efforts made by the 
State agency to prepare the child to return 
home or to be placed with a fit and willing rel-
ative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, 
or in a foster family home. 
‘‘(5) In the case of any child who is placed in 
a qualified residential treatment program for more 
than 12 consecutive months or 18 nonconsecutive 
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months (or, in the case of a child who has not at-
tained age 13, for more than 6 consecutive or non-
consecutive months), the State agency shall submit 
to the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) the most recent versions of the evi-
dence and documentation specified in paragraph 
(4); and 
‘‘(B) the signed approval of the head of 
the State agency for the continued placement of 
the child in that setting.’’. 
SEC. 203. PROTOCOLS TO PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE DIAG-
NOSES. 
(a) 
STATE
PLAN
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
422(b)(15)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
622(b)(15)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); 
and 
(3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: 
‘‘(vii) the procedures and protocols 
the State has established to ensure that 
children in foster care placements are not 
inappropriately diagnosed with mental ill-
ness, other emotional or behavioral dis-
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orders, medically fragile conditions, or de-
velopmental disabilities, and placed in set-
tings that are not foster family homes as 
a result of the inappropriate diagnoses; 
and’’. 
(b) EVALUATION.—Section 476 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 676), as amended by sections 111(d) and 131(a), 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) EVALUATION OF STATE PROCEDURES AND PRO-
TOCOLS TO PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE DIAGNOSES
OF 
MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER CONDITIONS.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct an evaluation of the procedures and 
protocols established by States in accordance with the re-
quirements of section 422(b)(15)(A)(vii). The evaluation 
shall analyze the extent to which States comply with and 
enforce the procedures and protocols and the effectiveness 
of various State procedures and protocols and shall iden-
tify best practices. Not later than January 1, 2019, the 
Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the eval-
uation to Congress.’’. 
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SEC. 204. ADDITIONAL DATA AND REPORTS REGARDING 
CHILDREN PLACED IN A SETTING THAT IS 
NOT A FOSTER FAMILY HOME. 
Section 479A(a)(7)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 679b(a)(7)(A)) is amended by striking clauses (i) 
through (vi) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) with respect to each such place-
ment— 
‘‘(I) the type of the placement 
setting, including whether the place-
ment is shelter care, a group home 
and if so, the range of the child popu-
lation in the home, a residential treat-
ment facility, a hospital or institution 
providing medical, rehabilitative, or 
psychiatric care, a setting specializing 
in providing prenatal, post-partum or 
parenting supports, or some other 
kind of child-care institution and if so, 
what kind; 
‘‘(II) the number of children in 
the placement setting and the age, 
race, ethnicity, and gender of each of 
the children; 
‘‘(III) for each child in the place-
ment setting, the length of the place-
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ment of the child in the setting, 
whether the placement of the child in 
the setting is the first placement of 
the child and if not, the number and 
type of previous placements of the 
child, and whether the child has spe-
cial needs or another diagnosed men-
tal or physical illness or condition; 
and 
‘‘(IV) the extent of any special-
ized education, treatment, counseling, 
or other services provided in the set-
ting; and 
‘‘(ii) separately, the number and ages 
of children in the placements who have a 
permanency plan of another planned per-
manent living arrangement; and’’. 
SEC. 205. EFFECTIVE DATES; APPLICATION TO WAIVERS. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) 
and subsections (b) and (c), the amendments made 
by this title shall take effect on October 1, 2016. 
(2) TRANSITION RULE.—In the case of a State 
plan under part B or E of title IV of the Social Se-
curity Act which the Secretary of Health and 
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Human Services determines requires State legisla-
tion (other than legislation appropriating funds) in 
order for the plan to meet the additional require-
ments imposed by the amendments made by this 
title, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing 
to comply with the requirements of such part solely 
on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet the 
additional requirements before the first day of the 
first calendar quarter beginning after the close of 
the first regular session of the State legislature that 
begins after the date of enactment of this Act. For 
purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a 
State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year 
of the session shall be deemed to be a separate reg-
ular session of the State legislature. 
(b) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICI-
PATION FOR PLACEMENTS THAT ARE NOT IN FOSTER 
FAMILY
HOMES
AND
RELATED
PROVISIONS.—The 
amendments made by sections 201(a), 201(b), 201(d), 
and 202 shall take effect on October 1, 2019. 
(c) APPLICATION TO STATES WITH WAIVERS.—In 
the case of a State that, on the date of enactment of this 
Act, has in effect a waiver approved under section 1130 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–9), the 
amendments made by this title shall not apply with respect 
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to the State before the expiration (determined without re-
gard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent the 
amendments are inconsistent with the terms of the waiver. 
TITLE 
III—CONTINUING 
SUP-
PORT FOR CHILD AND FAM-
ILY SERVICES 
SEC. 301. SUPPORTING AND RETAINING FOSTER FAMILIES 
FOR CHILDREN. 
Section 431(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 631(a)(2)(B)) is amended by redesignating clauses 
(iii) through (vi) as clauses (iv) through (vii), respectively, 
and inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) To support and retain foster 
families so they can provide quality family- 
based settings for children in foster care.’’. 
SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) EXTENSION OF STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD 
WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM.—Section 425 of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 625) is amended by striking 
‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 through 
2021’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE 
FAMILIES PROGRAM AUTHORIZATIONS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 436(a) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) is amended by striking all that 
follows ‘‘$345,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of 
fiscal years 2017 through 2021.’’. 
(2) DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.—Section 437(a) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 
through 2021’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF FUNDING RESERVATIONS FOR 
MONTHLY CASEWORKER VISITS AND REGIONAL PART-
NERSHIP GRANTS.—Section 436(b) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 629f(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ‘‘2012 
through 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘2012 
through 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(d) REAUTHORIZATION
OF FUNDING
FOR STATE 
COURTS.— 
(1) 
EXTENSION
OF
PROGRAM.—Section 
438(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(1)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(2) EXTENSION OF FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 
438(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(d)) is amended 
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by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and inserting 
‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(e) REPEAL
OF
EXPIRED
PROVISIONS.—Section 
438(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(e)) is repealed. 
SEC. 303. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOS-
TER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM AND 
RELATED PROVISIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO SERVE FORMER FOSTER YOUTH 
UP TO AGE 23.—Section 477 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 677) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(5), by inserting ‘‘(or 23 
years of age, in the case of a State with a certifi-
cation under subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide as-
sistance and services to youths who have aged out 
of foster care and have not attained such age, in ac-
cordance with such subsection)’’ after ‘‘21 years of 
age’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(3)(A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(i)’’ before ‘‘A certifi-
cation’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘children who have left fos-
ter care’’ and all that follows through the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘youths who have aged out 
of foster care and have not attained 21 years of 
age.’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) If the State has elected under 
section 475(8)(B) to extend eligibility for 
foster care to all children who have not at-
tained 21 years of age, or if the Secretary 
determines that the State agency respon-
sible for administering the State plans 
under this part and part B uses State 
funds or any other funds not provided 
under this part to provide services and as-
sistance for youths who have aged out of 
foster care that are comparable to the 
services and assistance the youths would 
receive if the State had made such an elec-
tion, the certification required under clause 
(i) may provide that the State will provide 
assistance and services to youths who have 
aged out of foster care and have not at-
tained 23 years of age.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘chil-
dren who have left foster care’’ and all that follows 
through the period and inserting ‘‘youths who have 
aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 
years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a 
State with a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) 
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to provide assistance and services to youths who 
have aged out of foster care and have not attained 
such 
age, 
in 
accordance 
with 
subparagraph 
(A)(ii)).’’. 
(b) 
AUTHORITY
TO
REDISTRIBUTE
UNSPENT 
FUNDS.—Section 477(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or does not 
expend allocated funds within the time period speci-
fied under 477(d)(3)’’ after ‘‘provided by the Sec-
retary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) 
REDISTRIBUTION
OF
UNEXPENDED 
AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—To the 
extent that amounts paid to States under this 
section in a fiscal year remain unexpended by 
the States at the end of the succeeding fiscal 
year, the Secretary may make the amounts 
available for redistribution in the second suc-
ceeding fiscal year among the States that apply 
for additional funds under this section for that 
second succeeding fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) REDISTRIBUTION.— 
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‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall redistribute the amounts made avail-
able under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal 
year among eligible applicant States. In 
this subparagraph, the term ‘eligible appli-
cant State’ means a State that has applied 
for additional funds for the fiscal year 
under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary 
determines that the State will use the 
funds for the purpose for which originally 
allotted under this section. 
‘‘(ii) AMOUNT
TO
BE
REDISTRIB-
UTED.—The amount to be redistributed to 
each eligible applicant State shall be the 
amount so made available multiplied by the 
State foster care ratio, (as defined in sub-
section (c)(4), except that, in such sub-
section, ‘all eligible applicant States (as de-
fined in subsection (d)(5)(B)(i))’ shall be 
substituted for ‘all States’). 
‘‘(iii) TREATMENT OF REDISTRIBUTED 
AMOUNT.—Any amount made available to 
a State under this paragraph shall be re-
garded as part of the allotment of the 
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State under this section for the fiscal year 
in which the redistribution is made. 
‘‘(C) TRIBES.—For purposes of this para-
graph, the term ‘State’ includes an Indian tribe, 
tribal organization, or tribal consortium that re-
ceives an allotment under this section.’’. 
(c) EXPANDING AND CLARIFYING THE USE OF EDU-
CATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 477(i)(3) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(3)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘on the date’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘23’’ and inserting ‘‘to remain 
eligible until they attain 26 years of age’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, but in no event may a 
youth participate in the program for more than 
5 years (whether or not consecutive)’’ before 
the period. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
477(i)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(1)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘who have attained 14 years 
of age’’ before the period. 
(d) OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.—Section 477 of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 677), as amended by subsections (a), (b), 
and (c) is amended— 
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(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘INDE-
PENDENCE PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘PROGRAM 
FOR
SUCCESSFUL
TRANSITION
TO
ADULT-
HOOD’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘identify children who 
are likely to remain in foster care until 18 
years of age and to help these children 
make the transition to self-sufficiency by 
providing services’’ and inserting ‘‘support 
all youth who have experienced foster care 
at age 14 or older in their transition to 
adulthood through transitional services’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and post-secondary 
education’’ after ‘‘high school diploma’’; 
and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘training in daily liv-
ing skills, training in budgeting and finan-
cial management skills’’ and inserting 
‘‘training and opportunities to practice 
daily living skills (such as financial literacy 
training and driving instruction)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘who are 
likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of 
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