IIB 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5889 
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 disseminate information, resources, and if requested, 
technical assistance to early childhood care and education 
providers and professionals working with young children 
on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 
who may be impacted by trauma related to substance 
abuse. 
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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 ‘‘Recognizing Early 
Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 
2018’’. 
SEC. 2. RECOGNIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA RE-
LATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 
(a) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall disseminate 
information, resources, and, if requested, technical assist-
ance to early childhood care and education providers and 
professionals working with young children on— 
(1) ways to properly recognize children who 
may be impacted by trauma related to substance 
abuse by a family member or other adult; and 
(2) how to respond appropriately in order to 
provide for the safety and well-being of young chil-
dren and their families. 
(b) GOALS.—The information, resources, and tech-
nical assistance provided under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) educate early childhood care and education 
providers and professionals working with young chil-
dren on understanding and identifying the early 
signs and risk factors of children who might be im-
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pacted by trauma due to exposure to substance 
abuse; 
(2) suggest age-appropriate communication 
tools, procedures, and practices for trauma-informed 
care, including ways to prevent or mitigate the ef-
fects of trauma; 
(3) provide options for responding to children 
impacted by trauma due to exposure to substance 
abuse that consider the needs of the child and fam-
ily, including recommending resources and referrals 
for evidence-based services to support such family; 
and 
(4) 
promote 
whole-family 
and 
multi- 
generational approaches to prevent separation and 
support re-unification of families whenever possible 
and in the best interest of the child. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Such information, re-
sources, and if applicable, technical assistance, shall not 
be construed to amend the requirements under— 
(1) the Child Care and Development Block 
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.); 
(2) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
seq.); or 
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(3) the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.). 
Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2018. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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