‘‘(A) available to each local Court Team to 
track such Court Team’s progress; and 
‘‘(B) used by the National Court Teams 
Resource Center to facilitate continuous im-
provement of the local Court Teams receiving 
assistance under this part. 
‘‘(4) Develop materials to guide qualified judges 
in the decisionmaking process regarding maltreated 
infants and toddlers, and to train members of local 
Court Teams and others in the community regarding 
the appropriate care of maltreated infants and tod-
dlers, including the importance of— 
‘‘(A) placement stability; 
‘‘(B) frequent parent-child visitation; 
‘‘(C) services to reduce the recurrence of 
abuse and neglect; 
‘‘(D) services to monitor and improve the 
health and well-being of infants and toddlers in 
foster care; 
‘‘(E) timely permanent placement; 
‘‘(F) concurrent planning; and 
‘‘(G) implementing a comprehensive service 
delivery plan addressing the needs of children 
and parents at the proximate time of the 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
child(ren)’s removal from the care of their bio-
logical parents. 
‘‘(5) Provide information to communities and 
courts around the country seeking to adopt the 
Court Teams approach, including information re-
lated to— 
‘‘(A) the incorporation of knowledge about 
infant and toddler development into the resolu-
tion of cases by judges with jurisdiction over 
children in foster care; and 
‘‘(B) methods to change State and local 
government systems to better address the needs 
of infants and toddlers in foster care and their 
families. 
‘‘(6) Any other activity necessary to provide the 
assistance required under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL COURT TEAMS.—Assist-
ance provided to local Court Teams by the National Court 
Teams Resource Center shall include— 
‘‘(1) providing direction, coordination, and over-
sight of the implementation of local Court Teams, as 
needed; 
‘‘(2) providing a local Community Coordinator 
for each local Court Team, who shall— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) serve as a resource for child develop-
ment expertise for the local Court Team; and 
‘‘(B) promote coordination (in the jurisdic-
tion of the court over which the Judicial Leader 
presides) between— 
‘‘(i) community agencies that serve in-
fants and toddlers and their families; and 
‘‘(ii) providers of resources to support 
maltreated infants and toddlers and their 
families; 
‘‘(3) providing training and technical assistance 
to local Court Teams, including— 
‘‘(A) individual consultation; 
‘‘(B) networking assistance; 
‘‘(C) development and dissemination of 
training materials, including fact sheets, tem-
plate forms, and sample operational materials 
developed for local Court Teams; and 
‘‘(D) training for local Court Teams re-
lated to— 
‘‘(i) the impact of abuse and neglect 
on infants and toddlers; and 
‘‘(ii) 
improved 
decisionmaking 
by 
courts regarding maltreated infants and 
toddlers to reduce the recurrence of abuse 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
and neglect and improve developmental 
outcomes; and 
‘‘(4) organizing local training for community 
members of jurisdictions in which local Court Teams 
are located, which shall relate to the particular needs 
of infants and toddlers exposed to maltreatment and 
trauma, including topics such as— 
‘‘(A) general infant and toddler develop-
ment; 
‘‘(B) the impact of abuse and neglect on 
development; 
‘‘(C) a continuum of relationship-based 
mental health services for parents and children 
together; 
‘‘(D) best practices in parent-child contact 
(visitation); 
‘‘(E) evidence-based parenting interven-
tions; and 
‘‘(F) services available to foster children in 
the community. 
‘‘SEC. 274. LOCAL COURT TEAMS FOR MALTREATED IN-
FANTS AND TODDLERS ESTABLISHED. 
‘‘(a) ELIGIBILITY AND LETTER OF COMMITMENT.— 
An entity eligible for receiving assistance made available 
under this part shall consist of at least 1 qualified judge 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
to serve as Judicial Leader of the Court Team together 
with an official of the local child welfare agency who sub-
mit a letter of commitment to participate in the Court 
Team project including the following information: 
‘‘(1) A commitment to work with the Commu-
nity Coordinator provided through the National 
Court Teams Resource Center, to form a team of 
community agencies serving infants and toddlers and 
their families in the jurisdiction, and carry out the 
activities set forth in this section. 
‘‘(2) In the case of a community applying for 
an exception under section 273(a)(1)(C), a descrip-
tion of the proposed alternative leadership model, 
the reasons such a model better meets community 
needs, and the manner in which the services of the 
Court Team will be made available to a court pre-
sided over by a qualified judge. 
‘‘(3) A description of the population of mal-
treated infants and toddlers in the community within 
the jurisdiction of the court over which the qualified 
judge presides, including— 
‘‘(A) any problems contributing to the 
placement of maltreated infants and toddlers 
under the supervision of the court (including 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
the impact of parental substance abuse, and 
particularly methamphetamine abuse); and 
‘‘(B) any challenges faced by the court in 
making decisions that are in the best interests 
of such maltreated infants and toddlers. 
‘‘(4) Information regarding the jurisdiction’s 
previous efforts, if any, of implementing best prac-
tices through participation in local or national court 
improvement initiatives; and 
‘‘(5) Any additional information required by the 
National Court Teams Resource Center. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—A local Court Team 
receiving assistance under this part shall carry out the fol-
lowing activities: 
‘‘(1) Conduct monthly case reviews of each case 
handled by the local Court Team, in which all indi-
viduals and organizations involved in a case meet to 
review progress in such case, and to monitor and 
track referral to, delivery of, and barriers to, serv-
ices for maltreated infants and toddlers and their 
families. 
‘‘(2) Implement best practices in child welfare 
cases including concurrent planning, reducing place-
ment changes, frequent child-parent contact, com-
prehensive service delivery plans at the time of re-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
moval, pre-removal conferences, and kinship place-
ments. 
‘‘(3) Incorporate child-focused services into case 
plans for maltreated infants and toddlers, including 
services such as medical, developmental, and mental 
health interventions and, as appropriate, services for 
children and parents together. 
‘‘(4) Organize the provision of local training 
(provided by the National Court Teams Resource 
Center) to community members of the jurisdiction in 
which the local Court Team is located, including 
court officials, child welfare agencies, attorneys, 
Guardians Ad Litem, court-appointed special advo-
cates, and other individuals and organizations pro-
viding services to infants and toddlers in foster care. 
‘‘(5) Identify areas in the community in need of 
improved mental health and substance abuse treat-
ment, and assist the National Court Teams Re-
source Center in improving mental health treatment 
for parents and children together, and substance 
abuse treatment for families (including mothers and 
children), as needed. 
‘‘(6) Prioritize after-care services that connect 
families to their communities after their discharge 
from formal child welfare system involvement. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(7) Utilize resource materials disseminated by 
the National Court Teams Resource Center to guide 
judges in the decisionmaking process regarding mal-
treated infants and toddlers, and to provide training 
for Court Team members. 
‘‘(8) Participate in the national evaluation con-
ducted by the Administrator in accordance with sec-
tion 275, to determine the extent to which the activi-
ties of the local Court Team reduce the recurrence 
of abuse and neglect and improve health and devel-
opmental outcomes for maltreated infants and tod-
dlers. 
‘‘(c) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—A local Court re-
ceiving assistance under this part may carry out the fol-
lowing activities: 
‘‘(1) Developing processes for responding to pa-
rental substance abuse, such as— 
‘‘(A) coordinating with local law enforce-
ment agencies to allow rapid response teams to 
intervene quickly on behalf of infants and tod-
dlers who are identified by law enforcement per-
sonnel as being present during illegal activities 
related to methamphetamines or other illegal 
substances; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) establishing and maintaining relation-
ships with substance abuse treatment programs 
to increase access to treatment for parents of 
maltreated infants and toddlers. 
‘‘(2) Identifying community needs related to 
early childhood mental health services, and meeting 
those needs by utilizing training provided by the Na-
tional Court Teams for Infants and Toddlers Re-
source Center on child-parent psychotherapy. 
‘‘(3) Any other activities that help meet the 
needs and improve the health and developmental 
outcomes of maltreated infants and toddlers in fos-
ter care. 
‘‘SEC. 275. DATA COLLECTION, REPORTS, AND EVALUA-
TIONS. 
‘‘(a) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTS.—The Na-
tional Court Teams Resource Center shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a uniform data collection system 
that shall be used to periodically collect from local 
Court Teams data related to the operation and out-
comes of the projects; 
‘‘(2) compile such data annually and report to 
the Administrator; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) in devising such data collection system, 
consult with the organization awarded a contract 
under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) EVALUATION.—The Administrator shall conduct 
a national evaluation over the course of the grant period 
of the effectiveness of local Court Teams in— 
‘‘(1) linking children and families to appro-
priate services and supports that expedite perma-
nency and assist families in successful child-rearing 
following case closure; 
‘‘(2) reducing the recurrence of abuse and ne-
glect; 
‘‘(3) promoting timely permanent placements of 
maltreated infants and toddlers; and 
‘‘(4) reducing costs through system improve-
ments. 
‘‘(c) REPORTS
TO CONGRESS
BY
THE ADMINIS-
TRATOR.—At the end of the 3-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this part, and again at the 
end of the 5-year period beginning on such date of enact-
ment, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress 
addressing the implementation and effectiveness of the 
Court Teams, including— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(1) a compilation of the data on local Court 
Teams included in the annual report from the Na-
tional Court Teams Resource Center; and 
‘‘(2) interim or final results from the national 
evaluation of Court Teams. 
‘‘SEC. 276. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For the purposes of this part: 
‘‘(1) COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE.— 
The term ‘court-appointed special advocate’ means 
an individual who is trained by a recognized court- 
appointed special advocate program and appointed 
by a court to advocate for the best interests of chil-
dren who come into the court system primarily as a 
result of abuse or neglect. 
‘‘(2) COURT
IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘Court Improvement Program’ means a pro-
gram authorized under section 438 of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 629h). 
‘‘(3) GUARDIAN AD LITEM.—The term ‘Guard-
ian Ad Litem’ means an attorney or court-appointed 
special advocate who is appointed by a court to ad-
vocate for the best interests of children who come 
into the court system primarily as a result of abuse 
or neglect. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(4) JUDICIAL
EDUCATION
ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘judicial education organization’ means an 
organization whose mission includes the provision of 
training and technical assistance to juvenile and 
family court judges. 
‘‘(5) KINSHIP PLACEMENT.—The term ‘kinship 
placement’ means placement of a child with mem-
bers of the child’s extended family, biologically or 
emotionally related to the child. 
‘‘(6) MALTREATED INFANT OR TODDLER.—The 
term ‘maltreated infant or toddler’ means any child 
3 years of age or younger who is the victim of a sub-
stantiated case of physical abuse, neglect, medical 
neglect, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse. 
‘‘(7) NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOP-
MENT
ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘national early 
childhood development organization’ means a na-
tional nonprofit organization— 
‘‘(A) that is dedicated to supporting the 
healthy development and well-being of infants, 
toddlers, and their families; and 
‘‘(B) that has the capacity for research, 
training, information dissemination, and leader-
ship development in all of the professional dis-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
ciplines related to infants and toddlers 3 years 
of age and younger. 
‘‘(8) QUALIFIED JUDGE.—The term ‘qualified 
judge’ means a judge who presides over a court that 
has jurisdiction over children in foster care, such as 
a judge for a dependency, juvenile, or family court.’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 299 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5671) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the header, by striking ‘‘Parts C 
and E)’’ and inserting ‘‘Parts C, E, and F)’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘parts C 
and E)’’ and inserting ‘‘parts C, E, and F)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS
FOR 
PART F.—There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out part F $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010, 
2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:27 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3474.IH
H3474
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS