spent, including on post-adoption services’’ before the pe-
riod. 
(d) INCLUSION IN ANNUAL REPORT OF ADDITIONAL 
INFORMATION ON CHILD VISITATION BY CASEWORKERS.— 
Section 479A(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 679b(6)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (A); and 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as sub-
paragraph (C) and inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) the total number of visits made by 
caseworkers on a monthly basis to children in 
foster care under the responsibility of the State 
during a fiscal year as a percentage of the total 
number of the visits that would occur during the 
fiscal year if each child were so visited once 
every month while in such care; and’’. 
SEC. 107. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this title, this title and the amendments made by this title 
shall take effect on October 1, 2011, and shall apply to pay-
ments under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security 
Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
without regard to whether regulations to implement the 
amendments are promulgated by such date. 
(b) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION RE-
QUIRED.—If the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
determines that State legislation (other than legislation ap-
propriating funds) is required in order for a State plan 
developed pursuant to subpart 1 of part B, or a State plan 
approved under subpart 2 of part B or part E, of title IV 
of the Social Security Act to meet the additional require-
ments imposed by the amendments made by this title, the 
plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the 
additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st cal-
endar quarter beginning after the first regular session of 
the State legislature that begins after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. If the State has a 2-year legislative session, 
each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular 
session of the State legislature. 
TITLE II—CHILD WELFARE 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS 
SEC. 201. RENEWAL OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECTS DESIGNED TO TEST 
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES IN STATE CHILD 
WELFARE PROGRAMS. 
Section 1130 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1320a–9) is amended— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—During fiscal years 2012 
through 2014, the Secretary may authorize dem-
onstration projects described in paragraph (1), with 
not more than 10 demonstration projects to be author-
ized in each fiscal year.’’. 
(B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(3) CONDITIONS FOR STATE ELIGIBILITY.—For 
purposes of a new demonstration project under this 
section that is initially approved in any of fiscal 
years 2012 through 2014, a State shall be authorized 
to conduct such demonstration project only if the 
State satisfies the following conditions: 
‘‘(A) IDENTIFY 1 OR MORE GOALS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The State shall 
demonstrate that the demonstration project 
is designed to accomplish 1 or more of the 
following goals: 
‘‘(I) Increase permanency for all 
infants, children, and youth by reduc-
ing the time in foster placements when 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
possible and promoting a successful 
transition to adulthood for older youth. 
‘‘(II) Increase positive outcomes 
for infants, children, youth, and fami-
lies in their homes and communities, 
including tribal communities, and im-
prove the safety and well-being of in-
fants, children, and youth. 
‘‘(III) Prevent child abuse and ne-
glect and the re-entry of infants, chil-
dren, and youth into foster care. 
‘‘(ii) LONG-TERM THERAPEUTIC FAM-
ILY TREATMENT CENTERS; ADDRESSING DO-
MESTIC VIOLENCE.—With respect to a dem-
onstration project that is designed to accom-
plish 1 or more of the goals described in 
clause (i), the State may elect to establish a 
program— 
‘‘(I) to permit foster care mainte-
nance payments to be made under part 
E of title IV to a long-term therapeutic 
family treatment center (as described 
in paragraph (8)(B)) on behalf of a 
child residing in the center; or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(II) to identify and address do-
mestic violence that endangers children 
and results in the placement of chil-
dren in foster care. 
‘‘(B) 
DEMONSTRATE
READINESS.—The 
State shall demonstrate through a narrative de-
scription the State’s capacity to effectively use 
the authority to conduct a demonstration project 
under this section by identifying changes the 
State has made or plans to make in policies, 
procedures, or other elements of the State’s child 
welfare program that will enable the State to 
successfully achieve the goal or goals of the 
project. 
‘‘(C) 
DEMONSTRATE
IMPLEMENTED
OR 
PLANNED CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM IMPROVE-
MENT POLICIES.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The State shall 
demonstrate that the State has imple-
mented, or plans to implement within 3 
years of the date on which the State submits 
its application to conduct the demonstration 
project or 2 years after the date on which 
the Secretary approves such demonstration 
project (whichever is later), at least 2 of the 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
child welfare program improvement policies 
described in paragraph (7). 
‘‘(ii) PREVIOUS
IMPLEMENTATION.— 
For purposes of the requirement described 
in clause (i), at least 1 of the child welfare 
program improvement policies to be imple-
mented by the State shall be a policy that 
the State has not previously implemented as 
of the date on which the State submits an 
application to conduct the demonstration 
project. 
‘‘(iii) IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW.—The 
Secretary may terminate the authority of a 
State to conduct a demonstration project 
under this section if, after the 3-year period 
following approval of the demonstration 
project, the State has not made significant 
progress in implementing the child welfare 
program improvement policies proposed by 
the State under clause (i).’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘and the 
ability of the State to implement a corrective ac-
tion plan approved under section 1123A’’ before 
the period; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(6) INAPPLICABILITY OF RANDOM ASSIGNMENT 
FOR CONTROL GROUPS AS A FACTOR FOR APPROVAL 
OF
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.—For purposes of 
evaluating an application to conduct a demonstration 
project under this section, the Secretary shall not take 
into consideration whether such project requires ran-
dom assignment of children and families to groups 
served under the project and to control groups. 
‘‘(7) CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT 
POLICIES.—For purposes of paragraph (3)(C), the 
child welfare program improvement policies described 
in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) The establishment of a bill of rights for 
infants, children, and youth in foster care that 
is widely shared and clearly outlines protections 
for infants, children, and youth, such as assuring 
frequent visits with parents, siblings, and case-
workers, access to attorneys, and participation 
in age-appropriate extracurricular activities, 
and procedures for ensuring the protections are 
provided. 
‘‘(B) The development and implementation 
of a plan for meeting the health and mental 
health needs of infants, children, and youth in 
foster care that includes ensuring that the provi-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
sion of health and mental health care is child- 
specific, comprehensive, appropriate, and con-
sistent (through means such as ensuring the in-
fant, child, or youth has a medical home, regular 
wellness medical visits, and addressing the issue 
of trauma, when appropriate). 
‘‘(C) The inclusion in the State plan under 
section 471 of an amendment implementing the 
option under subsection (a)(28) of that section to 
enter into kinship guardianship assistance agree-
ments. 
‘‘(D) The election under the State plan 
under section 471 to define a ‘child’ for purposes 
of the provision of foster care maintenance pay-
ments, adoption assistance payments, and kin-
ship guardianship assistance payments, so as to 
include individuals described in each of sub-
clauses (I), (II), and (III) of section 475(8)(B)(i) 
who have not attained age 21. 
‘‘(E) The development and implementation 
of a plan that ensures congregate care is used 
appropriately and reduces the placement of chil-
dren and youth in such care. 
‘‘(F) Of those infants, children, and youth 
in out-of-home placements, substantially increas-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
ing the number of cases of siblings who are in 
the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or 
adoptive placement, above the number of such 
cases in fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(G) The development and implementation 
of a plan to improve the recruitment and reten-
tion of high quality foster family homes trained 
to help assist infants, children, and youth swiftly 
secure permanent families. Supports for foster 
families under such a plan may include increas-
ing maintenance payments to more adequately 
meet the needs of infants, children, and youth in 
foster care and expanding training, respite care, 
and other support services for foster parents. 
‘‘(H) The establishment of procedures de-
signed to assist youth as they prepare for their 
transition out of foster care, such as arranging 
for participation in age-appropriate extra-cur-
ricular activities, providing appropriate access 
to cell phones, computers, and opportunities to 
obtain a driver’s license, providing notification 
of all sibling placements if siblings are in care 
and sibling location if siblings are out of care, 
and providing counseling and financial support 
for post-secondary education. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) The inclusion in the State plan under 
section 471 of a description of State procedures 
for— 
‘‘(i) ensuring that youth in foster care 
who have attained age 16 are engaged in 
discussions, including during the develop-
ment of the transition plans required under 
paragraphs (1)(D) and (5)(H) of section 
475, that explore whether the youth wishes 
to reconnect with the youth’s biological fam-
ily, including parents, grandparents, and 
siblings, and, if so, what skills and strate-
gies the youth will need to successfully and 
safely reconnect with those family members; 
‘‘(ii) providing appropriate guidance 
and services to youth whom affirm an in-
tent to reconnect with biological family 
members on how to successfully and safely 
manage such reconnections; and 
‘‘(iii) making, when appropriate, ef-
forts to include biological family members 
in such reconnection efforts. 
‘‘(J) The establishment of one or more of the 
following programs designed to prevent infants, 
children, and youth from entering foster care or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
to provide permanency for infants, children, and 
youth in foster care: 
‘‘(i) An intensive family finding pro-
gram. 
‘‘(ii) A kinship navigator program. 
‘‘(iii) A family counseling program, 
such as a family group decision-making 
program, and which may include in-home 
peer support for families. 
‘‘(iv) A comprehensive family-based 
substance abuse treatment program. 
‘‘(v) A program under which special ef-
forts are made to identify and address do-
mestic violence that endangers infants, chil-
dren, and youth and puts them at risk of 
entering foster care. 
‘‘(vi) A mentoring program. 
‘‘(8) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘youth’ means, with respect to 
a State, an individual who has attained age 12 
but has not attained the age at which an indi-
vidual is no longer considered to be a child 
under the State plans under parts B and E of 
title IV, and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:31 Sep 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2883.RH
H2883
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS