Foster Care Stabilization Act
Bill: H.R.4299 | Sponsor: Rep. Bacon, Don (R-NE)
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Foster Care Stabilization Act
This bill requires the Administration for Children and Families to award demonstration grants to foster care stabilization agencies to improve services for foster youth awaiting placement and for other emergency assistance.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 
demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth 
and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization 
                   agencies, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Foster Care Stabilization Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE PRE-PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Administration for Children and Families, shall 
award 3 demonstration grants of not more than $1,000,000 to foster care 
stabilization agencies for the purpose of providing emergency relief to 
foster youth and improving pre-placement services for foster youth 
waiting for placement.
    (b) Duration.--A foster care stabilization agency that receives a 
grant under this Act shall have 3 years to spend funds awarded by the 
grant and return any unused grant funds to the Secretary.
    (c) Application.--A foster care stabilization agency that desires 
to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require, that shall include the 
following:
            (1) A description of how grant funds will be used to 
        provide emergency relief to foster youth by the foster care 
        stabilization agency.
            (2) A description of how grant funds will be used to 
        improve pre-placement services offered by the foster care 
        stabilization agency.
    (d) Application Dissemination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
solicitation of applications for a grant under this Act is posted 
publically on the website of the Administration for Children and 
Families and shall make special dissemination efforts to rural areas 
and among Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations.
    (e) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section may be used 
to carry out any of the following activities:
            (1) Hiring of personnel necessary to provide emergency 
        relief to foster youth and ensure that services, resources, and 
        assistance reach such youth.
            (2) Provision of clothing and other personal necessities to 
        a foster youth for a total not to exceed $250 per foster youth, 
        per year.
            (3) Purchase of food and equipment needed to prepare food 
        for foster youth.
            (4) Provision of service and support to prevent and respond 
        to occurrences of child abuse and neglect with respect to 
        foster youth.
            (5) Any other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed 
        to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.
            (6) Any other purpose that the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    (f) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve $45,000 appropriated 
pursuant to the authorization under subsection (i) to be used for 
administration, oversight, and technical assistance activities related 
to this section.
    (g) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
            (1) describes how grants awarded under this section have 
        been used to provide emergency relief to foster youth;
            (2) describe how grants awarded under this section have 
        been used on pre-placement services;
            (3) contains data on the extent of clothing and other 
        necessities purchased with grant funds awarded under this 
        section that have been provided to foster youth;
            (4) provides an evaluation of case outcomes for foster 
        youth who have benefitted from grant funds; and
            (5) states the number of home transfers for each foster 
        youth that has benefitted from grant funds.
    (h) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Foster care stabilization agency.--The term ``foster 
        care stabilization agency'' means a local public or private 
        nonprofit, including community and faith-based organizations, 
        with expertise and experience providing direct services to one 
        or more of the following:
                    (A) Children who are under the care and placement 
                responsibility of a State or Tribal agency that 
                administers a plan under part B or E of title IV of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et 
                seq.).
                    (B) Foster youth under the age of 18.
                    (C) Foster youth 18 years of age or over, but under 
                26 years of age.
            (2) Foster youth.--The term ``foster youth'' means an 
        individual in foster care who has not attained 26 years of age.
            (3) Home transfer.--The term ``home transfer'' means the 
        initial placement of a foster youth in to foster care, and any 
        subsequent placement move of that foster youth while in foster 
        care.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $3,045,000 for fiscal year 
2022.
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