Informing Grandfamilies Act
Bill: S.4443 | Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D-PA)
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Informing Grandfamilies Act
This bill requires states to notify kinship caregivers (e.g., grandparents or other relatives caring for a minor child) about (1) the care and placement options under federal, state, and local laws; (2) the requirements to become a foster family home; (3) whether the state has elected to make guardianship assistance payments; and (4) other policies under the state program that may assist such caregivers.

To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to 
 provide information about available benefits and services to kinship 
                              caregivers.

    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 ``Informing Grandfamilies Act''.

SEC. 2. STATE NOTIFICATIONS TO KINSHIP CAREGIVERS OF CHILD TANF 
              RECIPIENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) State requirements regarding notice and guidance to 
        kinship caregivers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State to which a grant is made 
                under section 403 shall ensure that the State agency 
                provides to any kinship caregiver, including 
                grandparents and other relative caregivers, of a minor 
                child if the child is a recipient of assistance under 
                the State program funded under this part (or under a 
                State program funded with qualified State expenditures 
                (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))), written 
                notice that--
                            ``(i) explains the options of the kinship 
                        caregiver under Federal, State, and local law 
                        to participate in the care and placement of the 
                        child, including the financial ramifications of 
                        the options and any options that may be lost by 
                        choosing certain benefits;
                            ``(ii) describes the requirements under 
                        section 471(a)(10) to become a foster family 
                        home and the additional services and supports 
                        that are available for a child placed in such a 
                        home;
                            ``(iii) if the State has elected the option 
                        to make guardianship assistance payments under 
                        section 471(a)(28), describes how the kinship 
                        caregiver may enter into an agreement with the 
                        State to receive the payments;
                            ``(iv) describes policies under the State 
                        program funded under this part that may help 
                        kinship caregivers and the relative children 
                        they care for; and
                            ``(v) provides direct contact information 
                        for kinship navigator programs described in 
                        section 427(a)(1) or other agencies and 
                        community organizations that provide resources 
                        and assistance, such as housing, supplemental 
                        nutrition assistance, health care, and child 
                        care.
                    ``(B) Timing of notice.--The notice required under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) shall be provided to a kinship 
                        caregiver of a minor child at the time that the 
                        kinship caregiver attends an eligibility 
                        interview for assistance (either on the kinship 
                        caregiver's own behalf or on behalf of the 
                        child) under the State program funded under 
                        this part (or under a State program funded with 
                        qualified State expenditures (as defined in 
                        section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))); or
                            ``(ii) if the kinship caregiver (or the 
                        minor child) is already receiving assistance 
                        under such a program on the date of enactment 
                        of this paragraph, shall be sent to the kinship 
                        caregiver as soon as practicable after such 
                        date.
                    ``(C) Provision of guidance to kinship 
                caregivers.--A State to which a grant is made under 
                section 403 shall ensure that the State agency 
                responsible for administering the State program funded 
                under this part employs a resource employee who is 
                trained to provide guidance to kinship caregivers, 
                including grandparents and other relative caregivers, 
                of a minor child if the child is a recipient of 
                assistance under the program (or under a State program 
                funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in 
                section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))), on legal options regarding 
                custody and guardianship of the child, including 
                explaining to the kinship caregiver how each legal 
                option corresponds to the availability of benefits and 
                services, and who serves as a liaison with other 
                agencies and community organizations that provide 
                resources and assistance to kinship caregivers.''.
    (b) Inclusion in State Plan.--Section 402(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) The document shall provide a 
                        detailed explanation of how the State intends 
                        to comply with section 408(a)(13).''.
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