Title: Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act  This bill funds additional grants to states for child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs in response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Specifically, states may use such grants to expand services, provide support to community-based organizations, purchase emergency supplies, and provide temporary direct payments to families caring for children under protective services supervision that are awaiting approval for government assistance, among other uses. The bill does not require states to match funding under these grants.
The bill also provides funding to operate and expand the national child abuse hotline.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 462

   To provide emergency funding for caseworkers and child protective 
                               services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 25, 2021

 Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Markey, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Kaine, 
 Mr. Brown, Mr. Manchin, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide emergency funding for caseworkers and child protective 
                               services.

    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 ``Emergency Funding for Child 
Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR THE STATE GRANT PROGRAM FOR CHILD ABUSE 
              OR NEGLECT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Appropriation.--There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary, 
out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $500,000,000 
for fiscal year 2021, for the purpose of providing additional funding 
for the State grant program under section 106 of the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a), in accordance with this 
section. Such amounts shall be in addition to other amounts made 
available for such purpose, and shall remain available until expended.
    (b) Emergency Designation.--
            (1) In general.--The amounts provided by this section are 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) 
        of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
            (2) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this section is 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
        4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent 
        resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
    (c) Allotments.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make 
allotments out of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) to each 
State and territory receiving an allotment under section 106(f) of the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(f)) for 
fiscal year 2020, in the same manner that amounts appropriated under 
section 112 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5106f)) are allotted to States in 
accordance with section 106(f)(2) of such Act, except that, in 
allotting amounts under this subsection, ``$50,000'' shall be deemed to 
be ``$1,000,000'' each place such amount appears in such section 
106(f)(2).
    (d) Use of Funds.--Amounts received by a State or territory under 
subsection (c) may be used, consistent with section 106 of the Child 
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, to--
            (1) expand the ability of caseworkers to conduct safe, 
        remote and in-person, homes visits and family visits to 
        investigate and treat child abuse and neglect, which may 
        include--
                    (A) purchasing personal protective equipment for 
                caseworkers and families, such as gloves, hand 
                sanitizer, and face masks;
                    (B) providing premium pay for caseworkers 
                conducting in-home visits;
                    (C) purchasing new technology and updating or 
                improving existing technology infrastructure for child 
                welfare agencies;
                    (D) purchasing technology, including internet 
                access, and prepaid telephone minutes for families; and
                    (E) training on the use of such technology for 
                caseworkers, families, and child welfare agencies;
            (2) access consultation and services related to mental 
        health, substance use disorder, and domestic violence, 
        including with infant-early childhood mental health providers, 
        to train and support caseworkers in the impacts of disasters 
        and traumatic experience for children (including very young 
        children), youth, and adults, to help caseworkers provide 
        trauma-informed services;
            (3) enhance the ability of caseworkers to connect families 
        with, or facilitate access to, other services, such as 
        telebehavioral health care, in-person well-child visits with 
        pediatricians, substance use disorder treatment, and early 
        intervention and special education services under the 
        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et 
        seq.) for young children with developmental delays and 
        disabilities;
            (4) address the needs, including mental health needs, of 
        lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth who are 
        suspected victims of child abuse or neglect;
            (5) purchase emergency supplies for families caring for 
        children under protective services supervision (either at home 
        or in foster care) and not able to afford them, which may 
        include cleaning and sanitizing supplies, diapers, hygiene 
        products, formula for infants and toddlers, and reusable cloth 
        face coverings that are consistent with the guidelines of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing the 
        spread of COVID-19 among the general public;
            (6) provide time-limited, direct payments for families 
        caring for children under protective services supervision 
        (either at home or in foster care) who are applying for 
        government-funded assistance programs, to serve as a bridge 
        until the family receives or is denied such assistance;
            (7) provide support, including assistance payments, 
        training or mentorship in navigating virtual platforms such as 
        virtual learning and telehealth, and access to legal 
        representation, as needed, to relatives or fictive kin to care 
        for children, in lieu of placing such children in foster care, 
        in the event that such children's parents--
                    (A) are diagnosed with COVID-19; or
                    (B) are unable to care for their children due to 
                health or economic concerns stemming from the COVID-19 
                pandemic;
            (8) provide access to legal assistance for relatives or 
        fictive kin raising children with no parental involvement to 
        make alternative plans for the children in the event the 
        caregivers die or become unable to care for the children; and
            (9) carry out such other activities that enhance the 
        ability of the State or territory to protect children and 
        support families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    (e) No State Match Required.--A State or territory shall not be 
required to provide any additional funding for the State program under 
section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as a 
condition for receiving an allocation under subsection (c).
    (f) Reports.--Each State or territory receiving an allotment under 
this section shall submit to the Secretary, every 6 months until the 
amount so allotted has been fully expended, a report detailing how such 
State or territory is using such allotment in accordance with the 
requirements of this section.

SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION 
              OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

    (a) Appropriation.--There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary, 
out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, for the purpose of providing 
additional funding for the community-based grants for the prevention of 
child abuse and neglect under title II of the Child Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116 et seq.), in accordance with this 
section. Such amounts shall be in addition to other amounts made 
available for such purpose, and shall remain available until expended.
    (b) Emergency Designation.--
            (1) In general.--The amounts provided by this section are 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) 
        of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
            (2) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this section is 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
        4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent 
        resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
    (c) Allotments.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make 
allotments out of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) to each 
State receiving an allotment under section 203 of the Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116b) for fiscal year 2020, in 
the same manner that amounts appropriated under section 209 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5116i) are allotted to States in accordance with section 203 
of such Act, except that, in allotting amounts under this subsection--
            (1) in subsection (a) of such section 203, ``1 percent'' 
        shall be deemed to be ``5 percent'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A) of such section 203--
                    (A) ``70 percent'' shall be deemed to be ``100 
                percent''; and
                    (B) ``$175,000'' shall be deemed to be 
                ``$1,000,000''; and
            (3) subsections (b)(1)(B) and (c) of such section 203 shall 
        not apply.
    (d) Use of Funds.--Amounts received by a State under subsection (c) 
may be used, consistent with title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act, to--
            (1) provide services and supports to help families build 
        protective factors linked to the prevention of child abuse and 
        neglect;
            (2) purchase emergency supplies and basic necessities for 
        families, which may include diapers and infant hygiene 
        products, formula, non-perishable food, water, soap, hand 
        sanitizer, and reusable cloth face coverings that are 
        consistent with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention for preventing the spread of COVID-19 
        among the general public;
            (3) provide time-limited, direct payments for families 
        caring for children under protective services supervision 
        (either at home or in foster care) who are applying for 
        government-funded assistance programs, to serve as a bridge 
        until the family receives or is denied such assistance;
            (4) maximize the participation of racial and ethnic 
        minorities; children and adults with disabilities; families 
        experiencing domestic violence; families experiencing 
        homelessness and those at risk of homelessness; families with 
        low-incomes and families with caregivers recently unemployed; 
        lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth; relative 
        and fictive kin caregivers and the children raised by such 
        caregivers; and young parents in community-based and 
        prevention-focused programs designed to strengthen and support 
        families to prevent child abuse and neglect;
            (5) bolster the efforts of the State hotlines by 
        publicizing such hotlines, hiring more staff, and increasing 
        hours of operation;
            (6) establish satellite locations and mobile units for 
        community based nonprofit organizations and family resource 
        centers so families can access resources and services in a safe 
        manner;
            (7) hire, and provide premium pay to, social program 
        navigators, parent coaches, and home visitors to reach more 
        families;
            (8) purchase technology, including internet access, for 
        staff and families to support the prevention of child abuse and 
        neglect, and train staff and families to facilitate usage of 
        such technology;
            (9) develop and distribute parenting tip sheets and guides 
        for families that address topics that may include--
                    (A) children's responses to trauma caused by the 
                COVID-19 pandemic;
                    (B) adult self-care and stress management;
                    (C) familial conflict resolution and de-escalation;
                    (D) maintaining healthy attachments between 
                caregivers and children, and where appropriate, birth 
                parents;
                    (E) understanding the intersection of trauma with 
                childhood development; and
                    (F) other tips and advice pertinent to maintaining 
                child and parent and caregiver well-being during the 
                COVID-19 pandemic;
            (10) develop and distribute mandatory reporter tip sheets 
        and guides that address topics that may include--
                    (A) recognizing and reporting child abuse and 
                neglect in a virtual environment;
                    (B) helping parents, caregivers, and kin access 
                community supports to help families with non-safety 
                concerns outside of the child welfare system; and
                    (C) other tips or advice pertinent to recognizing 
                and reporting child abuse or neglect, or supporting 
                families at risk of child abuse or neglect, during the 
                COVID-19 pandemic;
            (11) access services related to mental health, substance 
        use disorder, and domestic violence, including infant-early 
        childhood mental health services, through consultants to train 
        and support staff around the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
        about the intersection of trauma with childhood development, 
        and establish or support local trauma response teams and the 
        procedures to connect via remote technology;
            (12) assist community-based organizations operating 
        programs and activities designed to strengthen and support 
        families to prevent child abuse and neglect with operating 
        costs to ensure that such organizations can continue providing 
        services during the COVID-19 pandemic;
            (13) prevent child fatalities and near fatalities, 
        including by--
                    (A) providing support for crisis nurseries; and
                    (B) conducting targeted educational campaigns for 
                parents and caregivers; and
            (14) carry out other programs, services, and activities 
        that strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
    (e) No State Match Required.--Notwithstanding section 204(4) of the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5116d(4)), a State 
shall not be required to provide any additional funding for the program 
under title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 
U.S.C. 5116 et seq.) as a condition for receiving an allocation under 
subsection (c).
    (f) Reports.--Each State receiving an allotment under this section 
shall submit to the Secretary, every 6 months until the amount so 
allotted has been fully expended, a report detailing how such State is 
using such allotment in accordance with the requirements of this 
section.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR THE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE.

    (a) Appropriation.--There are hereby appropriated to the Secretary, 
out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000 
for fiscal year 2021, for the purpose of operating and expanding the 
national child abuse hotline, including by publicizing such helpline, 
hiring more staff, and increasing hours of operation. Such amounts 
shall be in addition to other amounts made available for such purpose, 
and shall remain available until expended.
    (b) Emergency Designation.--
            (1) In general.--The amounts provided by this section are 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) 
        of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
            (2) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this section is 
        designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
        4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent 
        resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Caseworker.--The term ``caseworker'' includes child 
        welfare agency staff and staff of other related organizations, 
        such as in-home services or home visiting services.
            (2) Family.--The term ``family'' includes formal and 
        informal kinship care arrangements.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
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