Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-3525
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2006-06-15 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Abandonment of family
Administrative procedure
Adoption
Appropriations
Authorization
Child abuse
Child health
Child welfare
Community health services
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Day care
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug abuse
Drug abuse prevention
Drug abuse treatment
Drug addiction
Drugs and youth
Economics and Public Finance
Employee selection
Employee training
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Families
Family services
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to child health services
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to law enforcement
Federal-state relations
Foster home care
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government statistics
Grants-in-aid
Health
Health counseling
Identification of criminals
Indian children
Indian medical care
Intergovernmental fiscal relations
Juvenile delinquency
Labor and Employment
Law
Mental health services
Mentoring
Methamphetamine
Minorities
Native Americans
Parent and child
Performance measurement
Physicians
Prisoners
Recruiting of employees
Science, Technology, Communications
Social work
Standards
State courts
State employees
State laws
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2006-06-15
text: 
Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reserve a specified portion of any appropriation for the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) programs during FY2007-FY2011 for grants for regional partnerships to increase the well-being of, and improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction.
 
Reauthorizes: (1) the PSSF program; (2) discretionary grants under such program; (3) state courts assessment and improvement grants; and (4) the mentoring children of prisoners program.
 
Increases the amount reserved under the PSSF program for allotments to Indian tribes.
 
Authorizes tribal consortia to receive such allotments.
 
Requires state PSSF plans to contain assurances that the state will establish procedures to provide for the additional evaluation of any family that proposes to provide foster care and adopt a certain number of children. 

action_date: 2006-06-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reserve a specified portion of any appropriation for the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) programs during FY2007-FY2011 for grants for regional partnerships to increase the well-being of, and improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction.
 
Directs the Secretary to award such grants of between $500,000 and $1 million for each fiscal year during FY2007-FY2011 to eligible applicants that satisfy the requirements of this Act, including nonprofit and for-profit child welfare service providers, community health (and mental health) service providers, local law enforcement agencies, juvenile justice officials, school personnel, and state and tribal child welfare agencies.
 
Sets the term of a grant at between two and five fiscal years. Prescribes the federal share of service costs covered by a grant, declining from a maximum 85% during the first two years to 75% for the fifth year.
 
(Sec. 3) Reauthorizes for FY2007-FY2011: (1) the PSSF program, state courts assessment and improvement grants; and (2) the mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP) program. Directs the Secretary to award, on a competitive basis, a cooperative agreement to an eligible entity to: (1) identify and approve MCOP programs meeting certain quality standards; (2) organize outreach activities; and (3) distribute vouchers directly to such program.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases from 1% to 3% the amount reserved under the PSSF program for allotments to Indian tribes.
 
Authorizes tribal consortia to receive such allotments.
 
(Sec. 6) Requires state plans for promoting safe and stable families to contain assurances that the state will establish procedures to provide for the additional evaluation and ongoing or pre-adoption monitoring of any family that proposes to provide foster care for, or to adopt, more than four children or more than one group of siblings (or a greater number, if the state chooses and the Secretary approves) before permitting the family to provide such foster care, or adopt the children. Requires the state plans also to contain assurances that procedures will be established to provide for ongoing monitoring or pre-adoption monitoring of the family to fully assess whether it has the ability to care for such children or siblings.
 
Requires state plans to require the state agency to submit annually to the Secretary: (1) copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II (or any successor forms) that report on planned child and family services expenditures by the agency for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and (2) copies of such forms that provide, only with respect to child welfare services and PSSF programs, actual state agency expenditures for the immediately preceding fiscal year. Requires the Secretary to submit a compilation of such reports annually to specified congressional committees.

action_date: 2006-07-13
text: 
Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reserve a specified portion of any appropriation for the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) programs during FY2007-FY2011 for grants for regional partnerships to increase the well-being of, improve the permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction.
 
Directs the Secretary to award such grants of between $500,000 and $1 million for each fiscal year during FY2007-FY2011 to eligible applicants that satisfy the requirements of this Act, including nonprofit and for-profit child welfare service providers, community health (and mental health) service providers, local law enforcement agencies, juvenile justice officials, school personnel, and state and tribal child welfare agencies.
 
Sets the term of a grant at between two and five fiscal years. Prescribes the federal share of service costs covered by a grant, declining from a maximum 85% during the first two years to 75% for the fifth year.
 
(Sec. 3) Reauthorizes for FY2007-FY2011: (1) the PSSF program, including discretionary and state courts assessment and improvement grants; and (2) the mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP) program. Directs the Secretary to award, on a competitive basis, a cooperative agreement to an eligible entity to: (1) identify and approve MCOP programs meeting certain quality standards; (2) organize outreach activities; and (3) distribute vouchers directly to such program.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases from 1% to 3% the amount reserved under the PSSF program for allotments to Indian tribes.

Authorizes tribal consortia to receive such allotments.
 
(Sec. 6) Requires state plans for promoting safe and stable families to contain assurances that the state will establish procedures to provide for the additional evaluation of, and identification of additional supports and services needed by, any family that proposes to provide foster care for more than four children or more than one group of siblings (or more than such number of children and groups of siblings as the state, upon demonstration of good cause and approval by the Secretary, may establish), before permitting the family to provide such foster care, or adopt the children. Requires the state plans also to contain assurances that procedures will be established to provide for ongoing or pre-adoption monitoring and support of the family to fully assess whether it has the ability to care for such children or siblings.
 
Requires state plans to require the state agency to submit annually to the Secretary: (1) copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II (or any successor forms) that report on planned child and family services expenditures by the agency for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and (2) copies of such forms that provide, only with respect to child welfare services and PSSF programs, actual state agency expenditures for the immediately preceding fiscal year. Requires the Secretary to submit a compilation of such reports annually to specified congressional committees. 
(Sec. 7) Requires that foster care proceedings include, in an age-appropriate manner, consultation with the child who is the subject of the proceeding.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: 
Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 - (Sec. 3) Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) program to: (1) prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from making any payment of PSSF funds to a state for administrative costs that exceed 10% of the state's total program expenditures; (2) reauthorize the program at current levels through FY2011; (3) increase the set-asides for Indian tribes from 2% to 3% of any discretionary funds appropriated and from 1% to 3% of the mandatory funds authorized and remaining after the separate reservation of funds for monthly caseworkers is made; (4) eliminate the authority of the Secretary to exempt tribes from any of the PSSF plan requirements; (5) permit an intertribal consortia to submit a single PSSF program plan for approval; and (6) provide that tribes may form consortia in order to meet the $10,000 minimum funding threshold required to be eligible to receive tribal PSSF program funds.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to reserve $40 million each fiscal year for allotments to support monthly caseworker visits to children in foster care under state responsibility. Requires states to use such money primarily for activities designed to improve caseworker retention, recruitment, training, and ability to access the benefits of technology. Sets forth special rules for funds reserved to support monthly caseworker visits, including requirements for state submission of data on: (1) frequency and location of such visits; and (2) state ability to verify visit frequency.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for child welfare services (CWS).

Modifies state plan as well as state allotment and reimbursement requirements under the CWS program.

Repeals requirements that a state CWS plan apply certain child day care standards and provide for training and effective use of paraprofessionals. Requires state plans to describe: (1) services and activities to be funded and how they relate to CWS purposes; and (2) steps the state will take to provide CWS statewide. 

Requires states to have administrative and judicial procedures in effect for children abandoned at or shortly after birth to ensure expeditious decisions for their permanent placement.

Prohibits: (1) more than 10% of CWS expenditures, federal and nonfederal, for administrative purposes; or (2) the use of CWS funds for child day care, foster care maintenance payments, or adoption assistance payments.

Requires a state plan to outline how the state will ensure that physicians or other appropriate medical professionals are actively consulted and involved in: (1) assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care under state responsibility; and (2) determining appropriate medical treatment for them.

Repeals the prohibition against reallotment of funds based on state failure to maintain mandatory CWS state plan foster child protections.

Repeals state authority to count spending on foster care maintenance payments as CWS expenditures to meet federal matching requirements.

(Sec. 6) Reauthorizes and extends through FY2011 the court improvement program and the program for mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP).

(Sec. 8) Makes additional appropriations to the Secretary for the PSSF program for FY2006. 

(Sec. 9) Requires the Secretary to report biennially to specified congressional committees on: (1) the level of expenditures, and the programs and activities funded, by each state, territory, and Indian tribe to which funds are paid; (2) the number of children and families served by each such state, territory, and Indian tribe; and (3) how spending under the programs has helped achieve the goals identified by each such state, territory, and Indian tribe as part of the annual planning process undertaken in developing plans.

action_date: 2006-09-20
text: 
Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 - (Sec. 3) Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) program to: (1) reauthorize PSSF at current levels for FY2007-FY2011, including discretionary grants; and (2) appropriate to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an additional $40 million for FY2006 for PSSF.
 
Requires the state to submit annually to the Secretary copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II (or any successor forms) that: (1) report on planned child and family services expenditures for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and (2) provide specified information about PSSF and certain other programs, including the numbers of families and of children, as well as the population, served by the state agency.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit a compilation of such state reports annually to specified congressional committees.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from making any payment of PSSF funds to a state for administrative costs that exceed 10% of the state's total program expenditures. 
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to reserve specified funds for allotment for FY2008-FY2011, which a state shall use to support monthly caseworker visits with children in foster care under state responsibility, with a primary emphasis on activities designed to improve caseworker retention, recruitment, training, and ability to access the benefits of technology.
 
Prohibits a state from using its allotment to supplant any federal funds paid to the state under SSA title IV part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance).
 
Requires the Secretary to reserve specified amounts for FY2007-FY2011 for awarding targeted grants to increase the well-being of, and to improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine or other substance abuse.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to regional partnerships to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, services and activities designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's or caretaker's methamphetamine or other substance abuse. 
 
Requires the Secretary to award such grants to regional partnerships in amounts of between $500,000 and $1 million per grant per fiscal year. Specifies the federal share of service costs. Directs the Secretary to establish indicators that will be used to assess periodically the performance of the grant recipients.
 
Specifies amounts reserved for evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases the set-asides for Indian tribes from 2% to 3% of any discretionary funds appropriated and from 1% to 3% of the mandatory funds authorized and remaining after the separate reservation of funds for monthly caseworkers is made.
 
Provides for allotments to tribal consortia.
 
(Sec. 6) Revises requirements for the Child Welfare Services program.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2011.
 
Declares that the purpose of the program is to promote state flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families.
 
Requires a state plan to: (1) include assurances that not more than 10% of its expenditures will be for administrative expenses; (2) describe how the state actively consults with and involves physicians or other appropriate medical professionals in assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care under state responsibility and determining appropriate medical treatment for children; and (3) provide for disaster response procedures.
 
Provides for the reallotment of funds.
 
Prohibits federal payments for fiscal years after FY2007 for child care, foster care maintenance payments, and adoption assistance payments from exceeding the level of such payments for FY2005. Declares that state expenditures of nonfederal funds for foster care maintenance payments for fiscal years after FY2007 shall not be considered state plan expenditures to the extent that their total exceeds the total of such expenditures for FY2005.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires each state plan for child welfare services to describe standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits for children in foster care under state responsibility which, at a minimum, ensure that: (1) the children are visited on a monthly basis; and (2) the visits are well-planned and focused on issues pertinent to case planning and service delivery to ensure the children's safety, permanency, and well-being.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from making a payment to a state in FY2008 unless the state has provided data which shows: (1) the percentage of children in foster care under state responsibility who were visited on a monthly basis by the caseworker handling the child's case; and (2) the percentage of the visits that occurred in the child's residence.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish an outline of the steps to be taken to ensure, by October 1, 2011, that: (1) at least 90% of the children in foster care under state responsibility are visited by their caseworkers on a monthly basis; and (2) the majority of the visits occur in the child's residence. Provides for: (1) penalizing states which do not make progress in meeting such goal; (2) progress reports from the Secretary to Congress on states meeting standards for frequency of caseworker visits for children in foster care; and (3) inclusion of information on caseworker visits in annual child well-being outcome reports.
 
(Sec. 8) Reauthorizes and extends through FY2011 the program for mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP).
 
Requires the Secretary to enter into a three-year, renewable cooperative agreement with an eligible entity for a Service Delivery Demonstration Project to: (1) identify children of prisoners in need of mentoring services; (2) provide their families with a voucher for mentoring services and a list of providers in their residential area; and (3) monitor and oversee the delivery of mentoring services by providers that accept the vouchers.
 
Directs the Secretary to reserve certain funds for such Project.
 
(Sec. 9) Reauthorizes and extends through FY2011 the court improvement program.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends SSA title IV part E to require a foster care proceeding to include, in an age-appropriate manner, consultation with the child that is the subject of the proceeding.

action_date: 2006-09-28
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 20, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 - (Sec. 3) Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the promoting safe and stable families (PSSF) program to: (1) reauthorize PSSF at current levels for FY2007-FY2011, including discretionary grants; and (2) appropriate to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an additional $40 million for FY2006 for PSSF.
 
Requires the state to submit annually to the Secretary copies of forms CFS 101-Part I and CFS 101-Part II (or any successor forms) that: (1) report on planned child and family services expenditures for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and (2) provide specified information about PSSF and certain other programs, including the numbers of families and of children, as well as the population, served by the state agency.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit a compilation of such state reports annually to specified congressional committees.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from making any payment of PSSF funds to a state for administrative costs that exceed 10% of the state's total program expenditures. 
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Secretary to reserve specified funds for allotment for FY2008-FY2011, which a state shall use to support monthly caseworker visits with children in foster care under state responsibility, with a primary emphasis on activities designed to improve caseworker retention, recruitment, training, and ability to access the benefits of technology.
 
Prohibits a state from using its allotment to supplant any federal funds paid to the state under SSA title IV part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance).
 
Requires the Secretary to reserve specified amounts for FY2007-FY2011 for awarding targeted grants to increase the well-being of, and to improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine or other substance abuse.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to regional partnerships to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, services and activities designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's or caretaker's methamphetamine or other substance abuse. 
 
Requires the Secretary to award such grants to regional partnerships in amounts of between $500,000 and $1 million per grant per fiscal year. Specifies the federal share of service costs. Directs the Secretary to establish indicators that will be used to assess periodically the performance of the grant recipients.
 
Specifies amounts reserved for evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance.
 
(Sec. 5) Increases the set-asides for Indian tribes from 2% to 3% of any discretionary funds appropriated and from 1% to 3% of the mandatory funds authorized and remaining after the separate reservation of funds for monthly caseworkers is made.
 
Provides for allotments to tribal consortia.
 
(Sec. 6) Revises requirements for the Child Welfare Services program.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2011.
 
Declares that the purpose of the program is to promote state flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families.
 
Requires a state plan to: (1) include assurances that not more than 10% of its expenditures will be for administrative expenses; (2) describe how the state actively consults with and involves physicians or other appropriate medical professionals in assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care under state responsibility and determining appropriate medical treatment for children; and (3) provide for disaster response procedures.
 
Provides for the reallotment of funds.
 
Prohibits federal payments for fiscal years after FY2007 for child care, foster care maintenance payments, and adoption assistance payments from exceeding the level of such payments for FY2005. Declares that state expenditures of nonfederal funds for foster care maintenance payments for fiscal years after FY2007 shall not be considered state plan expenditures to the extent that their total exceeds the total of such expenditures for FY2005.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires each state plan for child welfare services to describe standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits for children in foster care under state responsibility which, at a minimum, ensure that: (1) the children are visited on a monthly basis; and (2) the visits are well-planned and focused on issues pertinent to case planning and service delivery to ensure the children's safety, permanency, and well-being.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from making a payment to a state in FY2008 unless the state has provided data which shows: (1) the percentage of children in foster care under state responsibility who were visited on a monthly basis by the caseworker handling the child's case; and (2) the percentage of the visits that occurred in the child's residence.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish an outline of the steps to be taken to ensure, by October 1, 2011, that: (1) at least 90% of the children in foster care under state responsibility are visited by their caseworkers on a monthly basis; and (2) the majority of the visits occur in the child's residence. Provides for: (1) penalizing states which do not make progress in meeting such goal; (2) progress reports from the Secretary to Congress on states meeting standards for frequency of caseworker visits for children in foster care; and (3) inclusion of information on caseworker visits in annual child well-being outcome reports.
 
(Sec. 8) Reauthorizes and extends through FY2011 the program for mentoring children of prisoners (MCOP).
 
Requires the Secretary to enter into a three-year, renewable cooperative agreement with an eligible entity for a Service Delivery Demonstration Project to: (1) identify children of prisoners in need of mentoring services; (2) provide their families with a voucher for mentoring services and a list of providers in their residential area; and (3) monitor and oversee the delivery of mentoring services by providers that accept the vouchers.
 
Directs the Secretary to reserve certain funds for such Project.
 
(Sec. 9) Reauthorizes and extends through FY2011 the court improvement program.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends SSA title IV part E to require a foster care proceeding to include, in an age-appropriate manner, consultation with the child that is the subject of the proceeding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-28
text: Became Public Law No: 109-288.
action_date: 2006-09-28
text: Became Public Law No: 109-288.
action_date: 2006-09-28
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2006-09-28
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2006-09-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2006-09-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to the House amendments Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H7375-7387; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7375-7381)
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to the House amendments Agreed to by voice vote.(consideration: CR H7375-7387; text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7375-7381)
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3525.
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Mr. Herger moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to the House amendments.
action_date: 2006-09-20
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-09-20
text: Senate concurred to House amendments with an amendment and an amendment to the title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9849-9850)
action_date: 2006-09-20
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate concurred to House amendments with an amendment and an amendment to the title by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9849-9850)
action_date: 2006-07-26
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5689-5692)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5689-5692)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3525.
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5689-5694)
action_date: 2006-07-25
text: Mr. Herger moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2006-07-17
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2006-07-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-07-13
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7540-7543)
action_date: 2006-07-13
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S7540-7543)
action_date: 2006-07-13
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7540-7543)
action_date: 2006-06-23
text: By Senator Grassley from Committee on Finance filed written report. Report No. 109-269.
action_date: 2006-06-23
text: By Senator Grassley from Committee on Finance filed written report. Report No. 109-269.
action_date: 2006-06-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 470.
action_date: 2006-06-15
text: Committee on Finance. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Grassley. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-06-15
text: Committee on Finance. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Grassley. Without written report.
action_date: 2006-06-15
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 109-288