Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act

Bill: 117-s-462
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2021-02-25
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Child care and development

Child health

Child safety and welfare

Community life and organization

Department of Health and Human Services

Domestic violence and child abuse

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Educational technology and distance education

Emergency communications systems

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Executive agency funding and structure

Family services

Health care coverage and access

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Lawyers and legal services

Mental health

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act</b><br> <br> 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.</p> <p>The bill also provides funding to operate and expand the national child abuse hotline.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 462 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Funding for Child Protection Act . 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. 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. 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. 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.