110 HR 2188 IH: Kinship Caregiver Support U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2188 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2007 Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Mr. Johnson of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish kinship navigator programs, to establish kinship guardianship assistance payments for children, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Kinship Caregiver Support Act.
2.
Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Title I—Kinship Navigator Program Sec. 101. Findings. Sec. 102. Purpose. Sec. 103. Definitions. Sec. 104. Grants. Sec. 105. Federal share. Sec. 106. Applications. Sec. 107. Use of grant funds. Sec. 108. Administration of the program. Sec. 109. Reservation. Sec. 110. Authorization of appropriations. Title II—Subsidized Guardianship Option for Title IV–E Sec. 201. Findings. Sec. 202. Kinship guardianship assistance payments for children. Sec. 203. Kinship guardianship demonstration projects. Title III—Notice of Children Entering Foster Care Sec. 301. Notice to relatives when children enter foster care. Sec. 302. Flexibility to establish separate standards for relative foster family homes. Sec. 303. Expansion of definition of family support services to include assisting kinship caregivers in locating and accessing needed services. Sec. 304. Requirement that states inform case workers and families considering guardianship of all permanency options and service eligibility.
<enum>I</enum><header>Kinship Navigator Program</header> <section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D2B4AAE828142D28FBFB7749F737823"><enum>101.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="H37E484B0A165416597F9A91CB4EE39AB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The 2000 decennial census states that—</text> <subparagraph id="H6CE3869FEDFF468A84F500502C06F2A8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>more that 4,500,000 children in the United States are living in grandparent-headed households, a 30 percent increase from 1990 to 2000; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC0D140CD1A994C8693468796D8D1C2B4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an additional 1,500,000 children in the United States are living in households headed by other relatives.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H018B68CAF6FB489DADCB9735B905DEF3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the 2000 decennial census, over 2,400,000 grandparents reported that they were primarily responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren, and parents were not present in about <fraction>1/3</fraction> of the families involved.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H9D8BCDCF940041D98870F505D987E279"><enum>(3)</enum><text>According to the 2000 decennial census, almost <fraction>1/5</fraction> of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren live in poverty.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD122A6CA04534E7ABC219E303D8EAB6F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Kinship caregivers (as defined in section 103) often face a variety of unnecessary barriers, including difficulties enrolling children in school, authorizing medical treatment, maintaining public housing leases, obtaining affordable legal services, obtaining custody of children or otherwise achieving permanency for children in their care, and accessing a variety of Federal benefits and services.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE177468055B344CC9F538152C7C7E835"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Kinship caregivers can help to keep children from entering the foster care system, and provide safe and permanent homes, but need services and supports to do so. They need better access to health insurance, respite care, child care, special education, housing, and other benefits.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC7C773E4740B40A7921259C140D565E9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Surveys and research on the needs of kinship caregivers report that one of their greatest challenges in raising children is getting accurate information about—</text> <subparagraph id="H05863878196147B5A581FACA2275CA13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the benefits and services that are available to their families, such as health and mental health care, assistance provided under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), kinship or foster care, kinship assistance and adoption assistance, child care and early education, special education, and other services for children with disabilities; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H374FDEE80BF24881A2B9BBE32778E992"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the legal authority, responsibilities, and rights of kinship caregivers.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5C13EF703510418EB9F635074C22BADE"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Funding for kinship navigator programs can—</text> <subparagraph id="HC306CD2823184DE3A7D843E24BBEF9BB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>help kinship care families better use existing programs and services; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF37694B234ED41D4946FFB2685639B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increase the capacity of public and private not-for-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based agencies, and including agencies carrying out related Federal programs, such as the National Family Caregiver Support Program under part E of title III of the <act-name parsable-cite="OAA65">Older Americans Act of 1965</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3030s">42 U.S.C. 3030s et seq.</external-xref>), to better serve the needs of kinship care families.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H0563ECB422D44D4A8C6F6423893164E8"><enum>102.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this title are—</text> <paragraph id="H81F29DC645AD4B0492A9ADB81E047918"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to establish kinship navigator programs in States, large metropolitan areas, and tribal areas to assist kinship caregivers in navigating their way through programs and services, to help the caregivers learn about and obtain assistance to meet the needs of the children they are raising and their own needs; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H205FD95F23354007A43C91E5E008600"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to promote effective partnerships among public and private not-for-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based agencies, to help the agencies described in this paragraph more effectively and efficiently serve kinship care families and address the fragmentation that creates barriers to meeting the needs of those families.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H86ED8FEDC2E44CDDB902C08D3DEA3D00"><enum>103.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="H960A6EF0AA1747F6A9E5DEFAF6182DDD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assistant secretary</header><text>The term <term>Assistant Secretary</term> means the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HEE0D430B0F7D4A9FB1F8C59809154B54"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Kinship care family</header><text>The term <term>kinship care family</term> means a family with a kinship caregiver.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H23C0A3FA725846A08C4E9D9355879159"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Kinship caregiver</header><text>The term <term>kinship caregiver</term> means a grandparent or stepgrandparent of a child, a relative of a child by blood, marriage, or adoption, who—</text> <subparagraph id="H14BC702CECBE43F6BD25AEB7993CED9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>lives with the child;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE57A56421EDF45F6B3229C2D68CAA755"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parent of the child is unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H478BF1132EF9495400D3CC1262D517B7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has a legal relationship to the child or is raising the child informally.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H895AF5D23CD64CB189D03E4E1B3993E6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Large metropolitan area</header><text>The term <term>large metropolitan area</term> means a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census, with a population of not less than 1,000,000.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7AE56B11336C41B294E81BF6139BE8F5"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Metropolitan agency</header><text>The term <term>metropolitan agency</term> means an agency serving a large metropolitan area, or a county or political subdivision of a large metropolitan area.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H22BD13FE1C0E499F902EB0E09D5141B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HD15E4045FE8B431897B36538A8FBC4B6"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Tribal area</header><text>The term <term>tribal area</term> means the area served by a tribal organization.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE1E3BC1AC3054BCFA017737BA3A22271"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <term>tribal organization</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="HC8E98A2E88CC4EE3A707EB6838042362"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a tribal organization, as defined in section 658P of the <act-name parsable-cite="CCDBGA90">Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9858n">42 U.S.C. 9858n</external-xref>); and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB3BB33F81CA24154A62EC4041EA60258"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes a consortium of tribal organizations described in subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H2315ADE360F14AB7949D1DABF42F53DF"><enum>104.</enum><header>Grants</header> <subsection id="H8555543E3B5C49D38590D184995EFD99"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out kinship navigator programs.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HE9768DE246D945C1A8BC541BA2E841BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible entities</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a State agency, metropolitan agency, or tribal organization, with experience in—</text> <paragraph id="HC030A08060364E16862B1E87A4DBB379"><enum>(1)</enum><text>addressing the needs of kinship caregivers or children; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H6A022D3B98CA45C2B12FECBEC905AC68"><enum>(2)</enum><text>connecting the children or caregivers with appropriate services and assistance, such as services and assistance provided by—</text> <subparagraph id="H24B0463B1824497AACC04DE61150C051"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an area agency on aging under the <act-name parsable-cite="OAA65">Older Americans Act of 1965</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/3001">42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0693182182B0453A0041488807CBC300"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agency with jurisdiction over child welfare, income-based financial assistance, human services, or health matters, or a public entity that links family resource and support programs, for the State, large metropolitan area, or Indian tribe involved.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H57E1867C423941DEADEABF8F375C84EF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Allocation of grants</header><text>Of the funds made available for grants under this section for each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent to make grants to State agencies.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H98F77D7E19AD482DB88561EB41FB6460"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duration of the grants</header><text>In making the grants, the Assistant Secretary shall make grants—</text> <paragraph id="HE04B9D2ECED44A258169EBC51FCE656"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in fiscal year 2008, for periods of 3 years;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H85481C48A00646ECB266E4F9DC713245"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in fiscal year 2009, for periods of 2 years; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC4F781E6EF024E309F641CDDD5DC008F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in fiscal year 2010, for periods of 1 year.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HC482770F4A6C4BF0BE360094D86073E"><enum>105.</enum><header>Federal share</header> <subsection id="HA174259EE9174C9D9F8BE8BC775696D2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of carrying out a kinship navigator program under a grant shall be—</text> <paragraph id="HA0997603208142EA8414C0EDBE2C4706"><enum>(1)</enum><text>100 percent in the first year of the grant period;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H07B4C95F59CF4CE2981D09586CA1466D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>75 percent in the second year (if any) of the grant period; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5995736D5637401EBD4C149BA26CEE5C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>50 percent in the third year (if any) of the grant period.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H33DE3A24024B4E9AAE77FBDB182D00F5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Non-Federal share</header><text>The non-Federal share of the cost may be provided in cash. Not more than 50 percent of the non-Federal share of the cost may be provided in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H2B90E76BB0824A92ABDCE18D6E0609C"><enum>106.</enum><header>Applications</header> <subsection id="H77C3CD6F05E24BEF83B8E68C8CFAAADC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a minimum, the information described in subsection (b).</text> </subsection><subsection id="HAE3A48C3D48C438FB6A9BE0081522709"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The application shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="HC2812A504AA84C98993D3EBD00F3B04E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of the steps the entity will take during the first 6 months of the grant period to—</text> <subparagraph id="H19B38BBE7ED3446CA844CB8E02BF729"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify gaps in services for kinship care families in the State, large metropolitan area, or tribal area to be served and the specific activities that are needed to bridge the gaps;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H146A7009DB2241AA8896B130A5068F4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>convene a group of partners to assist in the operation of the kinship navigator program funded through the grant;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H44E9A5F7703B41AC841E53A258BAC376"><enum>(C)</enum><text>utilize or develop relevant technology;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H93C0EC6B9E1846148F45F4B9DE425E6C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>conduct outreach to kinship caregivers about the kinship navigator program; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA4AF374EA27148B6B9CCCD1FED1A1F"><enum>(E)</enum><text>develop a plan for reaching kinship caregivers, ensuring that the caregivers can access the kinship navigator program, and following up to ensure that the caregivers actually receive necessary services and supports.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H93892B76B26C4E0E9D6B3780311E4F31"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An assurance that the entity will provide at least the core activities specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 107(b) for kinship care families through the kinship navigator program.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H4158295842CD464684316CCC148D1B4D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A description of the activities the entity expects to offer over the grant period and the entity’s initial projection of the number of children and kinship caregivers likely to be served.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H17A0500123A747D5972627DE2303F2DA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A description of how the entity will involve in the planning and operation of the kinship navigator program, on an ongoing basis—</text> <subparagraph id="H67F81F75371A4174831DFCF0A15F3A0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>kinship caregivers;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9864EC2FE67645DDA54186FCCC7E901C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>youth raised or being raised by kinship caregivers;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCB1DBE8338E447A484678ECD37F60894"><enum>(C)</enum><text>representatives of kinship care support organizations;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDCA8E6F74464DCFB717F600FA86E907"><enum>(D)</enum><text>relevant government agencies (including agencies with jurisdiction over matters relating to aging, mental health, mental retardation or developmental disabilities, substance abuse treatment, criminal justice, health, youth services, human services, education, income-based financial assistance, child welfare, child custody, guardianship, adoption, or child support enforcement);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8BF86E4C5F454597898CF7576BB9708E"><enum>(E)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H357AECBEDE964334B757EEC0329511A0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not-for-profit service providers, including community-based and faith-based agencies; and</text> </clause><clause id="H6E847291350C4AD5AA003B4C3C451B44" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>educational institutions; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD9C5C788517040D38F08D2ECBB4B671F"><enum>(F)</enum><text>other State or local agencies or systems that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services, including the entities that provide the 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where applicable.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1C55475E39E94CD381D901F731CB227"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A description of—</text> <subparagraph id="H8A7068201BB54E7A00F007C5B1C3849C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>how the entity will coordinate its activities with other State or local agencies or systems that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services for children, families, or older individuals, including the entities that provide the 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where applicable, so as to avoid duplication of services and the fragmentation of services that prevents kinship care families from getting the help the families need; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD10FA51440C84512003ECE6709FFDD25"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how the entity will encourage regional cooperation among agencies, particularly agencies serving border communities that may cross jurisdictional lines, to ensure that kinship care families will get help.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H22D4736796F342DFA037882E00A047D8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>An assurance that the entity will report at least annually to the Assistant Secretary, in a manner prescribed by the Assistant Secretary, to ensure comparability of data across States, on—</text> <subparagraph id="HCA04A6B8379F461C93AA41073BEFC3A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>activities established with the funds made available through grants made under this title;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDD2AE3A4076A4B06ABDD4BE3B151C200"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the numbers and ages of the children and caregivers assisted through the grants;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2E3D4603A51848CC84977F1EAA9232EF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the types of the assistance provided;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H05D7D74BCDEA4F4F87F41EFC934DEB4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the outcomes achieved with the assistance; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA5E8A3B68249496E81CA5309879E48BA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the barriers identified to meeting the needs of kinship care families and plans for addressing the barriers.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H11817DEED4114F0587347C505EDB31AB"><enum>(7)</enum><text>An assurance that the entity, not later than 3 months after the end of the final year of the grant period, will submit a final report to the Administration for Children and Families that describes—</text> <subparagraph id="HE8591B6CF58C437F83D0FCDD6F3B16BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the numbers and ages of the children and caregivers assisted through the grants;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB8D43885E4034ED09EF5814EEDFF4804"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the types of assistance provided;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H90386425E5084F5087EB43D199F016F4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the outcomes achieved with the assistance;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8FF03E78C494B448726E1EA7EC11D61"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the barriers to meeting the needs of kinship care families that were addressed through the grants;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H29FE3508B35B47FFBF006CF5795FC77E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the plans of the entity to continue the kinship navigator program after the grant period has ended;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3D44424A79384FA6A7B680E2F6FC51A2"><enum>(F)</enum><text>lessons learned during the grant period; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFC129B4054964915A9CA9D2328AAB065"><enum>(G)</enum><text>recommendations about the considerations that should be taken into account as the program carried out under this title is expanded throughout the Nation.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7381D64A12C94BDFBB00008983F1D9DC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Preference</header><text>In awarding grants under this title, the Assistant Secretary shall give preference to agencies or organizations that can demonstrate that the agencies and organizations will offer the full array of activities described in section 107(b).</text> </subsection></section><section id="H71CECAE1AF2644C49E04654280BEC908"><enum>107.</enum><header>Use of grant funds</header> <subsection id="HBA586BAB459B411AAC05F2E66FDD1DAD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>An entity that receives a grant under this title may use the funds made available through the grant directly, or through grants or contracts with other public or private not-for-profit agencies, including community-based or faith-based agencies, that have experience in connecting kinship caregivers with appropriate services and assistance.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HBEF16F97EDF24683922B427074C851B9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An entity that receives a grant under this title may use the funds made available through the grant for activities that help to connect kinship caregivers with the services and assistance required to meet the needs of the children the caregivers are raising and their own needs, such as—</text> <paragraph id="HC55446C57FBA4F58AE00B7125363722"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establishing and maintaining information and referral systems that—</text> <subparagraph id="H7D8E689299C44EC3BD40AAB376EBF451"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assist, through toll free access that includes access to a live operator, kinship caregivers, kinship care service providers, kinship care support group facilitators, and others to learn about and link to—</text> <clause id="HFC5D0B8FFD4240469588A9D824E76B77"><enum>(i)</enum><text>local kinship care service providers, support groups, respite care programs, and special services for incarcerated parents;</text> </clause><clause id="H337EFCCC82494A3481197B58037EBE4E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>eligibility and enrollment information for Federal, State, and local benefits, such as—</text> <subclause id="H36402D2E8FB74F72BB9CC5F5C23F685"><enum>(I)</enum><text>education (including preschool, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and special education);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H573437AC34294FE4B64249544DB4ABAB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>family support services, early intervention services, mental health services, substance abuse prevention and treatment services, services to address domestic violence problems, services to address HIV or AIDS, legal services, child support, housing assistance, and child care;</text> </subclause><subclause id="HA18DE379A1094A699BAB9E5CB212A846"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the disability insurance benefits program established under title II of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H1C64786C980244C99BA4E24D8BC315E1"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/601">42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.</external-xref>);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H0F48849FE0CB4ADCA2543DFCF4DBD329"><enum>(V)</enum><text>the supplemental security income program established under title XVI of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H3BDD278FB67F4566BBDB953B5A17600"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>the medicaid program established under title XIX of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>);</text> </subclause><subclause id="H27A7AB9BE02449018B80BBF91595CE98"><enum>(VII)</enum><text>the State children’s health insurance program established under title XXI of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.);</text> </subclause><subclause id="HEBF2A288F81F4527AD356FD17D2CC11B"><enum>(VIII)</enum><text>the program of Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance established under part E of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/670">42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.</external-xref>), including the program of kinship guardianship assistance payments for children established under section 472A of that Act; and</text> </subclause><subclause id="H9578831DF5A14E6B84327194772F8803"><enum>(IX)</enum><text>the food stamp program established under the <act-name parsable-cite="FSA77">Food Stamp Act of 1977</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2011">7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.</external-xref>);</text> </subclause></clause><clause id="HC18C58469F4B47ED9FA71610BE91D3E2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining benefits and services and performing their caregiving activities; and</text> </clause><clause id="HE73253669463466C8FA0E5349D1696F2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>relevant legal assistance and help in obtaining access to legal services, including access to legal aid service providers and statewide elder law hotlines;</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H18E10A0435BA422DAD7B22DE3731CE7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide outreach to kinship care families, in collaboration with schools, pediatric care clinics, kinship care organizations, senior citizen centers, agencies with jurisdiction over child welfare or human services, and others to link the families to the kinship navigator program and to services and assistance; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E7719855E6444F69B8B434F20B30638"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish, distribute, and regularly update kinship care resource guides, websites, or other relevant outreach materials;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4129C0C2FF754A39B8B738B6B4C82DB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>promoting partnerships between public and private not-for-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based agencies—</text> <subparagraph id="H5DCF268032A14553A47CDB4E2BD53A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to help the agencies described in this paragraph more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of kinship care families; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98788FD3D77C419391AB86A4DB44563"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to familiarize the agencies about the special needs of kinship care families, policies that affect their eligibility for a range of education, health, mental health, social, child care, and child welfare services, income-based financial assistance, legal assistance, and other services and benefits, and the means for making policies more supportive of kinship care families;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC4EDD2694A14B089DAAE71148337315"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishing and supporting a kinship care ombudsman who has the authority to actively intervene with State agency staff or service providers with which the State agency contracts to help ensure, through various appropriate means including working with individual families in an ongoing manner, that kinship caregivers get the services they need and for which they are eligible; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1D34FF49A1B04986AF0062395F00B8F9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>supporting other activities that are designed to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining benefits, services, and activities designed to improve their caregiving.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H052CD14496D24D0EBABA00883E47A085"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), the entity may not use any of the funds made available through the grant for direct services to children in kinship care families or to kinship caregivers.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H16EC97E0A39B40E5903FE616812615C8"><enum>108.</enum><header>Administration of the program</header> <subsection id="H89A54250159A4F68BA46C162D3AD2D89"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In administering the program carried out under this title, the Assistant Secretary shall periodically consult with the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H21477FFD4042453E884064AB5331ABF9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Regulations and guidance</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall issue regulations or guidance that announces the availability of funds under this title and specifies the procedures for applying for the funds.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H2EC29662A64A40638356FBE5D5615472"><enum>109.</enum><header>Reservation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary may reserve not more than 1 percent of the funds made available under this title for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to the recipients of grants under this title related to the purposes of the grants.</text> </section><section id="H693A09A698A244878E555014BFCAE6CD"><enum>110.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.</text> </section><enum>II</enum><header>Subsidized Guardianship Option for Title IV–E</header> <section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66BEB2D3344140B397A134179C9DBE00"><enum>201.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Congress finds the following:</text> <paragraph id="H5C0C47E210104F2985DB3ECCA1BE21CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">By enacting the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/89">Public Law 105–89</external-xref>) and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/96/272">Public Law 96–272</external-xref>), the Congress recognized the need to align Federal incentives with the desired goal of providing abused and neglected children safe, permanent homes.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HB5C28DF451034279ACA7AD00BA514187"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">According to the nonpartisan Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care composed of former Members of Congress of both parties and other child welfare experts, between 1997 and 2002, adoptions increased by 64 percent, and each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico has earned an award for increasing adoptions.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC237F93466454F4EAD004B43A69E6791"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Adoption represents only one avenue to permanency for children in the foster care system, affecting only 9 percent of children in foster care in 2003. Adoption is not a viable option for many children in foster care. Children living with relatives are less likely to use adoption, and courts explicitly rule out this permanency option for thousands of children each year.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HE5051B703F3844F4BB9165DCBD432EF3"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Moreover, due to cultural norms, adoption is not equally availed by children and families of all races and ethnicities. African-American children live in kinship care arrangements more than in other types of care arrangements and have a lower rate of adoption than other children, making reunification and kinship guardianship important permanency options for this population.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H60020F200D074AF2886E86844783C700"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reunification and kinship guardianship are central avenues by which any child in foster care may enter stable, caring homes. In 2002, 54 percent of children in foster care were reunified with their parents and 4 percent obtained kinship guardianship.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H593CDF8045FD43669FC0DEC79E383B74"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unfortunately, studies show that the focus on adoption has had the unintended consequence of reducing the likelihood of reunifying children with their birth families.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H1F61A600CC994D7691CC5601AEF5CE00"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Moreover, Federal guidelines create a financial disincentive to kinship guardianship because important Federal support ceases once kinship guardianship is established, presenting an overwhelming hardship for caretakers given the known health and mental health problems of children who have been in foster care. Research indicates that 30 to 40 percent of youth in foster care experience chronic medical problems.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H888664B95A0C471D8E65C1D73F604BFF"><enum>(8)</enum><text>To help meet the needs of foster children with special needs who are adopted, approximately $308 per month in Federal funds is provided to their adoptive families. The Federal Government pays approximately $387 per month to cover all adoption assistance program costs, including monthly payments to families, administration, and training.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBF197095794441758EC5ABA7E7DB8194"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Remaining in foster care when stable, permanent families are available places unnecessary burdens on States, caseworkers, and families, requiring regular court appearances, quarterly case reviews, monthly caseworker visits, and government involvement in routine family activities and decisions.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5EA1641C5D0242B9BF9EB05EFDBCD0A8"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Since 1997, many States have developed subsidized kinship guardianship programs. Empirical research demonstrates that this option dramatically increases the number of children in permanent homes, with the largest reductions in foster care caseloads occurring when the Federal Government provides the funding and when the financial benefits for foster care match those of kinship guardianship.</text> </paragraph></section><section id="H93A180F92A8C426CAF6C98D8DE9CCBEF"><enum>202.</enum><header>Kinship guardianship assistance payments for children</header> <subsection id="HF13616DFFBA7448EA982BE666D3B658D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Part E of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/670">42 U.S.C. 670–679b</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 472 the following:</text> <quoted-block act-name="Social" id="HCC1FC669061A41A9AD217E00571483FB"> <section id="H359ED88CF9BA4EF8868192A4F5893985"><enum>472A.</enum><header>Kinship guardianship assistance payments for children</header> <subsection id="H638AB164410A49A6BA4664EE8CA9BDF4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each State with a plan approved under this part may, at State option, enter into kinship guardianship assistance agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship (as defined in section 475(7)) of children for whom they have cared as foster parents and whom they have committed to care for on a permanent basis.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H9ACE49DF266B443AA42420987EC64609"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Kinship guardianship assistance agreement</header> <paragraph id="HA7B68FC64BA74457B138D92F5D00EACC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to receive payments under section 474(a)(5)—</text> <subparagraph id="H3F1B8A122BAE42BFBEE1EDC9EB59C065"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State shall—</text> <clause id="H2331FE4E01874AD89709B3E84DCC4771"><enum>(i)</enum><text>negotiate and enter into a written kinship guardianship assistance agreement with the prospective relative guardian of a child who meets the requirements of subsection (d);</text> </clause><clause id="H192FB2E010784175969135853C87DD85"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide the prospective relative guardian with a copy of the agreement; and</text> </clause><clause id="HFD3522380E844558B7779CA9486B3FDB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>certify that any child on whose behalf kinship guardianship assistance payments are made under such an agreement shall be provided medical assistance under title XIX in accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(I).</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HADDC5D3307814C5B91116659195BCFE8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Minimum requirements</header><text>The agreement shall specify, at a minimum—</text> <subparagraph id="H97DB78B0BC524E5E83BF6C76B0E5D00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of, and manner in which, each kinship guardianship assistance payment, if any, will be provided under the agreement;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H638BEE9143134D57892F998D68CD167C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the additional services and assistance for which the child and relative guardian will be eligible under the agreement;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5666DFA2DA85476FB1C5C4A4232FF280"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the procedure by which the relative guardian may apply for additional services as needed, provided the agency and relative guardian agree on the additional services as specified in the case plan; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD2F09C1117AF44B79087A76695179496"><enum>(D)</enum><text>subject to paragraph (4), that the State will pay the nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship of the child.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H717CDC88C2794DECB8DA00213D14FEBF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Interstate application</header><text>The agreement shall provide—</text> <subparagraph id="HE5A32569F2AA4330B027F44EE88BEAC6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that the agreement shall remain in effect without regard to the State residency of the relative guardian; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B265D37E1644A80A21D8DF1DFE15EDB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for the protection (under an interstate compact approved by the Secretary or otherwise) of the interests of the child in any case where the relative guardian and the child move to another State while the agreement is in effect.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H706144FC08A049608ED9ED43BA613069"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship</header> <subparagraph id="H31E01A265343451597DD2CFE2019D074"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (2)(D), the term <term>nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining kinship guardianship</term> includes the reasonable and necessary fees, court costs, attorneys’ fees, and other expenses that are directly related to obtaining legal guardianship of the child and are not incurred in violation of Federal or State law.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H334F60447B144ABEAAD2FCDB85308C99"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Federal share</header><text>A State’s payment of the nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship shall be treated as an expenditure made for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan under section 474(a)(3)(E).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1D7EEDEA97054EF693F31C574FD1363"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Kinship guardianship assistance payment</header> <paragraph id="HB8F642D1B256491FB588FADE89EC45D9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirements</header> <subparagraph id="H1AB6D000D5EF4C05837F50F753B1DC00"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The kinship guardianship assistance payment shall be—</text> <clause id="HC324D9BA66DB42C5A542D8477F00FC02"><enum>(i)</enum><text>negotiated as part of the kinship guardianship assistance agreement required under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) between the relative guardian and the State or local agency responsible for administering the agreement;</text> </clause><clause id="H28A378D9DE4C4899BCBEE56C449E24B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>based on consideration of the circumstances and the needs of the relative guardian and the child; and</text> </clause><clause id="H1B2137248CD2451385E02C6E0075CD19"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>equal to the amount of the foster care maintenance payment which would have been payable with respect to the child if the child had remained in foster care.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H986375B3E9454DBDABF8D00007958ED"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Readjustment</header><text>The kinship guardianship assistance payment may be readjusted periodically, with the concurrence of the relative guardian, based on relevant changes in the needs of the child.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB4950DE9D1B54F0D96E5EFC25C599C92"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header> <subparagraph id="H36CC9BF8D1854D8E9F9828005C05CAE6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), no kinship guardianship assistance payment may be made to a relative guardian for any child who has attained 18 years of age.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H742EDC60546C46E784A173018084CDB2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>A kinship guardianship assistance payment may be made to a relative guardian with respect to a child who—</text> <clause id="H450F653BFC3E43FD8E118DC3B9F5B4C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is a full-time student in a secondary school or in the equivalent level of a vocational or technical training program, and has not attained 19 years of age; or</text> </clause><clause id="H673BF9B447834CDD88CCCD7E235DFAE6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the State determines has a mental or physical disability that warrants the continuation of assistance until the child attains 21 years of age.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H07905D0616B846DCA811267E2B775CC0"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Child’s eligibility for a kinship guardianship assistance payment</header> <paragraph id="HF6190E9C7B4945FDB02070AC3B65735"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A child is eligible for a kinship guardianship assistance payment under this section if the State agency determines the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H8DB881E4DBEE4A9E8FC06BDA3B070AB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The child—</text> <clause id="H06E422E89A3D47FA9365D3CB20811600"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has been under the care of the State agency for the 12-month period ending on the date of the agency determination; and</text> </clause><clause id="H164B06247F3148C6AB04B6632B7B05EB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">while under such care, was eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 or would have been eligible for such payments but for his or her placement in the home of a relative determined by the courts and the State agency responsible for child protective services to meet all applicable State safety standards (other than licensure).</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF190547863A74643A1DDA8FDD6F76EE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Being returned home or adopted are not appropriate permanency options for the child.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEE93E0D8777459E85BED208E3869768"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The child demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective relative guardian and the prospective relative guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H451F3B50BE2A4062B61DEDA0903ECA3B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>With respect to a child who has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding the kinship guardianship arrangement.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8041BCCEE7D0408CA3C0923D97CF7285"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Treatment of siblings</header><text>With respect to a child described in paragraph (1) whose sibling or siblings are not so described—</text> <subparagraph id="H1DF993DE9DC14DE7B226FF913B369C4D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the child and any minor sibling of the child may be placed in the same kinship guardianship arrangement if the State agency and the prospective relative agree on the appropriateness of the arrangement for the siblings; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAFC161CE0BBF4879813685E5FAE9FF87"><enum>(B)</enum><text>kinship guardianship assistance payments may be paid for the child and each sibling so placed.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection id="HC32F2D34E51846A08CD2B300273B2239"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Maintaining eligibility for adoption assistance program</header><text>Section 473(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/673">42 U.S.C. 673(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H33F1F720EF0F493A00B9C60612F999A"> <paragraph id="HADEC4F93918740BAB13BA8FB76CDC32" indent="up1"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The adoptive parents of a child who has been determined by the State, pursuant to subsection (c), to be a child with special needs and on whose behalf kinship guardianship assistance payments have been made under section 472A shall be eligible for adoption assistance as if no kinship guardianship agreement or payments had been made. The State shall make payments of nonrecurring adoption expenses under this section to the adoptive parents of such a child. The State may make adoption assistance payments under this section even if the child fails to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2), if the child would meet the requirements of such subparagraphs if the child were treated as if the child were in the same financial and other circumstances the child was in at the time the kinship guardianship assistance agreement was made.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD2AEA2498A9048A68C4601F9BB5DB2D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Expansion of eligibility for foster care independence program</header><text>Section 477 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/677">42 U.S.C. 677</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H8B7C48D2BA8045728FDF3C43904EBBA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(1), by striking <quote>18</quote> and inserting <quote>14</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H661257EEF35D467A85DD4611033307BD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (i)(2), by striking <quote>youths adopted from foster care after attaining age 16</quote> and inserting <quote>youths in or exiting from foster care after attaining 14 years of age</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE7344BB01EEE462A95DEA7AB5D07C722"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authority To use foster care independence program funds To provide independent living services and education and training vouchers for children who exit foster care to guardianship or adoption after age 14</header> <paragraph id="HCE3F16686AA143088DCE52A805E3E95"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Independent living services</header><text>Section 477(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/677">42 U.S.C. 677(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HB53F2DA7A739434183E654DA309FE3E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end of paragraph (5);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFFDD4B6E92441F785E699C23DEAC903"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19872B06F3254DC7BAB899A027404785"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD88D329D71AC43DA86F496DA6F20D2EF" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="HC05F187ECE3444D7BC90694287EBDB00"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to provide the services referred to in this subsection to children who, after attaining 14 years of age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H23DA1342C8944EB9B599C7C540EF5E8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Education and training vouchers</header><text>Section 477(i)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(2)) is amended by striking <quote>from foster care after attaining age 16</quote> and inserting <quote>or entering kinship guardianship from foster care after attaining 14 years of age</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD57F53EF6D2F479F90EF5313D3A1B729"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header> <paragraph id="H499E3E543BD4460BB854663643570030"><enum>(1)</enum><header>State plan requirement</header><text>Section 471(a)(20)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking <quote>foster or adoptive parent before the foster or adoptive parent may be finally approved for placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments</quote> and inserting <quote>foster parent, adoptive parent, or relative guardian before the foster parent, adoptive parent, or relative guardian may be finally approved for placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments, adoption assistance payments, or kinship guardianship assistance payments</quote>.</text> </paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F47F18FFBDC4814A39609FB8E4E97F3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Payments to states</header><text>Section 474(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/674">42 U.S.C. 674(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="H6EACE6CA93724F7A9390FF967DACFE94"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)(B), by striking <quote>foster or adoptive parents and the members of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child care institutions providing care to foster and adopted children receiving assistance under this part, in ways that increase the ability of such current or prospective parents, staff members, and institutions to provide support and assistance to foster and adopted children,</quote> and inserting <quote>foster parents, adoptive parents, or relative guardians and the members of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child care institutions providing care to foster children, adoptive children, or children living with a relative guardian, who are receiving assistance under this part, in ways that increase the ability of such current or prospective parents, relative guardians, staff members, and institutions to provide support and assistance to foster children, adoptive children, or children living with a relative guardian,</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D2C1DFF975F4B6EBCCD75C71DA15428"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; plus</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D30640F88344314B245BD9D9C0DDFD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H8DFD35283B3B4DDF86CE83284B74C7DF"> <paragraph id="H8E93239117BD4B3282018DAAC141952E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b)) of the total amount expended during such quarter as kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 472A pursuant to kinship guardianship assistance agreements.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8889ABCECB5F44B1947DEA40C7C422DE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section 475(1) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/675">42 U.S.C. 675(1)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H265F96BB504541A6A5BFF4B639A1DB"> <subparagraph id="H96AF8911BDCC4B6DBB53C10800BB9CCD"><enum>(F)</enum><text>In the case of a child with respect to whom the permanency plan is placement with a relative and receipt of kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 472A, a description of—</text> <clause id="HF121AFC634F24D95B2E9355297F005BD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the steps that the agency has taken to determine that it is not appropriate for the child to be returned home or adopted;</text> </clause><clause id="HCE09B4C304A54029BE8F83013872D16D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the reasons why a permanent placement with a fit and willing relative through a kinship guardianship assistance arrangement is in the child’s best interests;</text> </clause><clause id="H59AB60CB3C1A4F2681E6D7E5A8C8A3D7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the ways in which the child meets the eligibility requirements for a kinship guardianship assistance payment;</text> </clause><clause id="H14AB73FD11AE4097AF7200B54E7DF6BA"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the efforts the agency has made to discuss adoption by the child’s relative foster parent as a more permanent alternative to legal guardianship and, in the case of a relative foster parent who has chosen not to pursue adoption, documentation of the reasons therefor; and</text> </clause><clause id="H0E6D42A7860742729330A14534D6D985"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the efforts made by the State agency to secure the consent of the child’s parent or parents to the kinship guardianship assistance arrangement, or the reasons why the efforts were not made.</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB646C4A4568F44D2B9A9E0C99B98DD23"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effective date</header> <paragraph id="HF52F3C2D04124546B534E7F2E6BB17F8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The amendments made by this section take effect on the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to payments under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such day, without regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments have been issued.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H607E00829AD147FE82002378D65BFA6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Delay permitted if State legislation required</header><text>In the case of a State plan under part E of title IV of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> which the Secretary determines requires State legislation in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the effective date of the amendments imposing the additional requirements shall be the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the close of the 1st regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEF83F149DDEC4A24B3A2421257B481A3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header>Kinship guardianship demonstration projects</header> <subsection id="HCE235BE3DAC740DB842318D531BB6700"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To conduct projects</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into agreements with eligible entities to conduct demonstration projects for the purpose of providing kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship (as defined in section 475(7) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/675">42 U.S.C. 675(7)</external-xref>) of the children for whom they have cared as foster parents and for whom they have committed to care for on a permanent basis in States that have not elected the option to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments for children under section 472A of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (as added by section 201 of this Act).</text> </subsection><subsection id="H5D2C6A74CAF042F5B03F24CF81C3465B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Terms and conditions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms and conditions applicable to demonstration projects conducted under this section shall be consistent with the terms and conditions applicable to the State option to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments for children under section 472A of the Social Security Act.</text> </subsection><subsection id="HCF056CFBF21A49DDBBB09665D15000D8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than October 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the demonstration projects conducted under this section.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H150102CFA7484D12846D69ADA5AFDE3C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to conduct demonstration projects under this section for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2008.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H49F9D6F8603043DFBF043BE254769D5B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HFE317ED1C0634991991747179C04584C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="HD5063FA15A4A49C9A200105677A40018"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an agency of a State or of a political subdivision of a State, a tribal organization (as defined in section 103(8)), or a consortium of any number of such agencies or organizations; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F5B79927AE94430B261F4E1B6B5AAE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other entity that the Secretary determines is qualified to conduct a demonstration project under this section.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6EB2A1F8A50C4F6DB300816769D3A5F0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Notice of Children Entering Foster Care</header> <section id="HEBCCDCEAEC4B41048DC1C08664C8BF72"><enum>301.</enum><header>Notice to relatives when children enter foster care</header> <subsection id="H3081DF9E370F460DBFE7D919FA22E2A7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 471(a)(19) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(19)) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HF0744A32F9E745278C6372128800468E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking “that the State” and inserting “that—</text> <quoted-block id="H2C6EE095419E438BA5804C008D55A4DA"> <subparagraph id="H50E4FE3B8E2E4C04B2D9C5166407CFC1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the State</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H7362665B3B6D49D993E4C58343C7D62D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HFD57C60887284C7895CA1F1BE1A00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HA5E045CF0F154241BB7B3DBF5C1C8EB"> <subparagraph id="HA81B0B521A9F43FAA56EF80066255BF2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>within 60 days of the removal of the child from the custody of the child’s parent or parents, the State shall identify and give notice to all adult grandparents and other adult relatives of the child (including any other adult relatives suggested by the parents), subject to exceptions due to family or domestic violence, that—</text> <clause id="HCB39E35B5BC24B67854FB38E80276F91"><enum>(i)</enum><text>specifies that the child has been or is being removed from the custody of the child’s parent or parents; and</text> </clause><clause id="H4F96617E40B24C5887A355B763ACBE63"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>explains the options the relative has under Federal, State, and local law to participate in the child’s care and placement, including any options that may be lost by failing to respond to the notice;</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H02DE238027BF41CBA4F7E6C7DA71EDB6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2007.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H9E27CBD3A4C544B791791206D9573858"><enum>302.</enum><header>Flexibility to establish separate standards for relative foster family homes</header> <subsection id="HAE584CED72474D9AAAB3A42300659D32"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text>Section 471(a)(10) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/671">42 U.S.C. 671(a)(10)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H30E2A41C3E204148ACE330A6C4E3EAA7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking “which shall be responsible” and inserting “which—</text> <quoted-block id="HDD9AAB9C3F8A4B6A955B00B32EEB33C4" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HE370D77E38BA45A69B000033A5D60560"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be responsible</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph><paragraph id="H85B83197CE574F72B0EA3540C560F68D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC8763B5BF86B4B63A174F083B19B4419"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HDD02576FBDFD48E4ACF394603FA744AF" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H8C89C4CDBDB9429C00EEF16D140000A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may—</text> <clause id="H11E8711D5C2445ACAEC0C38FE8786DB5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish and maintain separate standards for foster family homes in which a foster parent is a relative of the foster child that, at a minimum, protect the safety of the child and provide for criminal records checks, as described in paragraph (20); and</text> </clause><clause id="H1800C4BCD9694E4E98BB645E043EB4D0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>apply the standards referred to in clause (i) to any such relative foster care provider to whom funds are paid pursuant to section 472 or part B in lieu of the standards that would otherwise apply to a foster family home;</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H524B92BA253A4DA9AA569054E700F900"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2007.</text> </subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B765890E1984BD19741CCF08BC39BF0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header>Expansion of definition of family support services to include assisting kinship caregivers in locating and accessing needed services</header> <subsection id="H1ECC58243CD244DE89ADC27C59953176"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 431(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/629a">42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>to assist kinship caregivers or guardians in locating and accessing needed services,</quote> after <quote>marriages,</quote>.</text> </subsection><subsection id="H02801F3111C4486EB89D4615884F2E9D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 202(f) of this Act shall apply to the amendment made by this section.</text> </subsection></section><section id="HB48B3EE9600F4366A0F3E3C9A9463531"><enum>304.</enum><header>Requirement that states inform case workers and families considering guardianship of all permanency options and service eligibility</header> <subsection id="HDB27409FAAB24FAD9C43D94DA9403B40"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 472A(b)(1) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 202(a) of this Act, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H5A407CCF388749A4B9BE6620F822B23D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by adding <quote>and</quote> at the end of subparagraph (A); and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HAC1860F09C124F698893A97E33BB0087"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding after and below the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7BF4B710DF6A4E529F9FA488F6B77F5F" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H9264C7F3A37F4B1A82B904A32B2D00EF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the chief executive officer of the State shall certify to the Secretary that the State will—</text> <clause id="H861DB689A6BA43B1BBC368E6FEFF32DB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">inform the individuals who prepare the case plan for a child of the full range of permanency options available to children, including guardianship, and provide or otherwise make accessible to the individuals information on the range of physical and mental health, financing, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other support services which guardians and children may receive; and</text> </clause><clause id="H82630887E25D4043816DE68E085791CF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>inform families considering guardianship of all permanency options available to the child and of the range of physical and mental health, financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other support services which guardians and children may receive.</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7E428739D0294EA48F8601193F6556B3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 202(f) of this Act shall apply to the amendments made by this section.</text> </subsection></section>