118 HR 8814 IH: Strengthening Evidence-based Prevention Services Act of 2024
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-06-25
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I
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8814
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2024
Mr. Feenstra (for himself and Mr. Kildee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a competitive grant program to enhance the ability of evidence-based child welfare programs to meet the research standards set by the Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening Evidence-based Prevention Services Act of 2024”.
2.

Competitive grant program
Section 435 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629e) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(f)

Prevention services evaluation partnerships
(1)

Purpose
The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to support the timely evaluation of—
(A)
services and programs described in section 471(e); or
(B)
kinship navigator programs described in section 474(a)(7).
(2)

Grants
In accordance with applications approved under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out projects designed to evaluate a service or program provided by the eligible entity or an entity in partnership with the eligible entity with respect to the requirements for a promising practice, supported practice, or well-supported practice described in section 471(e)(4)(C).
(3)

Applications
(A)

In general
An eligible entity may apply to the Secretary for a grant under this subsection to carry out a project that meets the following requirements:
(i)
The project is designed in accordance with paragraph (2).
(ii)
The project is to be carried out by the applicant in partnership with—
(I)
a State agency that administers, or supervises the administration of, the State plan approved under part E, or an agency administering the plan under the supervision of the State agency; and
(II)
if the applicant is unable or unwilling to do so, at least 1 external evaluator to carry out the evaluation of the service or program provided by the applicant.
(B)

Contents
The application shall contain the following, in a form and manner determined by the Secretary:
(i)
A description of the project, including—
(I)
a statement explaining why a grant is necessary to carry out the project; and
(II)
the amount of grant funds that would be disbursed to each entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) in partnership with the applicant.
(ii)
A certification from each entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) that provides assurances that the individual or entity is in partnership with the applicant and will fulfill the responsibilities of the entity specified in the description provided pursuant to clause (i) of this subparagraph.
(iii)
A certification from the applicant that provides assurances that the applicant intends to comply with subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), if applicable.
(iv)
A certification from the applicant that the applicant requires an external evaluator secured by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5), if applicable.
(v)
Any additional information the Secretary may require.
(4)

Priorities
In approving applications under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the following:
(A)
Addressing, with respect to the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2), deficiencies or gaps identified by the Secretary in consultation with—
(i)
States, political subdivisions of a State, and tribal communities carrying out, or receiving the benefits of, a service or program; and
(ii)
child welfare experts, including experts with lived experience.
(B)
Maximizing the number of services or programs to be included in the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(C)
Timely completing evaluations and the production of evidence.
(D)
Supporting services or programs that are based on, or are adaptations to new population settings of, a service or program with reliable evidence about the benefits and risks of the service or program, as determined by the Secretary.
(5)

Availability of external evaluators
(A)

In general
Before accepting applications under this subsection, the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to secure at least 1 entity to serve as an external evaluator for any eligible entity that includes a certification under paragraph (3)(B)(iv) with an application under this subsection.
(B)

Fees for services
The Secretary and each external evaluator described in subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
agree to and establish—
(I)
the fees that the external evaluator may charge to an eligible entity to carry out an evaluation of a service or program provided by the eligible entity; and
(II)
the expected timeframe for the external evaluator to carry out the evaluation based on the needs of the eligible entity; and
(ii)
make publicly available a specification of the fees and timeframe before the Secretary accepts applications under this subsection.
(C)

No effect on consideration of application
The Secretary may not consider whether an eligible entity is in partnership with an external evaluator described in paragraph (A) in approving an application under this subsection submitted by the eligible entity.
(6)

Reports
(A)

By grant recipients
Within 1 year after receiving a grant under this subsection, and every year thereafter for the next 5 years, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a written report on—
(i)
the use of grant funds;
(ii)
whether the program or service evaluated by the project meets a requirement specified in section 471(e)(4)(C), including information about—
(I)
how the program or service is being carried out in accordance with standards specified in the requirement;
(II)
any outcomes of the program or service; and
(III)
any outcome with respect to which the service or program compares favorably to a comparison practice; and
(iii)
whether the Secretary has included the program or service in an update to the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(B)

By the Secretary
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate an annual written report on—
(i)
the grants awarded under this subsection;
(ii)
the programs funded by the grants;
(iii)
any technical assistance provided by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection, including with respect to the efforts to secure external evaluators pursuant to paragraph (5); and
(iv)
any efforts by the Secretary to support program evaluation and review pursuant to section 471(e) and inclusion of programs in the pre-approved list of services and programs described in section 471(e)(4)(D) or the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(7)

Restriction on funding
The Secretary may not make a grant under this subsection to an eligible entity that is a for-profit business.
(8)

Regulations
The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection.
(9)

Funding
(A)

Authorization
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(B)

Limitations
Of the amounts available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 5 percent to provide technical assistance.
(C)

Carryover
Amounts made available to carry out this section shall remain available until expended.
(10)

Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)

Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means any of the following providing a service or program or, in the sole determination of the Secretary, able to provide a service or program if awarded a grant under this subsection:
(i)
A State, a political subdivision of a State, or an agency or department of a State or political subdivision of a State.
(ii)
An entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 426(a)(1).
(B)

External evaluator
The term “external evaluator” means an entity with the ability and willingness to evaluate a service or program pursuant to paragraph (2) that is not provided by the entity.
(C)

Service or program
The term “service or program”—
(i)
means a service or program described in section 471(e); and
(ii)
includes a kinship navigator program described in section 474(a)(7).”.