CHAPTER 67—CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AND ADOPTION REFORM

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROGRAM

        

SUBCHAPTER II—ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES

        

SUBCHAPTER III—COMMUNITY–BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

        

SUBCHAPTER IV—TEMPORARY CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND CRISIS NURSERIES

        

SUBCHAPTER IV–A—ABANDONED INFANTS ASSISTANCE

        

SUBCHAPTER V—CERTAIN PREVENTIVE SERVICES REGARDING CHILDREN OF HOMELESS FAMILIES OR FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

        

SUBCHAPTER VI—CHILD ABUSE CRIME INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND CHECKS

        

SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROGRAM

Editorial Notes

Codification

This subchapter is comprised of title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Pub. L. 93–247. Title II of that Act is classified to subchapter III (§5116 et seq.) of this chapter.

§5101. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

(a) Establishment

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may establish an office to be known as the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect.

(b) Purpose

The purpose of the Office established under subsection (a) shall be to execute and coordinate the functions and activities of this subchapter and subchapter III. In the event that such functions and activities are performed by another entity or entities within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Secretary shall ensure that such functions and activities are executed with the necessary expertise and in a fully coordinated manner involving regular intradepartmental and interdepartmental consultation with all agencies involved in child abuse and neglect activities.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §101, formerly §2, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 93–644, §8(d)(1), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2310; Pub. L. 95–266, title I, §101, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 205; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §101, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1749; Pub. L. 99–401, title I, §103(a), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 103; renumbered title I, §101, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §101, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3064.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–235 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to Office on Child Abuse and Neglect for provisions relating to National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to establishment, appointment of Director, and other staff and resources of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect for provisions relating to establishment, functions, grant and contract authority, staff and resource availability, and use of funds of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. See sections 5105 to 5106d of this title.

1986—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(2), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(1), redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively. Former par. (4) redesignated (6).

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(3), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (7).

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(1), redesignated former par. (4) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (8).

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(1), (4), redesignated former par. (5) as (7) and amended it generally, substituting "conduct research on the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect, and on appropriate and effective investigative, administrative, and judicial procedures in cases of child abuse" for "conduct research into the causes of child abuse and neglect, and into the prevention, identification, and treatment thereof". Former par. (7) redesignated (9).

Subsec. (b)(8), (9). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(1), redesignated former pars. (6) and (7) as (8) and (9), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 99–401, §103(a)(5), added par. (10).

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–457, §101(a), substituted "Health and Human Services" for "Health, Education, and Welfare".

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 98–457, §101(b), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: "make a complete and full study and investigation of the national incidence of child abuse and neglect, including a determination of the extent to which incidents of child abuse and neglect are increasing in number or severity; and".

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 98–457, §101(b), amended par. (7) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows: "in consultation with Federal agencies serving on the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect (established by section 5105 of this title), prepare a comprehensive plan for seeking to bring about maximum coordination of the goals, objectives, and activities of all agencies and organizations which have responsibilities for programs and activities related to child abuse and neglect, and submit such plan to such Advisory Board not later than twelve months after April 24, 1978."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–457, §101(c), substituted "The functions of the Secretary under subsection (b) of this section may be carried out" for "The Secretary may carry out his functions under subsection (b) of this section".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–457, §101(d), added subsec. (e).

1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–266, §101(1), in pars. (1) and (3) inserted requirement of dissemination of annual summary and training materials, respectively, and added par. (7).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–266, §101(2), inserted provisions relating to duration and review of grants under subsec. (b)(5) of this section.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–266, §101(3), added subsec. (d).

1975—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–644 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114—22, title VIII, §801, May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 263, provided that: "This title [amending sections 5106a and 5106g of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 5106a of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the 'Ensuring a Better Response for Victims of Child Sex Trafficking'."

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–320, §1, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3459, provided that: "This Act [enacting chapter 110 of this title, amending sections 3796gg, 5102, 5104 to 5106a, 5106c, 5106d, 5106f, 5106g to 5106i, 5111, 5113, 5115, 5116 to 5116b, 5116d to 5116i, 5117aa, 5117aa–21, 5117aa–22, 13925, and 14214 of this title, section 707 of Title 11, Bankruptcy, and section 1435 of Title 20, Education, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, amending provisions set out as a note under this section, repealing provisions set out as a note under section 670 of this title, and omitting provisions set out as a note under section 10401 of this title] may be cited as the 'CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010'."

Short Title of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–36, §1(a), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 800, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003'."

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–235, §1(a), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3063, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 5106i and 5116 to 5116i of this title, amending this section and sections 5102, 5104 to 5106, 5106a, 5106c to 5106f, 5106g to 5106i, 5111, 5113, 5115, 5777, 10402, 10403, 10409, 10603a, and 13004 of this title, repealing sections 5103, 5106b, 5117 to 5117d, 5118 to 5118e, 5778, and 11481 to 11489 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under this section and section 670 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under section 5117 of this title] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments of 1996'."

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

For short title of subpart 1 of part E of title V of Pub. L. 103–381, which enacted section 5115a of this title, as the "Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994", see section 551 of Pub. L. 103–382, set out as a note under section 1305 of this title.

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–295, §1(a), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 187, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 5106f–1, 10414, and 10415 of this title, amending sections 5102, 5105, 5106, 5106a, 5106a–1, 5106c, 5106h, 5111, 5113, 5115, 5116, 5116b to 5116d, 5117c, 5117d, 5118e, 10401 to 10405, 10407 to 10410, 10412, and 10413 of this title, repealing section 5112 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 5106a, 5106h, 5117, 10401, and 10402 of this title] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1992'."

Short Title of 1991 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–236, §1, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1812, provided that: "This Act [amending sections 5117aa to 5117aa–12 and 5117aa–22 of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 623 of Title 29, Labor] may be cited as the 'Abandoned Infants Assistance Act Amendments of 1991'."

Short Title of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–126, §1, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, provided that: "This Act [amending this section and sections 5102 to 5106h and 5116 to 5116g of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 5102 and 5116b of this title] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse Prevention Challenge Grants Reauthorization Act of 1989'."

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–294, §1, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 102, provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 5106a to 5106h and 10413 of this title, amending this section and sections 5102 to 5106, 5113, 5115, 10402, 10409, and 10410 of this title, repealing section 10411 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 5105 of this title] may be referred to as the 'Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988'."

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–401, §1, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 903, provided that: "This Act [enacting subchapter IV of this chapter and section 10603a of this title, amending this section and sections 290dd–3, 290ee–3, 5103, 5105, 10601, and 10603 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 5117 of this title] may be cited as the 'Children's Justice and Assistance Act of 1986'."

Pub. L. 99–401, title I, §101, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 903, provided that: "This title [enacting section 10603a of this title, amending this section and sections 290dd–3, 290ee–3, 5103, 5105, 10601, and 10603 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the 'Children's Justice Act'."

Short Title of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–457, §1, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1749, provided: "That this Act [enacting chapter 110 of this title, amending this section and sections 5102 to 5106, 5111 to 5113, and 5115 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 5102, 5103, and 10401 of this title] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse Amendments of 1984'."

Short Title of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–266, §1, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 205, provided: "That this Act [enacting subchapter II of this chapter and amending this section and sections 5102 to 5105 of this title] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 93–247, §1(a), formerly §1, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 4, as renumbered §1(a) and amended by Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 102, provided that: "This Act [enacting this subchapter and subchapters III and V of this chapter] may be cited as the 'Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act'."

For short title of title II of Pub. L. 99–401, which enacted subchapter IV of this chapter, as the "Temporary Child Care for Handicapped Children and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986", see section 201 of Pub. L. 99–401, formerly set out as a note under section 5117 of this title.

Pub. L. 100–505, §1, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2533, which provided that Pub. L. 100–505, enacting subchapter IV–A of this chapter and provisions formerly set out as a note under section 670 of this title, could be cited as the "Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988", was repealed by Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, §7065(b), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4028.

Regulations

Pub. L. 100–294, title IV, §401(a), Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 126, provided that: "For any rule or regulation needed to implement this Act [see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note above], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

"(1) publish proposed regulations for purposes of implementing the amendments made by this Act before the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 25, 1988];

"(2) allow not less than 45 days for public comment on such proposed regulations; and

"(3) publish final regulations for purposes of implementing the amendments made by this Act before the end of the 195-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act."

Construction of Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 With Other Laws; Separability

Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §127, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1754, provided that:

"(a) No provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act [See Short Title of 1984 Amendment note above] is intended to affect any right or protection under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [29 U.S.C. 794].

"(b) No provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act may be so construed as to authorize the Secretary or any other governmental entity to establish standards prescribing specific medical treatments for specific conditions, except to the extent that such standards are authorized by other laws.

"(c) If the provisions of any part of this Act or any amendment made by this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances be held invalid, the provisions of the other parts and their application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby."

Presidential Commission on Child and Youth Deaths

Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §106, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 119, established a National Commission on Child and Youth Deaths to study and evaluate comprehensively Federal, State, and local public and private resources which affect child and youth deaths and to prepare and transmit to President and appropriate committees of Congress a report within 12 months after appointment of the Commission, and provided that the Commission terminates 90 days after transmitting the report.

Acquisition of Statistical Data

Pub. L. 99–401, title I, §105, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 906, which related to data acquisition by the Attorney General for 1987 and 1988 and modification of the FBI's uniform crime reporting program, was editorially reclassified as section 41302 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

Congressional Findings

Pub. L. 93–247, §2, as added by Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §102(a), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 188, and amended by Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §100, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3064; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §101, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 801; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §101, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3459, provided that: "Congress finds that—

"(1) in fiscal year 2008, approximately 772,000 children were found by States to be victims of child abuse and neglect;

"(2)(A) more children suffer neglect than any other form of maltreatment and close to 1/3 of all child maltreatment-related fatalities in fiscal year 2008 were attributed to neglect alone; and

"(B) investigations have determined that approximately 71 percent of children who were victims of maltreatment in fiscal year 2008 suffered neglect, 16 percent suffered physical abuse, 9 percent suffered sexual abuse,, [sic] 7 percent suffered psychological maltreatment, 2 percent experienced medical neglect, and 9 percent were victims of other forms of maltreatment;

"(3)(A) child abuse or neglect can result in the death of a child;

"(B) in fiscal year 2008, an estimated 1,740 children were counted by child protection services to have died as a result of abuse or neglect; and

"(C) in fiscal year 2008, children younger than 1 year old comprised 45 percent of child maltreatment fatalities and 72 percent of child maltreatment fatalities were younger than 4 years of age;

"(4)(A) many of these children and their families fail to receive adequate protection and treatment; and

"(B) approximately 37 percent of victims of child abuse did not receive post-investigation services in fiscal year 2008;

"(5) African-American children, American Indian children, Alaska Native children, and children of multiple races and ethnicities experience the highest rates of child abuse or neglect;

"(6) the problem of child abuse and neglect requires a comprehensive approach that—

"(A) integrates the work of social service, legal, health, mental health, domestic violence services, education, and substance abuse agencies and community-based organizations;

"(B) strengthens coordination among all levels of government, and with private agencies, civic, religious, and professional organizations, and individual volunteers;

"(C) emphasizes the need for abuse and neglect prevention, assessment, investigation, and treatment at the neighborhood level;

"(D) recognizes the need for properly trained staff with the qualifications needed, to carry out their child protection duties; and

"(E) recognizes the diversity of ethnic, cultural, and religious beliefs and traditions that may impact child rearing patterns, while not allowing the differences in those beliefs and traditions to enable abuse or neglect;

"(7) the failure to coordinate and comprehensively prevent and treat child abuse and neglect threatens the futures of thousands of children and results in a cost to the Nation of billions of dollars in tangible expenditures, as well as significant intangible costs;

"(8) all elements of American society have a shared responsibility in responding to child abuse and neglect;

"(9) substantial reductions in the prevalence and incidence of child abuse and neglect and the alleviation of its consequences are matters of the highest national priority;

"(10) national policy should strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect, provide support for needed services to prevent the unnecessary removal of children from families, and promote the reunification of families where appropriate;

"(11) the child protection system should be comprehensive, child-centered, family-focused, and community-based, should incorporate all appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of child abuse and neglect, and should promote physical and psychological recovery and social re-integration in an environment that fosters the health, safety, self-respect, and dignity of the child;

"(12) because both child maltreatment and domestic violence occur in up to 60 percent of the families in which either is present, States and communities should adopt assessments and intervention procedures aimed at enhancing the safety both of children and victims of domestic violence;

"(13) because of the limited resources available in low-income communities, Federal aid for the child protection system should be distributed with due regard to the relative financial need of the communities;

"(14) the Federal Government should assist States and communities with the fiscal, human, and technical resources necessary to develop and implement a successful and comprehensive child and family protection strategy; and

"(15) the Federal Government should provide leadership and assist communities in their child and family protection efforts by—

"(A) promoting coordinated planning among all levels of government;

"(B) generating and sharing knowledge relevant to child and family protection, including the development of models for service delivery;

"(C) strengthening the capacity of States to assist communities;

"(D) allocating financial resources to assist States in implementing community plans;

"(E) helping communities to carry out their child and family protection plans by promoting the competence of professional, paraprofessional, and volunteer resources; and

"(F) providing leadership to end the abuse and neglect of the nation's children and youth."

Definitions

Pub. L. 93–247, §3, as added by Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §142(a), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3482, as amended by Pub. L. 114–22, title VIII, §802(c)(2), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 264, provided that: "In this Act [see Short Title note above]—

"(1) the term 'child' means a person who has not attained the lesser of—

"(A) the age of 18; or

"(B) except in the case of sexual abuse, the age specified by the child protection law of the State in which the child resides;

"(2) the term 'child abuse and neglect' means, at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation (including sexual abuse as determined under section 111 [42 U.S.C. 5106g]), or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm;

"(3) the term 'child with a disability' means a child with a disability as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401), or an infant or toddler with a disability as defined in section 632 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1432);

"(4) the term 'Governor' means the chief executive officer of a State;

"(5) the terms 'Indian', 'Indian tribe', and 'tribal organization' have the meanings given the terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b) [now 25 U.S.C. 5304];

"(6) the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

"(7) except as provided in section 106(f) [42 U.S.C. 5106a(f)], the term 'State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and

"(8) the term 'unaccompanied homeless youth' means an individual who is described in paragraphs (2) and (6) of section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a)."

§5102. Advisory board on child abuse and neglect

(a) Appointment

The Secretary may appoint an advisory board to make recommendations to the Secretary and to the appropriate committees of Congress concerning specific issues relating to child abuse and neglect.

(b) Solicitation of nominations

The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting nominations for the appointment of members of the advisory board under subsection (a).

(c) Composition

In establishing the board under subsection (a), the Secretary shall appoint members from the general public who are individuals knowledgeable in child abuse and neglect prevention, intervention, treatment, or research, and with due consideration to representation of ethnic or racial minorities and diverse geographic areas, and who represent—

(1) law (including the judiciary);

(2) psychology (including child development);

(3) social services (including child protective services);

(4) health care providers (including pediatricians);

(5) State and local government;

(6) organizations providing services to disabled persons;

(7) organizations providing services to adolescents;

(8) teachers;

(9) parent self-help organizations;

(10) parents' groups;

(11) voluntary groups;

(12) family rights groups;

(13) children's rights advocates; and

(14) Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

(d) Vacancies

Any vacancy in the membership of the board shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(e) Election of officers

The board shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson at its first meeting from among the members of the board.

(f) Duties

Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the board under subsection (a), the board shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report, or interim report, containing—

(1) recommendations on coordinating Federal, State, tribal, and local child abuse and neglect activities with similar activities at the Federal, State, tribal, and local level pertaining to family violence prevention;

(2) specific modifications needed in Federal, State, and tribal laws and programs to reduce the number of unfounded or unsubstantiated reports of child abuse or neglect while enhancing the ability to identify and substantiate legitimate cases of child abuse or neglect which place a child in danger; and

(3) recommendations for modifications needed to facilitate coordinated national data collection with respect to child protection and child welfare.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §102, formerly §3, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 95–266, title I, §102, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 206; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §§102, 121, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1750, 1752; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 103; renumbered title I, §102, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(1), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §111, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 190; Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §102, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3065; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §111, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3460.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §111(1)(A), substituted "health care providers (including pediatricians)" for "medicine (including pediatrics)".

Subsec. (c)(14). Pub. L. 111–320, §111(1)(B)–(D), added par. (14).

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §111(2)(A), inserted "tribal," after "State," in two places.

Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §111(2)(B), substituted "Federal, State, and tribal" for "Federal and State" and "child abuse or neglect which" for "abuse or neglect which".

1996—Pub. L. 104–235 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which related to appointment of Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect in subsec. (a); solicitation of nominations in subsec. (b); composition of Advisory Board in subsec. (c); election of officers in subsec. (d); meetings in subsec. (e); duties in subsec. (f); compensation in subsec. (g); and authorization of appropriations in subsec. (h).

1992—Subsec. (f)(4). Pub. L. 102–295, §111(a), added par. (4).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–295, §111(b), added subsec. (h).

1989—Subsecs. (c)(1)(A), (e), (f)(2)(E). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(1), made technical amendments to references to sections 5103, 5105, and 5106 of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding sections of original act.

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect for provisions relating to definitions. See section 5106g of this title.

1984—Cl. (1). Pub. L. 98–457, §121(1), designated provisions after opening phrase as cl. (1).

Pub. L. 98–457, §102(1), inserted "(including any employee of a residential facility or any staff person providing out-of-home care)".

Cl. (2). Pub. L. 98–457, §102(2), (3), added cl. (2).

Cl. (3). Pub. L. 98–457, §121(2), (3), added cl. (3).

1978—Pub. L. 95–266 inserted "or exploitation" after "sexual abuse" and ", or the age specified by the child protection law of the State in question," after "eighteen".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–126, §8, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 769, provided that: "This Act and the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1989 Amendment note set out under section 5101 of this title] shall take effect October 1, 1989, or upon the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 25, 1989], whichever occurs later."

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §128, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1755, provided that:

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the provisions of this part or any amendment made by this part [part B (§§121–128) of title I of Pub. L. 98–457, amending this section and section 5103 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 5101 and 5103 of this title] shall be effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1984].

"(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by sections 122 and 123(b) of this Act [amending section 5103 of this title] shall become effective one year after the date of such enactment [Oct. 9, 1984].

"(2) In the event that, prior to such effective date, funds have not been appropriated pursuant to section 5 of the Act (as amended by section 104 of this Act) [section 5104 of this title] for the purpose of grants under section 4(c)(1) of the Act (as added by section 123(a) of this Act) [section 5103(c)(1) of this title], any State which has not met any requirement of section 4(b)(2)(K) of the Act (as added by section 122(3) of this Act) may be granted a waiver of such requirements for a period of not more than one year, if the Secretary finds that such State is making a good-faith effort to comply with such requirements."

Termination of Advisory Boards

Advisory boards established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of its establishment, unless, in the case of a board established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed by appropriate action prior to the end of such period, or in the case of a board established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law, see sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Limitations on Use of Appropriated Funds

Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, §101(f) [title II, §206], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681-359, provided that: "None of the funds appropriated in this Act or subsequent Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts, may be obligated or expended for the Federal Council on Aging under the Older Americans Act [of 1965, 42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.] or the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act [42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.]."

Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 105–78, title II, §206, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1489.

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, §101(e) [title II, §208], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009-254.

Pub. L. 104–134, title I, §101(d) [title II, §209], Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321–211, 1321-228; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 104–140, §1(a), May 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1327.

§5103. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §103, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3066

Section, Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §103, formerly §4, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 5; Pub. L. 93–644, §8(d)(2), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2310; Pub. L. 95–266, title I, §103, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 206; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §§103, 122, 123, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1750, 1752, 1753; Pub. L. 99–401, title I, §102(a), Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 903; Pub. L. 100–117, §1, Sept. 28, 1987, 101 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 105; renumbered title I, §103, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, related to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.

§5104. National clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse

(a) Establishment

The Secretary shall through the Department, or by one or more contracts of not less than 3 years duration let through a competition, establish a national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse and neglect.

(b) Functions

The Secretary shall, through the clearinghouse established by subsection (a)—

(1) maintain, coordinate, and disseminate information on effective programs, including private and community-based programs, that have demonstrated success with respect to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse or neglect and hold the potential for broad-scale implementation and replication;

(2) maintain, coordinate, and disseminate information on the medical diagnosis and treatment of child abuse and neglect;

(3) maintain and disseminate information on best practices relating to differential response;

(4) maintain and disseminate information about the best practices used for achieving improvements in child protective systems;

(5) maintain and disseminate information about the requirements of section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title and best practices relating to the development of plans of safe care as described in such section for infants born and identified as being affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms, or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder;

(6) maintain and disseminate information relating to—

(A) the incidence of cases of child abuse and neglect in the United States;

(B) the incidence of such cases in populations determined by the Secretary under section 105(a)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 5105 note); and

(C) the incidence of any such cases related to substance abuse;

(7) provide technical assistance upon request that may include an evaluation or identification of—

(A) various methods and procedures for the investigation, assessment, and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases;

(B) ways to mitigate psychological trauma to the child victim; and

(C) effective programs carried out by the States under this subchapter and subchapter III;

(8) collect and disseminate information relating to various training resources available at the State and local level to—

(A) individuals who are engaged, or who intend to engage, in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and

(B) appropriate State and local officials to assist in training law enforcement, legal, judicial, medical, mental health, education, child welfare, substance abuse treatment services, and domestic violence services personnel; and

(9) collect and disseminate information, in conjunction with the National Resource Centers authorized in section 10410(b) of this title, on effective programs and best practices for developing and carrying out collaboration between entities providing child protective services and entities providing domestic violence services.

(c) Coordination with available resources

(1) In general

In establishing a national clearinghouse as required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(A) consult with other Federal agencies that operate similar clearinghouses;

(B) consult with the head of each agency involved with child abuse and neglect on the development of the components for information collection and management of such clearinghouse and on the mechanisms for the sharing of such information with other Federal agencies and clearinghouses;

(C) develop a Federal data system involving the elements under subsection (b) which, to the extent practicable, coordinates existing Federal, State, tribal, regional, and local child welfare data systems which shall include—

(i) standardized data on false, unfounded, unsubstantiated, and substantiated reports;

(ii) information on the number of deaths due to child abuse and neglect;

(iii) information about the incidence and characteristics of child abuse and neglect in circumstances in which domestic violence is present; and

(iv) information about the incidence and characteristics of child abuse and neglect in cases related to substance abuse;

(D) through a national data collection and analysis program and in consultation with appropriate State and local agencies and experts in the field, collect, compile, and make available State child abuse and neglect reporting information which, to the extent practical, shall be universal and case specific and integrated with other case-based foster care and adoption data collected by the Secretary;

(E) compile, analyze, and publish a summary of the research conducted under section 5105(a) of this title;

(F) collect and disseminate information that describes best practices being used throughout the Nation for making appropriate referrals related to, and addressing, the physical, developmental, and mental health needs of victims of child abuse or neglect; and

(G) solicit public comment on the components of such clearinghouse.

(2) Confidentiality requirement

In carrying out paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary shall ensure that methods are established and implemented to preserve the confidentiality of records relating to case specific data.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §103, formerly §5, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 95–266, title I, §104, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 206; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §104, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1751; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 105; renumbered title I, §104, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§3(a)(1), (2), (b)(2), 6, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765, 768; renumbered §103 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§104, 113(a)(1)(A), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3066, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §111, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 802; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §112, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3461; Pub. L. 114–198, title V, §503(a), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 729.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 105(a)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988, referred to in subsec. (b)(6)(B), is section 105(a)(1) of Pub. L. 100–294, which is set out as a note under section 5105 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 103 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5103 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–235.

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (b)(5) to (9). Pub. L. 114–198 added par. (5) and redesignated former pars. (5) to (8) as (6) to (9), respectively.

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §112(1), inserted "and neglect" before period at end.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–320, §112(2), added pars. (1) to (3) and (8), redesignated former pars. (2) to (5) as (4) to (7), respectively, in par. (4) inserted "and disseminate" after "maintain", in par. (5)(B) inserted "(42 U.S.C. 5105 note)" before semicolon, in par. (5)(C) substituted "substance" for "alcohol or drug", in par. (6)(C) struck out "and" at end, in par. (7)(B) substituted "child welfare, substance abuse treatment services, and domestic violence services personnel; and" for "and child welfare personnel.", and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "maintain, coordinate, and disseminate information on all effective programs, including private and community-based programs, that show promise of success with respect to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and hold the potential for broad scale implementation and replication;".

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §112(3)(A), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "consult with the head of each agency involved with child abuse and neglect and mechanisms for the sharing of such information among other Federal agencies and clearinghouses on the development of the components for information collection and management of such clearinghouse;".

Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §112(3)(B), inserted "tribal," after "State," in introductory provisions and added cls. (iii) and (iv).

Subsec. (c)(1)(F). Pub. L. 111–320, §112(3)(C), which directed substitution of "victims of child abuse or neglect" for "abused or neglected children", was executed by making the substitution for "abused and neglected children" to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2003—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §111(a)(1), substituted "all effective programs, including private and community-based programs, that show promise of success with respect to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and hold the potential for broad scale implementation and replication;" for "all programs, including private programs, that show promise of success with respect to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and".

Subsec. (b)(2), (3). Pub. L. 108–36, §111(a)(2)–(4), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3) and substituted a semicolon for period at end.

Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 108–36, §111(a)(5), added pars. (4) and (5).

Subsec. (c)(1)(E). Pub. L. 108–36, §111(b)(1), made technical amendment to reference to section 5105(a) of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act and struck out "and" at end.

Subsec. (c)(1)(F), (G). Pub. L. 108–36, §111(b)(2), (3), added subpar. (F) and redesignated former subpar. (F) as (G).

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(1), amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Before the end of the 2-year period beginning on April 25, 1988, the Secretary shall through the Center, or by contract of no less than 3 years duration let through a competition, establish a national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse."

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(2)(A), substituted "Secretary" for "Director" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(2)(B)(ii), which directed striking out ", including" and all that followed and inserting "; and", was executed to reflect the probable intent of Congress by substituting "; and" for ", including the information provided by the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect under section 5105(b) of this title;" which was all that followed ", including" the second place it appeared.

Pub. L. 104–235, §104(2)(B)(ii), inserted "assessment," after "prevention,".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(2)(C), substituted "United States" for "general population" in subpar. (A) and struck out subpar. (D) which read as follows: "State and local recordkeeping with respect to such cases; and".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(2)(D), struck out par. (3) which read as follows: "directly or through contract, identify effective programs carried out by the States pursuant to subchapter III of this chapter and provide technical assistance to the States in the implementation of such programs."

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(A), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and substituted "Secretary" for "Director" in introductory provisions. Former par. (1) redesignated (1)(A).

Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(B), redesignated par. (1) as (1)(A) and realigned margin.

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(B), (C), redesignated par. (2) as (1)(B), realigned margin, and substituted "involved with child abuse and neglect and mechanisms for the sharing of such information among other Federal agencies and clearinghouses" for "that is represented on the task force".

Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(B), (C), redesignated par. (3) as (1)(C), realigned margin, and substituted "Federal, State, regional, and local child welfare data systems which shall include—

"(i) standardized data on false, unfounded, unsubstantiated, and substantiated reports; and

"(ii) information on the number of deaths due to child abuse and neglect;"

for "State, regional, and local data systems; and".

Subsec. (c)(1)(D). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(F), added subpar. (D). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (F).

Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(B), redesignated par. (4) as (1)(D) and realigned margin.

Subsec. (c)(1)(E). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(F), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (c)(1)(F). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(E), redesignated subpar. (D) as (F).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(G), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1)(B).

Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 104–235, §104(3)(B), redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (1)(C) and (1)(D), respectively.

1989—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(2)(A), made technical amendment to reference to section 5105(b) of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(2)(B), inserted "of the Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988" after "section 105(a)(1)".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 101–126, §6, added par. (3).

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse for provisions relating to authorization of appropriations and funding requirements for child abuse and neglect and sexual abuse programs and projects. See section 5106h of this title.

1984—Pub. L. 98–457, §104(a), struck out designation "(a)" before "There are hereby authorized", inserted provisions authorizing appropriations of $33,500,000 for fiscal year 1984, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1985, $41,500,000 for fiscal year 1986, and $43,100,000 for fiscal year 1987, and substituted "this section except as provided in the succeeding sentence, (A) not less than $9,000,000 shall be available in each fiscal year to carry out section 5103(b) of this title (relating to State grants), (B) not less than $11,000,000 shall be available in each fiscal year to carry out sections 5103(a) (relating to demonstration or service projects), 5101(b)(1) and 5101(b)(3) (relating to information dissemination), 5101(b)(5) (relating to research), and 5103(c)(2) (relating to training, technical assistance, and information dissemination) of this title, giving special consideration to continued funding of child abuse and neglect programs or projects (previously funded by the Department of Health and Human Services) of national or regional scope and demonstated [sic] effectiveness, (C) $5,000,000 shall be available in each such year for grants and contracts under section 5103(a) of this title for identification, treatment, and prevention of sexual abuse, and (D) $5,000,000 shall be available in each such year for the purpose of making additional grants to the States to carry out the provisions of section 5103(c)(1) of this title. With respect to any fiscal year in which the total amount appropriated under this section is less than $30,000,000, funds shall first be available as provided in clauses (A) and (B) in the preceding sentence and of the remainder one-half shall be available as provided for in clause (C) and one-half as provided for in clause (D) in the preceding sentence" for "this section, not less than 50 per centum shall be used for making grants or contracts under sections 5101(b)(5) of this title (relating to research) and 5103(a) of this title (relating to demonstration or service projects), giving special consideration to continued Federal funding of child abuse and neglect programs or projects (previously funded by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare) of national or regional scope and demonstrated effectiveness, of not less than 25 per centum shall be used for making grants or contracts under section 5103(b)(1) of this title (relating to grants to States) for the fiscal years ending September 30, 1978, and September 30, 1979, respectively, and not less than 30 per centum shall be used for making grants or contracts under section 5103(b)(1) of this title (relating to grants to States) for each of the fiscal years ending September 30, 1980, and September 30, 1981, respectively".

Pub. L. 98–457, §104(b), struck out subsec. (b) which authorized appropriations for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1978, Sept. 30, 1979, Sept. 30, 1980, and Sept. 30, 1981, respectively, for purpose of making grants and entering into contracts for programs and projects designed to prevent, identify, and treat sexual abuse of children.

1978—Pub. L. 95–266 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1978, through fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1981, and provisions setting forth funding requirements for child abuse and neglect programs and projects, and added subsec. (b).

§5105. Research and assistance activities

(a) Research

(1) Topics

The Secretary shall, in consultation with other Federal agencies and recognized experts in the field, carry out a continuing interdisciplinary program of research, including longitudinal research, that is designed to provide information needed to better protect children from child abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of victims of child abuse or neglect, with at least a portion of such research being field initiated. Such research program may focus on—

(A) the nature and scope of child abuse and neglect;

(B) causes, prevention, assessment, identification, treatment, cultural and socio-economic distinctions, and the consequences of child abuse and neglect, including the effects of child abuse and neglect on a child's development and the identification of successful early intervention services or other services that are needed;

(C) effective approaches to improving the relationship and attachment of infants and toddlers who experience child abuse or neglect with their parents or primary caregivers in circumstances where reunification is appropriate;

(D) appropriate, effective and culturally sensitive investigative, administrative, and judicial systems, including multidisciplinary, coordinated decisionmaking procedures with respect to cases of child abuse and neglect;

(E) the evaluation and dissemination of best practices, including best practices to meet the needs of special populations, consistent with the goals of achieving improvements in the child protective services systems of the States in accordance with paragraphs (1) through (14) of section 5106a(a) of this title;

(F) effective approaches to interagency collaboration between the child protection system and the juvenile justice system that improve the delivery of services and treatment, including methods for continuity of treatment plan and services as children transition between systems;

(G) effective practices and programs to improve activities such as identification, screening, medical diagnosis, forensic diagnosis, health evaluations, and services, including activities that promote collaboration between—

(i) the child protective service system; and

(ii)(I) the medical community, including providers of mental health and developmental disability services; and

(II) providers of early childhood intervention services and special education for children who have been victims of child abuse or neglect;

(H) an evaluation of the redundancies and gaps in the services in the field of child abuse and neglect prevention in order to make better use of resources;

(I) effective collaborations, between the child protective system and domestic violence service providers, that provide for the safety of children exposed to domestic violence and their nonabusing parents and that improve the investigations, interventions, delivery of services, and treatments provided for such children and families;

(J) the nature, scope, and practice of voluntary relinquishment for foster care or State guardianship of low-income children who need health services, including mental health services;

(K) the impact of child abuse and neglect on the incidence and progression of disabilities;

(L) the nature and scope of effective practices relating to differential response, including an analysis of best practices conducted by the States;

(M) child abuse and neglect issues facing Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, including providing recommendations for improving the collection of child abuse and neglect data from Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities;

(N) the information on the national incidence of child abuse and neglect specified in clauses (i) through (x) ¹ of subparagraph (O); and

(O) the national incidence of child abuse and neglect, including—

(i) the extent to which incidents of child abuse and neglect are increasing or decreasing in number and severity;

(ii) the incidence of substantiated and unsubstantiated reported child abuse and neglect cases;

(iii) the number of substantiated cases that result in a judicial finding of child abuse or neglect or related criminal court convictions;

(iv) the extent to which the number of unsubstantiated, unfounded and false reported cases of child abuse or neglect have contributed to the inability of a State to respond effectively to serious cases of child abuse or neglect;

(v) the extent to which the lack of adequate resources and the lack of adequate training of individuals required by law to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect have contributed to the inability of a State to respond effectively to serious cases of child abuse and neglect;

(vi) the number of unsubstantiated, false, or unfounded reports that have resulted in a child being placed in substitute care, and the duration of such placement;

(vii) the extent to which unsubstantiated reports return as more serious cases of child abuse or neglect;

(viii) the incidence and prevalence of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and physical and emotional neglect in substitute care;

(ix) the incidence and prevalence of child maltreatment by a wide array of demographic characteristics such as age, sex, race, family structure, household relationship (including the living arrangement of the resident parent and family size), school enrollment and education attainment, disability, grandparents as caregivers, labor force status, work status in previous year, and income in previous year;

(x) the extent to which reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal, are being screened out solely on the basis of the cross-jurisdictional complications; and

(xi) the incidence and outcomes of child abuse and neglect allegations reported within the context of divorce, custody, or other family court proceedings, and the interaction between this venue and the child protective services system.

(2) Research

The Secretary shall conduct research on the national incidence of child abuse and neglect, including the information on the national incidence on child abuse and neglect specified in clauses (i) through (xi) of paragraph (1)(O).

(3) Report

Not later than 4 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate a report that contains the results of the research conducted under paragraph (2).

(4) ² Priorities

(A) In general

The Secretary shall establish research priorities for making grants or contracts for purposes of carrying out paragraph (1).

(B) Public comment

Not later than 1 years ³ after December 20, 2010, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public comment concerning the priorities proposed under subparagraph (A) and maintain an official record of such public comment.

(4) ² Study on shaken baby syndrome

The Secretary shall conduct a study that—

(A) identifies data collected on shaken baby syndrome;

(B) determines the feasibility of collecting uniform, accurate data from all States regarding—

(i) incidence rates of shaken baby syndrome;

(ii) characteristics of perpetrators of shaken baby syndrome, including age, gender, relation to victim, access to prevention materials and resources, and history of substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental illness; and

(iii) characteristics of victims of shaken baby syndrome, including gender, date of birth, date of injury, date of death (if applicable), and short- and long-term injuries sustained.

(b) Provision of technical assistance

(1) In general

The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to State and local public and private agencies and community-based organizations, including disability organizations and persons who work with children with disabilities and providers of mental health, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence prevention services, to assist such agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out programs and activities, including replicating successful program models, relating to the prevention, assessment, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

(2) Evaluation

Such technical assistance may include an evaluation or identification of—

(A) various methods and procedures for the investigation, assessment, and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases;

(B) ways to mitigate psychological trauma to the child victim;

(C) effective programs carried out by the States under this subchapter and subchapter III; and

(D) effective approaches being utilized to link child protective service agencies with health care, mental health care, and developmental services to improve forensic diagnosis and health evaluations, and barriers and shortages to such linkages.

(3) Dissemination

The Secretary may provide for and disseminate information relating to various training resources available at the State and local level to—

(A) individuals who are engaged, or who intend to engage, in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and

(B) appropriate State and local officials to assist in training law enforcement, legal, judicial, medical, mental health, education, child welfare, substance abuse, and domestic violence services personnel in appropriate methods of interacting during investigative, administrative, and judicial proceedings with children who have been subjected to, or whom the personnel suspect have been subjected to, child abuse or neglect.

(c) Authority to make grants or enter into contracts

(1) In general

The functions of the Secretary under this section may be carried out either directly or through grant or contract.

(2) Duration

Grants under this section shall be made for periods of not more than 5 years.

(3) Preference for long-term studies

In making grants for purposes of conducting research under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications for long-term projects.

(d) Peer review for grants

(1) Establishment of peer review process

(A) In general

To enhance the quality and usefulness of research in the field of child abuse and neglect, the Secretary shall, in consultation with experts in the field and other Federal agencies, establish a formal, rigorous, and meritorious peer review process for purposes of evaluating and reviewing applications for assistance through a grant or contract under this section and determining the relative merits of the project for which such assistance is requested.

(B) Members

In establishing the process required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall only appoint to the peer review panels members who—

(i) are experts in the field of child abuse and neglect or related disciplines, with appropriate expertise related to the applications to be reviewed; and

(ii) are not individuals who are officers or employees of the Administration for Children and Families.

(C) Meetings

The peer review panels shall meet as often as is necessary to facilitate the expeditious review of applications for grants and contracts under this section, but shall meet not less often than once a year.

(D) Criteria and guidelines

The Secretary shall ensure that the peer review panel utilizes scientifically valid review criteria and scoring guidelines in the review of the applications for grants and contracts.

(2) Review of applications for assistance

Each peer review panel established under paragraph (1)(A) that reviews any application for a grant shall—

(A) determine and evaluate the merit of each project described in such application;

(B) rank such application with respect to all other applications it reviews in the same priority area for the fiscal year involved, according to the relative merit of all of the projects that are described in such application and for which financial assistance is requested; and

(C) make recommendations to the Secretary concerning whether the application for the project shall be approved.

The Secretary shall award grants under this section on the basis of competitive review.

(3) Notice of approval

(A) Meritorious projects

The Secretary shall provide grants and contracts under this section from among the projects which the peer review panels established under paragraph (1)(A) have determined to have merit.

(B) Explanation

In the instance in which the Secretary approves an application for a program without having approved all applications ranked above such application (as determined under paragraph (2)(B)), the Secretary shall append to the approved application a detailed explanation of the reasons relied on for approving the application and for failing to approve each pending application that is superior in merit, as indicated on the list under paragraph (2)(B).

(e) Demonstration programs and projects

The Secretary may award grants to, and enter into contracts with, entities that are States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or public or private agencies or organizations (or combinations of such entities) for time-limited, demonstration projects for the following:

(1) Promotion of safe, family-friendly physical environments for visitation and exchange

The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to entities to assist such entities in establishing and operating safe, family-friendly physical environments—

(A) for court-ordered, supervised visitation between children and abusing parents; and

(B) to facilitate the safe exchange of children for visits with noncustodial parents in cases of domestic violence.

(2) Education identification, prevention, and treatment

The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to entities for projects that provide educational identification, prevention, and treatment services in cooperation with child care and early childhood education and care providers, preschools, and elementary and secondary schools.

(3) Risk and safety assessment tools

The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to entities for projects that provide for the development of research-based strategies for risk and safety assessments relating to child abuse and neglect.

(4) Training

The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to entities for projects that involve research-based strategies for innovative training for mandated child abuse and neglect reporters.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §104, formerly §6, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 7; Pub. L. 95–266, title I, §105, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 207; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §105, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1751; Pub. L. 99–401, title I, §104, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 106; renumbered title I, §105, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(3), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §§112, 141(5), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 190, 200; renumbered §104 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§105, 113(a)(1)(A), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3067, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §112, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 803; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §113, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3462.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 104 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 103 and is classified to section 5104 of this title.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(1)(A), substituted "from child abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of victims of child abuse or neglect" for "from abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of abused or neglected children" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(1)(B), substituted "child abuse and neglect on" for "abuse and neglect on".

Subsec. (a)(1)(C) to (N). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(1)(C)–(K), added subpars. (C), (G), (I), and (K) to (M), redesignated subpars. (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H) as (D), (E), (F), (H), (J), and (N), respectively, in subpar. (D), inserted "and neglect" before semicolon at end, in subpar. (E), inserted ", including best practices to meet the needs of special populations," after "best practices" and substituted "(14)" for "(12)", in subpar. (J), substituted "low-income" for "low income", and, in subpar. (N), substituted "clauses (i) through (x) of subparagraph (O)" for "clauses (i) through (xi) of subparagraph (H)". Former subpar. (I) redesignated (O).

Subsec. (a)(1)(O). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(1)(C), (L), redesignated subpar. (I) as (O), in cls. (i) and (ii), inserted "and neglect" after "abuse", in cl. (v), substituted "child abuse and neglect have" for "child abuse have", added cl. (x) and redesignated former cl. (x) as (xi), and, in cl. (xi), substituted "child abuse and neglect" for "abuse".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(2), substituted "clauses (i) through (xi) of paragraph (1)(O)." for "subparagraphs (i) through (ix) of paragraph (1)(I)."

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(3), substituted "December 20, 2010" for "June 25, 2003".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(5), added par. (4) relating to study on shaken baby syndrome.

Pub. L. 111–320, §113(a)(4), in par. (4) relating to priorities, inserted subpar. headings and, in subpar. (B), substituted "Not later than 1 years after December 20, 2010" for "Not later than 2 years after June 25, 2003".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(b)(1), inserted "and providers of mental health, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence prevention services" after "disabilities".

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(b)(2), substituted "child welfare, substance abuse, and domestic violence services personnel" for "and child welfare personnel" and "subjected to, or whom the personnel suspect have been subjected to, child abuse or neglect." for "subjected to abuse."

Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(c)(1)(A), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "The Secretary shall, in consultation with experts in the field and other federal agencies, establish a formal, rigorous, and meritorious peer review process for purposes of evaluating and reviewing applications for grants under this section and determining the relative merits of the projects for which such assistance is requested. The purpose of this process is to enhance the quality and usefulness of research in the field of child abuse and neglect."

Subsec. (d)(1)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(c)(1)(B), added subpars. (B) to (D) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "In establishing the process required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall appoint to the peer review panels only members who are experts in the field of child abuse and neglect or related disciplines, with appropriate expertise in the application to be reviewed, and who are not individuals who are officers or employees of the Administration on Children and Families. The panels shall meet as often as is necessary to facilitate the expeditious review of applications for grants and contracts under this section, but may not meet less than once a year. The Secretary shall ensure that the peer review panel utilizes scientifically valid review criteria and scoring guidelines for review committees."

Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(c)(2), inserted subpar. headings.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(d)(1), substituted "entities that are States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or" for "States or" and "such entities" for "such agencies or organizations" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(d)(2), substituted "facilitate the safe" for "safely facilitate the".

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §113(d)(3), inserted "child care and early childhood education and care providers," after "in cooperation with" and substituted "preschools," for "preschool".

2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(A), inserted ", including longitudinal research," after "interdisciplinary program of research" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(B), inserted before semicolon ", including the effects of abuse and neglect on a child's development and the identification of successful early intervention services or other services that are needed".

Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(C), substituted "judicial systems, including multidisciplinary, coordinated decisionmaking procedures" for "judicial procedures" and struck out "and" at end.

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(F), added subpar. (D). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (I).

Subsec. (a)(1)(D)(ix), (x). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(D), added cl. (ix) and redesignated former cl. (ix) as (x).

Subsec. (a)(1)(E) to (H). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(F), added subpars. (E) to (H).

Subsec. (a)(1)(I). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(1)(E), redesignated subpar. (D) as (I).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(4), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (4) relating to priorities.

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(2), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "In establishing research priorities as required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—

"(i) publish proposed priorities in the Federal Register for public comment; and

"(ii) allow not less than 60 days for public comment on such proposed priorities."

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(4), added par. (3).

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(a)(3), redesignated par. (2) as (4) relating to priorities.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(b)(1), substituted "private agencies and community-based" for "nonprofit private agencies and" and inserted ", including replicating successful program models," after "programs and activities".

Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(b)(2), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–36, §112(c), added subsec. (e).

1996—Pub. L. 104–235, §105(f), struck out "of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect" after "activities" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(1)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted ", in consultation with other Federal agencies and recognized experts in the field, carry out a continuing interdisciplinary program of research that is designed to provide information needed to better protect children from abuse or neglect and to improve the well-being of abused or neglected children, with at least a portion of such research being field initiated. Such research program may focus on" for ", through the Center, conduct research on".

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(1)(C), added subpar. (A). Former subpar. (A) redesignated (B).

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(1)(B), (D), redesignated subpar. (A) as (B) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "the causes, prevention, identification,, treatment and cultural distinctions of child abuse and neglect;". Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C).

Subsec. (a)(1)(C). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(1)(B), redesignated subpar. (B) as (C). Former subpar. (C) redesignated (D).

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(1)(B), (E), redesignated subpar. (C) as (D), struck out cl. (ii), redesignated cl. (iii) as (ii) and amended it generally, and added cls. (iii) to (ix). Prior to amendment, cls. (ii) and (iii) read as follows:

"(ii) the relationship of child abuse and neglect to nonpayment of child support, cultural diversity, disabilities, and various other factors; and

"(iii) the incidence of substantiated reported child abuse cases that result in civil child protection proceedings or criminal proceedings, including the number of such cases with respect to which the court makes a finding that abuse or neglect exists and the disposition of such cases."

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(a)(2), struck out "and demonstration" after "research", substituted "paragraph (1)" for "paragraph (1)(A) and activities under section 5106 of this title" in subpar. (A) and struck out "and demonstration" after "research" in introductory provisions of subpar. (B).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(b), (c), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b)(1), inserted par. heading, struck out ", through the Center," after "Secretary shall", inserted "State and local" before "public and nonprofit" and "assessment," before "identification", added pars. (2) and (3), and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b) consisting of pars. (1) to (5) which related to publication and dissemination of information.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(d), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and in par. (2) struck out at end "The Secretary shall review each such grant at least annually, utilizing peer review mechanisms to assure the quality and progress of research conducted under such grant." Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(e), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d), in par. (1)(A) substituted ", in consultation with experts in the field and other federal agencies, establish a formal, rigorous, and meritorious" for "establish a formal", struck out "and contracts" after "for grants", and inserted at end "The purpose of this process is to enhance the quality and usefulness of research in the field of child abuse and neglect.", in par. (1)(B) substituted "Administration on Children and Families" for "Office of Human Development" and inserted at end "The Secretary shall ensure that the peer review panel utilizes scientifically valid review criteria and scoring guidelines for review committees.", in par. (2) struck out ", contract, or other financial assistance" after "grant" in introductory provisions and inserted "The Secretary shall award grants under this section on the basis of competitive review." as concluding provisions, and in par. (3)(B) substituted "paragraph (2)(B)" for "subsection (e)(2)(B) of this section" in two places. Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104–235, §105(e)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d).

1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(a)(1), substituted ", treatment and cultural distinctions of" for "and treatment of".

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(a)(2), substituted "appropriate, effective and culturally sensitive" for "appropriate and effective".

Subsec. (a)(1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 102–295, §§112(a)(3), 141(5), substituted "child support, cultural diversity, disabilities" for "child support, handicaps".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(b), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "as a part of research activities establish a national data collection and analysis program, which, to the extent practical, coordinates existing State child abuse and neglect reports and which shall include—

"(A) standardized data on false, unfounded, or unsubstantiated reports; and

"(B) information on the number of deaths due to child abuse and neglect;".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–295, §141(5), substituted "disabilities" for "handicaps".

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(c)(1)(A), inserted "and reviewing" after "evaluating".

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(c)(1)(B), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "Members of peer review panels shall be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are not officers or employees of the Office of Human Development Services. In making appointments to such panels, the Secretary shall include only experts in the field of child abuse and neglect."

Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(c)(2)(A), inserted "and evaluate" after "determine".

Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(c)(2)(B), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (e)(3)(A). Pub. L. 102–295, §112(c)(3), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "At the end of each application process, the Secretary shall make available upon request, no later than 14 days after the request, to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate the list which identifies all applications reviewed by such panel and arranges such applications according to rank determined under paragraph (2) and a list of all applications funded."

1989—Subsecs. (a)(2)(A), (b)(3). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(3), made technical amendments to references to sections 5104, 5106, and 5106c of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding sections of original act.

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to research and assistance activities of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect for provisions relating to Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. See section 5102 of this title.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–401, §104(1), inserted after first sentence "The Advisory Board shall meet at least every six months."

Pub. L. 99–401, §104(2), which directed that subsec. (a) be amended by inserting "in order to prevent unnecessary duplication of such programs, to ensure efficient allocation of resources, and to assure that programs effectively address all aspects of the child abuse problem" after "Board" in second sentence, was executed by inserting provision after "Advisory Board" the first time that term appeared in what constituted the second sentence before a new second sentence was added by section 104(1) of Pub. L. 99–401.

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–457, §105(a), (b), struck out ", including the Office of Child Development, the Department of Education, the National Institute of Education, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Social and Rehabilitation Service, and the Health Services Administration," before "and not less than three members", and inserted provision that the Advisory Board may be available, at the Secretary's request, to assist the Secretary in coordinating adoption-related activities of the Federal Government.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 98–457, §105(c), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which required the Board to review the comprehensive plan submitted to it by the Center pursuant to section 5101(b)(7) of this title, make such changes as it deemed appropriate, and submit to the President and the Congress a final such plan not later than eighteen months after April 24, 1978.

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–266, §105(1), (2), inserted requirement for representation from the general public, and "planned," before "administered" in two places.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–266, §105(3), substituted provisions relating to review of the plan by the Advisory Board and submission to the President and Congress of a final plan, for provisions relating to a report by the Advisory Board on assisted programs, etc., and submission to the President and Congress.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–266, §105(3), substituted provisions setting forth compensation and travel expense allowance authorizations for members of the Board, for provisions authorizing use of appropriated funds for required report.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Child Abuse and Disability

Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §102, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 118, directed Director of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to conduct a study of incidence of child abuse among children with handicaps, including children in out-of-home placements, the relationship between child abuse and children's handicapping conditions, and incidence of children who have developed handicapping conditions as a result of child abuse or neglect, and not later than 2 years after Apr. 25, 1988, to report to appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the study, such report to include information and data gathered, an analysis of such information and data, and recommendations on how to prevent abuse of disabled children.

Child Abuse and Alcoholic Families

Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §103, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 118, directed Director of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to conduct a study of incidence of child abuse in alcoholic families and relationship between child abuse and familial alcoholism, and not later than 2 years after Apr. 25, 1988, to report to appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the study, such report to include information and data gathered, an analysis of such information and data, and recommendations on how to prevent child abuse in alcoholic families.

Study of Guardian-Ad-Litem

Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §104, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 118, directed Director of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to conduct a study of how individual legal representation of children in cases of child abuse or neglect has been provided in each State, and effectiveness of legal representation of children in cases of abuse or neglect through use of guardian-ad-litem and court appointed special advocates, and not later than 2 years after Apr. 25, 1988, to report to appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the study, such report to include information and data gathered, an analysis of such information and data, and recommendations on how to improve legal representation of children in cases of abuse or neglect.

High Risk Study

Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §105, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 118, directed the Director of National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect to conduct a study to identify groups which have been historically underserved or unserved by programs relating to child abuse and neglect, and to report incidence of child abuse and neglect among children who are members of such groups, and not later than 2 years after Apr. 25, 1988, to report to appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the study, such report to include information and data gathered, an analysis of such information and data, and recommendations on how to better meet needs of underserved or unserved groups.

¹ So in original. Probably should refer to clauses (i) through (xi).

² So in original. There are two pars. designated "(4)".

³ So in original. Probably should be "year".

§5106. Grants to States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and public or private agencies and organizations

(a) Grants for programs and projects

The Secretary may make grants to, and enter into contracts with, entities that are States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or public agencies or private agencies or organizations (or combinations of such entities) for programs and projects for the following purposes:

(1) Training programs

The Secretary may award grants to public or private organizations under this subsection—

(A) for the training of professional and paraprofessional personnel in the fields of health care, medicine, law enforcement, judiciary, social work and child protection, education, child care, and other relevant fields, or individuals such as court appointed special advocates (CASAs) and guardian ad litem, who are engaged in, or intend to work in, the field of prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect, including the links between domestic violence and child abuse and neglect;

(B) to improve the recruitment, selection, and training of volunteers serving in public and private children, youth, and family service organizations in order to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(C) for the establishment of resource centers for the purpose of providing information and training to professionals working in the field of child abuse and neglect;

(D) for training to enhance linkages among child protective service agencies and health care agencies, entities providing physical and mental health services, community resources, and developmental disability agencies, to improve screening, forensic diagnosis, and health and developmental evaluations, and for partnerships between child protective service agencies and health care agencies that support the coordinated use of existing Federal, State, local, and private funding to meet the health evaluation needs of children who have been subjects of substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect;

(E) for the training of personnel in best practices to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities, including promoting interagency collaboration;

(F) for the training of personnel in best practices to promote collaboration with the families from the initial time of contact during the investigation through treatment;

(G) for the training of personnel regarding the legal duties of such personnel and their responsibilities to protect the legal rights of children and families;

(H) for the training of personnel in childhood development including the unique needs of children under age 3;

(I) for improving the training of supervisory and nonsupervisory child welfare workers;

(J) for enabling State child welfare agencies to coordinate the provision of services with State and local health care agencies, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment agencies, mental health agencies, other public and private welfare agencies, and agencies that provide early intervention services to promote child safety, permanence, and family stability;

(K) for cross training for child protective service workers in research-based strategies for recognizing situations of substance abuse, domestic violence, and neglect;

(L) for developing, implementing, or operating information and education programs or training programs designed to improve the provision of services to infants or toddlers with disabilities with life-threatening conditions for—

(i) professionals and paraprofessional personnel concerned with the welfare of infants or toddlers with disabilities with life-threatening conditions, including personnel employed in child protective services programs and health care facilities; and

(ii) the parents of such infants; and

(M) for the training of personnel in best practices relating to the provision of differential response.

(2) Triage procedures

The Secretary may award grants under this subsection to public and private agencies that demonstrate innovation in responding to reports of child abuse and neglect, including programs of collaborative partnerships between the State child protective services agency, community social service agencies and family support programs, law enforcement agencies, developmental disability agencies, substance abuse treatment entities, health care entities, domestic violence prevention entities, mental health service entities, schools, churches and synagogues, and other community agencies, to allow for the establishment of a triage system that—

(A) accepts, screens, and assesses reports received to determine which such reports require an intensive intervention and which require voluntary referral to another agency, program, or project;

(B) provides, either directly or through referral, a variety of community-linked services to assist families in preventing child abuse and neglect; and

(C) provides further investigation and intensive intervention when the child's safety is in jeopardy.

(3) Mutual support programs

The Secretary may award grants to private organizations to establish or maintain a national network of mutual support, leadership, and self-help programs as a means of strengthening families in partnership with their communities.

(4) Kinship care

The Secretary may award grants to public and private entities to assist such entities in developing or implementing procedures using adult relatives as the preferred placement for children removed from their home, where such relatives are determined to be capable of providing a safe nurturing environment for the child and where such relatives comply with the State child protection standards.

(5) Linkages among child protective service agencies and public health, mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and domestic violence service agencies

The Secretary may award grants to entities that provide linkages among State or local child protective service agencies and public health, mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and domestic violence service agencies, and entities that carry out community-based programs, for the purpose of establishing linkages that are designed to ensure that a greater number of substantiated victims of child maltreatment have their physical health, mental health, and developmental needs appropriately diagnosed and treated, in accordance with all applicable Federal and State privacy laws.

(6) Collaborations between child protective service entities and domestic violence service entities

The Secretary may award grants to public or private agencies and organizations under this section to develop or expand effective collaborations between child protective service entities and domestic violence service entities to improve collaborative investigation and intervention procedures, provision for the safety of the nonabusing parent involved and children, and provision of services to children exposed to domestic violence that also support the caregiving role of the non-abusing parent.

(7) Grants to States to improve and coordinate their response to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of infants affected by substance use

(A) Program authorized

The Secretary is authorized to make grants to States for the purpose of assisting child welfare agencies, social services agencies, substance use disorder treatment agencies, hospitals with labor and delivery units, medical staff, public health and mental health agencies, and maternal and child health agencies to facilitate collaboration in developing, updating, implementing, and monitoring plans of safe care described in section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title. Section 5106h(a)(2) of this title shall not apply to the program authorized under this paragraph.

(B) Distribution of funds

(i) Reservations

Of the amounts made available to carry out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reserve—

(I) no more than 3 percent for the purposes described in subparagraph (G); and

(II) up to 3 percent for grants to Indian Tribes and tribal organizations to address the needs of infants born with, and identified as being affected by, substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and their families or caregivers, which to the extent practicable, shall be consistent with the uses of funds described under subparagraph (D).

(ii) Allotments to States and territories

The Secretary shall allot the amount made available to carry out subparagraph (A) that remains after application of clause (i) to each State that applies for such a grant, in an amount equal to the sum of—

(I) $500,000; and

(II) an amount that bears the same relationship to any funds made available to carry out subparagraph (A) and remaining after application of clause (i), as the number of live births in the State in the previous calendar year bears to the number of live births in all States in such year.

(iii) Ratable reduction

If the amount made available to carry out subparagraph (A) is insufficient to satisfy the requirements of clause (ii), the Secretary shall ratably reduce each allotment to a State.

(C) Application

A State desiring a grant under this paragraph shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include—

(i) a description of—

(I) the impact of substance use disorder in such State, including with respect to the substance or class of substances with the highest incidence of abuse in the previous year in such State, including—

(aa) the prevalence of substance use disorder in such State;

(bb) the aggregate rate of births in the State of infants affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (as determined by hospitals, insurance claims, claims submitted to the State Medicaid program, or other records), if available and to the extent practicable; and

(cc) the number of infants identified, for whom a plan of safe care was developed, and for whom a referral was made for appropriate services, as reported under section 5106a(d)(18) of this title;

(II) the challenges the State faces in developing, implementing, and monitoring plans of safe care in accordance with section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title;

(III) the State's lead agency for the grant program and how that agency will coordinate with relevant State entities and programs, including the child welfare agency, the substance use disorder treatment agency, hospitals with labor and delivery units, health care providers, the public health and mental health agencies, programs funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that provide substance use disorder treatment for women, the State Medicaid program, the State agency administering the block grant program under title V of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the State agency administering the programs funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting program under section 511 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711), the State judicial system, and other agencies, as determined by the Secretary, and Indian Tribes and tribal organizations, as appropriate, to implement the activities under this paragraph;

(IV) how the State will monitor local development and implementation of plans of safe care, in accordance with section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii)(II) of this title, including how the State will monitor to ensure plans of safe care address differences between substance use disorder and medically supervised substance use, including for the treatment of a substance use disorder;

(V) if applicable, how the State plans to utilize funding authorized under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) to assist in carrying out any plan of safe care, including such funding authorized under section 471(e) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 671(e)] (as in effect on October 1, 2018) for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parent skill-based programs and funding authorized under such section 472(j) [42 U.S.C. 672(j)] (as in effect on October 1, 2018) for children with a parent in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility for substance abuse; and

(VI) an assessment of the treatment and other services and programs available in the State to effectively carry out any plan of safe care developed, including identification of needed treatment, and other services and programs to ensure the well-being of young children and their families affected by substance use disorder, such as programs carried out under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and comprehensive early childhood development services and programs such as Head Start programs;

(ii) a description of how the State plans to use funds for activities described in subparagraph (D) for the purposes of ensuring State compliance with requirements under clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 5106a(b)(2)(B) of this title; and

(iii) an assurance that the State will comply with requirements to refer a child identified as substance-exposed to early intervention services as required pursuant to a grant under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.).

(D) Uses of funds

Funds awarded to a State under this paragraph may be used for the following activities, which may be carried out by the State directly, or through grants or subgrants, contracts, or cooperative agreements:

(i) Improving State and local systems with respect to the development and implementation of plans of safe care, which—

(I) shall include parent and caregiver engagement, as required under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii)(I) of this title, regarding available treatment and service options, which may include resources available for pregnant, perinatal, and postnatal women; and

(II) may include activities such as—

(aa) developing policies, procedures, or protocols for the administration or development of evidence-based and validated screening tools for infants who may be affected by substance use withdrawal symptoms or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and pregnant, perinatal, and postnatal women whose infants may be affected by substance use withdrawal symptoms or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder;

(bb) improving assessments used to determine the needs of the infant and family;

(cc) improving ongoing case management services;

(dd) improving access to treatment services, which may be prior to the pregnant woman's delivery date; and

(ee) keeping families safely together when it is in the best interest of the child.

(ii) Developing policies, procedures, or protocols in consultation and coordination with health professionals, public and private health facilities, and substance use disorder treatment agencies to ensure that—

(I) appropriate notification to child protective services is made in a timely manner, as required under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(ii) of this title;

(II) a plan of safe care is in place, in accordance with section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title, before the infant is discharged from the birth or health care facility; and

(III) such health and related agency professionals are trained on how to follow such protocols and are aware of the supports that may be provided under a plan of safe care.

(iii) Training health professionals and health system leaders, child welfare workers, substance use disorder treatment agencies, and other related professionals such as home visiting agency staff and law enforcement in relevant topics including—

(I) State mandatory reporting laws established under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(i) of this title and the referral and process requirements for notification to child protective services when child abuse or neglect reporting is not mandated;

(II) the co-occurrence of pregnancy and substance use disorder, and implications of prenatal exposure;

(III) the clinical guidance about treating substance use disorder in pregnant and postpartum women;

(IV) appropriate screening and interventions for infants affected by substance use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the requirements under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title; and

(V) appropriate multigenerational strategies to address the mental health needs of the parent and child together.

(iv) Establishing partnerships, agreements, or memoranda of understanding between the lead agency and other entities (including health professionals, health facilities, child welfare professionals, juvenile and family court judges, substance use and mental disorder treatment programs, early childhood education programs, maternal and child health and early intervention professionals (including home visiting providers), peer-to-peer recovery programs such as parent mentoring programs, and housing agencies) to facilitate the implementation of, and compliance with, section 5106a(b)(2) of this title and clause (ii) of this subparagraph, in areas which may include—

(I) developing a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary assessment and intervention process for infants, pregnant women, and their families who are affected by substance use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, that includes meaningful engagement with and takes into account the unique needs of each family and addresses differences between medically supervised substance use, including for the treatment of substance use disorder, and substance use disorder;

(II) ensuring that treatment approaches for serving infants, pregnant women, and perinatal and postnatal women whose infants may be affected by substance use, withdrawal symptoms, or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, are designed to, where appropriate, keep infants with their mothers during both inpatient and outpatient treatment; and

(III) increasing access to all evidence-based medication-assisted treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration, behavioral therapy, and counseling services for the treatment of substance use disorders, as appropriate.

(v) Developing and updating systems of technology for improved data collection and monitoring under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(iii) of this title, including existing electronic medical records, to measure the outcomes achieved through the plans of safe care, including monitoring systems to meet the requirements of this Act and submission of performance measures.

(E) Reporting

Each State that receives funds under this paragraph, for each year such funds are received, shall submit a report to the Secretary, disaggregated by geographic location, economic status, and major racial and ethnic groups, except that such disaggregation shall not be required if the results would reveal personally identifiable information on, with respect to infants identified under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(ii) of this title—

(i) the number who experienced removal associated with parental substance use;

(ii) the number who experienced removal and subsequently are reunified with parents, and the length of time between such removal and reunification;

(iii) the number who are referred to community providers without a child protection case;

(iv) the number who receive services while in the care of their birth parents;

(v) the number who receive post-reunification services within 1 year after a reunification has occurred; and

(vi) the number who experienced a return to out-of-home care within 1 year after reunification.

(F) Secretary's report to Congress

The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives that includes the information described in subparagraph (E) and recommendations or observations on the challenges, successes, and lessons derived from implementation of the grant program.

(G) Assisting States' implementation

The Secretary shall use the amount reserved under subparagraph (B)(i)(I) to provide written guidance and technical assistance to support States in complying with and implementing this paragraph, which shall include—

(i) technical assistance, including programs of in-depth technical assistance, to additional States, territories, and Indian Tribes and tribal organizations in accordance with the substance-exposed infant initiative developed by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare;

(ii) guidance on the requirements of this Act with respect to infants born with and identified as being affected by substance use or withdrawal symptoms or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 5106a(b)(2)(B) of this title, including by—

(I) enhancing States' understanding of requirements and flexibilities under the law, including by clarifying key terms;

(II) addressing state-identified challenges with developing, implementing, and monitoring plans of safe care, including those reported under subparagraph (C)(i)(II);

(III) disseminating best practices on implementation of plans of safe care, on such topics as differential response, collaboration and coordination, and identification and delivery of services for different populations, while recognizing needs of different populations and varying community approaches across States; and

(IV) helping States improve the long-term safety and well-being of young children and their families;

(iii) supporting State efforts to develop information technology systems to manage plans of safe care; and

(iv) preparing the Secretary's report to Congress described in subparagraph (F).

(H) Sunset

The authority under this paragraph shall sunset on September 30, 2023.

(b) Discretionary grants

In addition to grants or contracts made under subsection (a), grants or contracts under this section may be used for the following:

(1) Respite and crisis nursery programs provided by community-based organizations under the direction and supervision of hospitals.

(2) Respite and crisis nursery programs provided by community-based organizations.

(3) Programs based within children's hospitals or other pediatric and adolescent care facilities, that provide model approaches for improving medical diagnosis of child abuse and neglect and for health evaluations of children for whom a report of maltreatment has been substantiated.

(4)(A) Providing hospital-based information and referral services to—

(i) parents of children with disabilities; and

(ii) children who have been victims of child abuse or neglect and their parents.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C)(iii), services provided under a grant received under this paragraph shall be provided at the hospital involved—

(i) upon the birth or admission of a child with disabilities; and

(ii) upon the treatment of a child for child abuse and neglect.

(C) Services, as determined as appropriate by the grantee, provided under a grant received under this paragraph shall be hospital-based and shall consist of—

(i) the provision of notice to parents that information relating to community services is available;

(ii) the provision of appropriate information to parents of a child with disabilities regarding resources in the community, particularly parent training resources, that will assist such parents in caring for their child;

(iii) the provision of appropriate information to parents of a child who has been a victim of child abuse or neglect regarding resources in the community, particularly parent training resources, that will assist such parents in caring for their child and reduce the possibility of child abuse and neglect;

(iv) the provision of appropriate follow-up services to parents of a child described in subparagraph (B) after the child has left the hospital; and

(v) where necessary, assistance in coordination of community services available to parents of children described in subparagraph (B).

The grantee shall assure that parental involvement described in this subparagraph is voluntary.

(D) For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified grantee is an acute care hospital that—

(i) is in a combination with—

(I) a health-care provider organization;

(II) a child welfare organization;

(III) a disability organization; and

(IV) a State child protection agency;

(ii) submits an application for a grant under this paragraph that is approved by the Secretary;

(iii) maintains an office in the hospital involved for purposes of providing services under such grant;

(iv) provides assurances to the Secretary that in the conduct of the project the confidentiality of medical, social, and personal information concerning any person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be maintained, and shall be disclosed only to qualified persons providing required services described in subparagraph (C) for purposes relating to conduct of the project; and

(v) assumes legal responsibility for carrying out the terms and conditions of the grant.

(E) In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall—

(i) give priority under this section for two grants under this paragraph, provided that one grant shall be made to provide services in an urban setting and one grant shall be made to provide services in rural setting; and

(ii) encourage qualified grantees to combine the amounts received under the grant with other funds available to such grantees.

(5) Such other innovative programs and projects that show promise of preventing and treating cases of child abuse and neglect as the Secretary may approve.

(c) Evaluation

In making grants for projects under this section, the Secretary shall require all such projects to be evaluated for their effectiveness. Funding for such evaluations shall be provided either as a stated percentage of a demonstration grant or as a separate grant or contract entered into by the Secretary for the purpose of evaluating a particular demonstration project or group of projects. In the case of an evaluation performed by the recipient of a grant, the Secretary shall make available technical assistance for the evaluation, where needed, including the use of a rigorous application of scientific evaluation techniques.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §105, formerly §7, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 8; Pub. L. 98–457, title I, §106, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1751; Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 108; renumbered title I, §106, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §§113, 141(1), (2), (5), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 191, 199, 200; renumbered §105 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§106, 113(a)(1)(A), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3069, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §113, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 805; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §114, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3465; Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, §7065(a), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4022.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(7)(C)(i)(III), (V), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part E of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part E (§670 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of this title. Title V of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§701 et seq.) of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(7)(C)(i)(III), (VI), (iii), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(7)(D)(v), (G)(ii), means Pub. L. 93–247, Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 4, known as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which is classified principally to subchapters I (§5101 et seq.) and III (§5116 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 105 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 104 and is classified to section 5105 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–271 added par. (7).

2010—Pub. L. 111–320, §114(1), substituted "States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations," for "States" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(A), substituted "entities that are States, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or" for "States," and "such entities" for "such agencies or organizations" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(B)(i), substituted "this subsection" for "this section" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(B)(ii), inserted "health care," before "medicine,", "child care," before "and other relevant fields,", and "and neglect" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(B)(iii), inserted a comma after "youth".

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(B)(iv), substituted "enhance linkages among" for "support the enhancement of linkages between", "entities providing physical and mental health services, community resources, and developmental disability agencies, to improve screening, forensic diagnosis, and health and developmental evaluations, and for partnerships" for "including physical and mental health services, to improve forensic diagnosis and health evaluations and for innovative partnerships", and "support the coordinated use of" for "offer creative approaches to using".

Subsec. (a)(1)(E) to (M). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(B)(v) to (xi), added subpars. (E), (H), and (M), redesignated former subpars. (E) to (J) as (F), (G), and (I) to (L), respectively, in subpar. (J), substituted "other public and private welfare agencies, and agencies that provide early intervention services" for "and other public and private welfare agencies", and, in subpar. (L), substituted "infants or toddlers with disabilities" for "disabled infants" in two places.

Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(C), substituted "when" for "where".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(D), inserted ", leadership," after "mutual support".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(E), (F), struck out subpar. (A) designation and heading "In general" and struck out "in not more than 10 States" after "public and private entities".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(G), in heading, substituted "among" for "between" and "substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and domestic violence service" for "and developmental disabilities" and, in text, substituted "among" for "between", "mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and domestic violence service agencies, and entities that carry out community-based programs, for" for "mental health, and developmental disabilities agencies, for", and "ensure" for "help assure".

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(2)(H), added par. (6).

Subsec. (b)(4)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(3)(A), substituted "victims of child abuse or neglect" for "neglected or abused".

Subsec. (b)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(3)(B), substituted "child abuse and neglect" for "abuse or neglect".

Subsec. (b)(4)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(3)(B), (C), substituted "has been a victim of child abuse or neglect" for "has been neglected or abused" and "possibility of child abuse and neglect" for "possibility of abuse or neglect".

Subsec. (b)(4)(D). Pub. L. 111–320, §114(3)(D), substituted "grantee is an" for "grantee is a" in introductory provisions.

2003—Pub. L. 108–36, §113(d), substituted "Grants to States and public or private agencies and organizations" for "Grants to public agencies and nonprofit private organizations for demonstration programs and projects" as section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(2), in introductory provisions, inserted "States," after "contracts with," and struck out "nonprofit" after "private" and "time limited, demonstration" after "organizations) for".

Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(1), substituted "Grants for" for "Demonstration" in heading.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(3)(A), struck out "nonprofit" after "public or private" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(3)(B), substituted "law enforcement, judiciary, social work and child protection, education, and other relevant fields, or individuals such as court appointed special advocates (CASAs) and guardian ad litem," for "law, education, social work, and other relevant fields".

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(3)(C), substituted "children, youth and family service organizations in order to prevent child abuse and neglect;" for "nonprofit children, youth and family service organizations in order to prevent child abuse and neglect through collaborative analysis of current recruitment, selection, and training programs and development of model programs for dissemination and replication nationally; and".

Subsec. (a)(1)(D) to (J). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(3)(D), (E), added subpars. (D) to (J).

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(5), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(6), substituted "organizations" for "nonprofit organizations (such as Parents Anonymous)".

Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(4), redesignated par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(7), added par. heading and struck out former heading "Other innovative programs and projects", redesignated subpar. (B) as (A), substituted "In general" for "Kinship care" in subpar. heading, and struck out "nonprofit" before "entities" and former subpars. (A) and (C), which related, respectively, to general issues of awarding grants and grants to promote safe, family-friendly physical environments for visitation and exchange.

Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(4), redesignated par. (3) as (4).

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(a)(8), added par. (5).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(b)(1), substituted "subsection (a)" for "subsection (b)" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(b)(2)–(4), added par. (3), redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (1) and (2), respectively, and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "Projects which provide educational identification, prevention, and treatment services in cooperation with preschool and elementary and secondary schools."

Subsec. (b)(4)(D). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(b)(5), struck out "nonprofit" before "acute care hospital" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–36, §113(c), struck out "demonstration" before "projects" in first sentence, inserted "or contract" after "or as a separate grant" in second sentence, and inserted at end "In the case of an evaluation performed by the recipient of a grant, the Secretary shall make available technical assistance for the evaluation, where needed, including the use of a rigorous application of scientific evaluation techniques."

1996—Pub. L. 104–235, §106(1), struck out "or service" after "demonstration" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235, §106(2), amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text consisted of pars. (1) and (2) which related to general authority of Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts for demonstration or service programs and projects and to evaluate the effectiveness of those demonstration projects.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–235, §106(3), (4), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and pars. (3) to (7) thereof as (1) to (5), respectively, struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which related to training programs and other innovative programs, respectively, and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: "The Secretary shall, directly or through grants or contracts with public or private nonprofit organizations under this section, provide for the establishment of resource centers—

"(1) serving defined geographic areas;

"(2) staffed by multidisciplinary teams of personnel trained in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect; and

"(3) providing advice and consultation to individuals, agencies, and organizations which request such services."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–235, §106(6), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295, §113(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–295, §141(5), substituted "disabilities" for "handicaps".

Pub. L. 102–295, §113(b)(1), inserted "culturally specific" before "instruction".

Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 102–295, §113(b)(2), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (c)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 102–295, §141(5), substituted "children with disabilities" for "children with handicaps".

Subsec. (c)(6)(B)(i). Pub. L. 102–295, §141(1), substituted "child with disabilities" for "handicapped child".

Subsec. (c)(6)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 102–295, §141(2), substituted "child with disabilities" for "child with handicaps".

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally, substituting provision authorizing grants to public agencies and nonprofit private organizations for demonstration or service programs and projects for provision directing the Secretary to ensure coordination among Federal programs related to child abuse and neglect. See section 5106e of this title.

1984—Pub. L. 98–457 substituted "among programs" for "between programs".

§5106a. Grants to States for child abuse or neglect prevention and treatment programs

(a) Development and operation grants

The Secretary shall make grants to the States, from allotments made under subsection (f) for each State that applies for a grant under this section, for purposes of assisting the States in improving the child protective services system of each such State in—

(1) the intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect;

(2)(A) creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary teams and interagency, intra-agency, interstate, and intrastate protocols to enhance investigations; and

(B) improving legal preparation and representation, including—

(i) procedures for appealing and responding to appeals of substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect; and

(ii) provisions for the appointment of an individual appointed to represent a child in judicial proceedings;

(3) case management, including ongoing case monitoring, and delivery of services and treatment provided to children and their families;

(4) enhancing the general child protective system by developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols, including the use of differential response;

(5) developing and updating systems of technology that support the program and track reports of child abuse and neglect from intake through final disposition and allow interstate and intrastate information exchange;

(6) developing, strengthening, and facilitating training including—

(A) training regarding research-based strategies, including the use of differential response, to promote collaboration with the families;

(B) training regarding the legal duties of such individuals;

(C) personal safety training for case workers; and

(D) training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development;

(7) improving the skills, qualifications, and availability of individuals providing services to children and families, and the supervisors of such individuals, through the child protection system, including improvements in the recruitment and retention of caseworkers;

(8) developing, facilitating the use of, and implementing research-based strategies and training protocols for individuals mandated to report child abuse and neglect;

(9) developing, implementing, or operating programs to assist in obtaining or coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions, including—

(A) existing social and health services;

(B) financial assistance;

(C) services necessary to facilitate adoptive placement of any such infants who have been relinquished for adoption; and

(D) the use of differential response in preventing child abuse and neglect;

(10) developing and delivering information to improve public education relating to the role and responsibilities of the child protection system and the nature and basis for reporting suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect, including the use of differential response;

(11) developing and enhancing the capacity of community-based programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between parents and professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect at the neighborhood level;

(12) supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration between the child protection system and the juvenile justice system for improved delivery of services and treatment, including methods for continuity of treatment plan and services as children transition between systems;

(13) supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration among public health agencies, agencies in the child protective service system, and agencies carrying out private community-based programs—

(A) to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment services (including linkages with education systems), and the use of differential response; and

(B) to address the health needs, including mental health needs, of children identified as victims of child abuse or neglect;,¹ including supporting prompt, comprehensive health and developmental evaluations for children who are the subject of substantiated child maltreatment reports; or

(14) developing and implementing procedures for collaboration among child protective services, domestic violence services, and other agencies in—

(A) investigations, interventions, and the delivery of services and treatment provided to children and families, including the use of differential response, where appropriate; and

(B) the provision of services that assist children exposed to domestic violence, and that also support the caregiving role of their nonabusing parents.

(b) Eligibility requirements

(1) State plan

(A) In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary a State plan that specifies the areas of the child protective services system described in subsection (a) that the State will address with amounts received under the grant.

(B) Duration of plan

Each State plan shall—

(i) remain in effect for the duration of the State's participation under this section; and

(ii) be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary by the State to reflect changes in the State's strategies and programs under this section.

(C) Additional information

The State shall provide notice to the Secretary—

(i) of any substantive changes, including any change to State law or regulations, relating to the prevention of child abuse and neglect that may affect the eligibility of the State under this section; and

(ii) of any significant changes in how funds provided under this section are used to support activities described in this section, which may differ from the activities described in the current State application.

(2) Contents

A State plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a description of the activities that the State will carry out using amounts received under the grant to achieve the objectives of this subchapter, including—

(A) an assurance that the State plan, to the maximum extent practicable, is coordinated with the State plan under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq.] relating to child welfare services and family preservation and family support services;

(B) an assurance in the form of a certification by the Governor of the State that the State has in effect and is enforcing a State law, or has in effect and is operating a statewide program, relating to child abuse and neglect that includes—

(i) provisions or procedures for an individual to report known and suspected instances of child abuse and neglect, including a State law for mandatory reporting by individuals required to report such instances;

(ii) policies and procedures (including appropriate referrals to child protection service systems and for other appropriate services) to address the needs of infants born with and identified as being affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, including a requirement that health care providers involved in the delivery or care of such infants notify the child protective services system of the occurrence of such condition in such infants, except that such notification shall not be construed to—

(I) establish a definition under Federal law of what constitutes child abuse or neglect; or

(II) require prosecution for any illegal action;

(iii) the development of a plan of safe care for the infant born and identified as being affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms, or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to ensure the safety and well-being of such infant following release from the care of health care providers, including through—

(I) addressing the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the infant and affected family or caregiver; and

(II) the development and implementation by the State of monitoring systems regarding the implementation of such plans to determine whether and in what manner local entities are providing, in accordance with State requirements, referrals to and delivery of appropriate services for the infant and affected family or caregiver;

(iv) procedures for the immediate screening, risk and safety assessment, and prompt investigation of such reports;

(v) triage procedures, including the use of differential response, for the appropriate referral of a child not at risk of imminent harm to a community organization or voluntary preventive service;

(vi) procedures for immediate steps to be taken to ensure and protect the safety of a victim of child abuse or neglect and of any other child under the same care who may also be in danger of child abuse or neglect and ensuring their placement in a safe environment;

(vii) provisions for immunity from civil or criminal liability under State and local laws and regulations for individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect, or who otherwise provide information or assistance, including medical evaluations or consultations, in connection with a report, investigation, or legal intervention pursuant to a good faith report of child abuse or neglect;

(viii) methods to preserve the confidentiality of all records in order to protect the rights of the child and of the child's parents or guardians, including requirements ensuring that reports and records made and maintained pursuant to the purposes of this subchapter and subchapter III shall only be made available to—

(I) individuals who are the subject of the report;

(II) Federal, State, or local government entities, or any agent of such entities, as described in clause (ix);

(III) child abuse citizen review panels;

(IV) child fatality review panels;

(V) a grand jury or court, upon a finding that information in the record is necessary for the determination of an issue before the court or grand jury; and

(VI) other entities or classes of individuals statutorily authorized by the State to receive such information pursuant to a legitimate State purpose;

(ix) provisions to require a State to disclose confidential information to any Federal, State, or local government entity, or any agent of such entity, that has a need for such information in order to carry out its responsibilities under law to protect children from child abuse and neglect;

(x) provisions which allow for public disclosure of the findings or information about the case of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a child fatality or near fatality;

(xi) the cooperation of State law enforcement officials, court of competent jurisdiction, and appropriate State agencies providing human services in the investigation, assessment, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;

(xii) provisions requiring, and procedures in place that facilitate the prompt expungement of any records that are accessible to the general public or are used for purposes of employment or other background checks in cases determined to be unsubstantiated or false, except that nothing in this section shall prevent State child protective services agencies from keeping information on unsubstantiated reports in their casework files to assist in future risk and safety assessment;

(xiii) provisions and procedures requiring that in every case involving a victim of child abuse or neglect which results in a judicial proceeding, a guardian ad litem, who has received training appropriate to the role, including training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development, and who may be an attorney or a court appointed special advocate who has received training appropriate to that role (or both), shall be appointed to represent the child in such proceedings—

(I) to obtain first-hand, a clear understanding of the situation and needs of the child; and

(II) to make recommendations to the court concerning the best interests of the child;

(xiv) the establishment of citizen review panels in accordance with subsection (c);

(xv) provisions, procedures, and mechanisms—

(I) for the expedited termination of parental rights in the case of any infant determined to be abandoned under State law; and

(II) by which individuals who disagree with an official finding of child abuse or neglect can appeal such finding;

(xvi) provisions, procedures, and mechanisms that assure that the State does not require reunification of a surviving child with a parent who has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction—

(I) to have committed murder (which would have been an offense under section 1111(a) of title 18 if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States) of another child of such parent;

(II) to have committed voluntary manslaughter (which would have been an offense under section 1112(a) of title 18 if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States) of another child of such parent;

(III) to have aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit such murder or voluntary manslaughter;

(IV) to have committed a felony assault that results in the serious bodily injury to the surviving child or another child of such parent;

(V) to have committed sexual abuse against the surviving child or another child of such parent; or

(VI) to be required to register with a sex offender registry under section 20913(a) of title 34;

(xvii) an assurance that, upon the implementation by the State of the provisions, procedures, and mechanisms under clause (xvi), conviction of any one of the felonies listed in clause (xvi) constitute grounds under State law for the termination of parental rights of the convicted parent as to the surviving children (although case-by-case determinations of whether or not to seek termination of parental rights shall be within the sole discretion of the State);

(xviii) provisions and procedures to require that a representative of the child protective services agency shall, at the initial time of contact with the individual subject to a child abuse or neglect investigation, advise the individual of the complaints or allegations made against the individual, in a manner that is consistent with laws protecting the rights of the informant;

(xix) provisions addressing the training of representatives of the child protective services system regarding the legal duties of the representatives, which may consist of various methods of informing such representatives of such duties, in order to protect the legal rights and safety of children and families from the initial time of contact during investigation through treatment;

(xx) provisions and procedures for improving the training, retention, and supervision of caseworkers;

(xxi) provisions and procedures for referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.);

(xxii) provisions and procedures for requiring criminal background record checks that meet the requirements of section 471(a)(20) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20)) for prospective foster and adoptive parents and other adult relatives and non-relatives residing in the household;

(xxiii) provisions for systems of technology that support the State child protective service system described in subsection (a) and track reports of child abuse and neglect from intake through final disposition;

(xxiv) provisions and procedures requiring identification and assessment of all reports involving children known or suspected to be victims of sex trafficking (as defined in section 7102(10) ² of title 22); and

(xxv) provisions and procedures for training child protective services workers about identifying, assessing, and providing comprehensive services for children who are sex trafficking victims, including efforts to coordinate with State law enforcement, juvenile justice, and social service agencies such as runaway and homeless youth shelters to serve this population;

(C) an assurance that the State has in place procedures for responding to the reporting of medical neglect (including instances of withholding of medically indicated treatment from infants with disabilities who have life-threatening conditions), procedures or programs, or both (within the State child protective services system), to provide for—

(i) coordination and consultation with individuals designated by and within appropriate health-care facilities;

(ii) prompt notification by individuals designated by and within appropriate health-care facilities of cases of suspected medical neglect (including instances of withholding of medically indicated treatment from infants with disabilities who have life-threatening conditions); and

(iii) authority, under State law, for the State child protective services system to pursue any legal remedies, including the authority to initiate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, as may be necessary to prevent the withholding of medically indicated treatment from infants with disabilities who have life-threatening conditions;

(D) a description of—

(i) the services to be provided under the grant to individuals, families, or communities, either directly or through referrals aimed at preventing the occurrence of child abuse and neglect;

(ii) the training to be provided under the grant to support direct line and supervisory personnel in report taking, screening, assessment, decision making, and referral for investigating suspected instances of child abuse and neglect;

(iii) the training to be provided under the grant for individuals who are required to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect;

(iv) policies and procedures encouraging the appropriate involvement of families in decisionmaking pertaining to children who experienced child abuse or neglect;

(v) policies and procedures that promote and enhance appropriate collaboration among child protective service agencies, domestic violence service agencies, substance abuse treatment agencies, and other agencies in investigations, interventions, and the delivery of services and treatment provided to children and families affected by child abuse or neglect, including children exposed to domestic violence, where appropriate; and

(vi) policies and procedures regarding the use of differential response, as applicable;

(E) an assurance or certification that the programs or projects relating to child abuse and neglect carried out under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq.] comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph (1) and this paragraph;

(F) an assurance or certification that programs and training conducted under this subchapter address the unique needs of unaccompanied homeless youth, including access to enrollment and support services and that such youth are eligible for under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq., 670 et seq.] and meet the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.); and

(G) an assurance that the State, in developing the State plan described in paragraph (1), has collaborated with community-based prevention agencies and with families affected by child abuse or neglect.

Nothing in subparagraph (B) shall be construed to limit the State's flexibility to determine State policies relating to public access to court proceedings to determine child abuse and neglect, except that such policies shall, at a minimum, ensure the safety and well-being of the child, parents, and families.

(3) Limitation

With regard to clauses (vi) and (vii) of paragraph (2)(B), nothing in this section shall be construed as restricting the ability of a State to refuse to disclose identifying information concerning the individual initiating a report or complaint alleging suspected instances of child abuse or neglect, except that the State may not refuse such a disclosure where a court orders such disclosure after such court has reviewed, in camera, the record of the State related to the report or complaint and has found it has reason to believe that the reporter knowingly made a false report.

(4) Definitions

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) the term "near fatality" means an act that, as certified by a physician, places the child in serious or critical condition; and

(B) the term "serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.

(c) Citizen review panels

(1) Establishment

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each State to which a grant is made under this section shall establish not less than 3 citizen review panels.

(B) Exceptions

(i) Establishment of panels by States receiving minimum allotment

A State that receives the minimum allotment of $175,000 under section 5116b(b)(1)(A) of this title for a fiscal year shall establish not less than 1 citizen review panel.

(ii) Designation of existing entities

A State may designate as panels for purposes of this subsection one or more existing entities established under State or Federal law, such as child fatality panels or foster care review panels, if such entities have the capacity to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (4) and the State ensures that such entities will satisfy such requirements.

(2) Membership

Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be composed of volunteer members who are broadly representative of the community in which such panel is established, including members who have expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, and may include adult former victims of child abuse or neglect.

(3) Meetings

Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall meet not less than once every 3 months.

(4) Functions

(A) In general

Each panel established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, by examining the policies, procedures, and practices of State and local agencies and where appropriate, specific cases, evaluate the extent to which State and local child protection system agencies are effectively discharging their child protection responsibilities in accordance with—

(i) the State plan under subsection (b);

(ii) the child protection standards set forth in subsection (b); and

(iii) any other criteria that the panel considers important to ensure the protection of children, including—

(I) a review of the extent to which the State and local child protective services system is coordinated with the foster care and adoption programs established under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.); and

(II) a review of child fatalities and near fatalities (as defined in subsection (b)(4)).

(B) Confidentiality

(i) In general

The members and staff of a panel established under paragraph (1)—

(I) shall not disclose to any person or government official any identifying information about any specific child protection case with respect to which the panel is provided information; and

(II) shall not make public other information unless authorized by State statute.

(ii) Civil sanctions

Each State that establishes a panel pursuant to paragraph (1) shall establish civil sanctions for a violation of clause (i).

(C) Public outreach

Each panel shall provide for public outreach and comment in order to assess the impact of current procedures and practices upon children and families in the community and in order to meet its obligations under subparagraph (A).

(5) State assistance

Each State that establishes a panel pursuant to paragraph (1)—

(A) shall provide the panel access to information on cases that the panel desires to review if such information is necessary for the panel to carry out its functions under paragraph (4); and

(B) shall provide the panel, upon its request, staff assistance for the performance of the duties of the panel.

(6) Reports

Each panel established under paragraph (1) shall prepare and make available to the State and the public, on an annual basis, a report containing a summary of the activities of the panel and recommendations to improve the child protection services system at the State and local levels. Not later than 6 months after the date on which a report is submitted by the panel to the State, the appropriate State agency shall submit a written response to State and local child protection systems and the citizen review panel that describes whether or how the State will incorporate the recommendations of such panel (where appropriate) to make measurable progress in improving the State and local child protective system.

(d) Annual State data reports

Each State to which a grant is made under this section shall annually work with the Secretary to provide, to the maximum extent practicable, a report that includes the following:

(1) The number of children who were reported to the State during the year as victims of child abuse or neglect.

(2) Of the number of children described in paragraph (1), the number with respect to whom such reports were—

(A) substantiated;

(B) unsubstantiated; or

(C) determined to be false.

(3) Of the number of children described in paragraph (2)—

(A) the number that did not receive services during the year under the State program funded under this section or an equivalent State program;

(B) the number that received services during the year under the State program funded under this section or an equivalent State program; and

(C) the number that were removed from their families during the year by disposition of the case.

(4) The number of families that received preventive services, including use of differential response, from the State during the year.

(5) The number of deaths in the State during the year resulting from child abuse or neglect.

(6) Of the number of children described in paragraph (5), the number of such children who were in foster care.

(7)(A) The number of child protective service personnel responsible for the—

(i) intake of reports filed in the previous year;

(ii) screening of such reports;

(iii) assessment of such reports; and

(iv) investigation of such reports.

(B) The average caseload for the workers described in subparagraph (A).

(8) The agency response time with respect to each such report with respect to initial investigation of reports of child abuse or neglect.

(9) The response time with respect to the provision of services to families and children where an allegation of child abuse or neglect has been made.

(10) For child protective service personnel responsible for intake, screening, assessment, and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports in the State—

(A) information on the education, qualifications, and training requirements established by the State for child protective service professionals, including for entry and advancement in the profession, including advancement to supervisory positions;

(B) data on the education, qualifications, and training of such personnel;

(C) demographic information of the child protective service personnel; and

(D) information on caseload or workload requirements for such personnel, including requirements for average number and maximum number of cases per child protective service worker and supervisor.

(11) The number of children reunited with their families or receiving family preservation services that, within five years, result in subsequent substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect, including the death of the child.

(12) The number of children for whom individuals were appointed by the court to represent the best interests of such children and the average number of out of court contacts between such individuals and children.

(13) The annual report containing the summary of the activities of the citizen review panels of the State required by subsection (c)(6).

(14) The number of children under the care of the State child protection system who are transferred into the custody of the State juvenile justice system.

(15) The number of children referred to a child protective services system under subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii).

(16) The number of children determined to be eligible for referral, and the number of children referred, under subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxi), to agencies providing early intervention services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.).

(17) The number of children determined to be victims described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxiv).

(18) The number of infants—

(A) identified under subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii);

(B) for whom a plan of safe care was developed under subsection (b)(2)(B)(iii); and

(C) for whom a referral was made for appropriate services, including services for the affected family or caregiver, under subsection (b)(2)(B)(iii).

(e) Annual report by Secretary

Within 6 months after receiving the State reports under subsection (d), the Secretary shall prepare a report based on information provided by the States for the fiscal year under such subsection and shall make the report and such information available to the Congress and the national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse and neglect.

(f) Allotments

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Fiscal year 2009 grant funds

The term "fiscal year 2009 grant funds" means the amount appropriated under section 5106h of this title for fiscal year 2009, and not reserved under section 5106h(a)(2) of this title.

(B) Grant funds

The term "grant funds" means the amount appropriated under section 5106h of this title for a fiscal year and not reserved under section 5106h(a)(2) of this title.

(C) State

The term "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(D) Territory

The term "territory" means Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(2) In general

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall make allotments to each State and territory that applies for a grant under this section in an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) $50,000; and

(B) an amount that bears the same relationship to any grant funds remaining after all such States and territories have received $50,000, as the number of children under the age of 18 in the State or territory bears to the number of such children in all States and territories that apply for such a grant.

(3) Allotments for decreased appropriation years

In the case where the grant funds for a fiscal year are less than the fiscal year 2009 grant funds, the Secretary shall ratably reduce each of the allotments under paragraph (2) for such fiscal year.

(4) Allotments for increased appropriation years

(A) Minimum allotments to States for increased appropriations years

In any fiscal year for which the grant funds exceed the fiscal year 2009 grant funds by more than $1,000,000, the Secretary shall adjust the allotments under paragraph (2), as necessary, such that no State that applies for a grant under this section receives an allotment in an amount that is less than—

(i) $100,000, for a fiscal year in which the grant funds exceed the fiscal year 2009 grant funds by more than $1,000,000 but less than $2,000,000;

(ii) $125,000, for a fiscal year in which the grant funds exceed the fiscal year 2009 grant funds by at least $2,000,000 but less than $3,000,000; and

(iii) $150,000, for a fiscal year in which the grant funds exceed the fiscal year 2009 grant funds by at least $3,000,000.

(B) Allotment adjustment

In the case of a fiscal year for which subparagraph (A) applies and the grant funds are insufficient to satisfy the requirements of such subparagraph (A), paragraph (2), and paragraph (5), the Secretary shall, subject to paragraph (5), ratably reduce the allotment of each State for which the allotment under paragraph (2) is an amount that exceeds the applicable minimum under subparagraph (A), as necessary to ensure that each State receives the applicable minimum allotment under subparagraph (A).

(5) Hold harmless

Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (4), except as provided in paragraph (3), no State or territory shall receive a grant under this section in an amount that is less than the amount such State or territory received under this section for fiscal year 2009.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §106, formerly §8, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 110; renumbered title I, §107, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; amended Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §114(a)–(c), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 192, 195; Pub. L. 102–586, §9(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5037; renumbered §106 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§107, 113(a)(1)(A), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3071, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §114(a)–(d), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 808–812; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §115, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3467; Pub. L. 114–22, title VIII, §802(b), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 263; Pub. L. 114–198, title V, §503(b), (c), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 729, 730; Pub. L. 115–424, §3(a), Jan. 7, 2019, 132 Stat. 5470.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (E), (F) and (c)(4)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Parts B and E of title IV of the Act are classified generally to part B (§620 et seq.) and part E (§670 et seq.), respectively, of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2)(B)(xxi) and (d)(16), is title VI of Pub. L. 91–230, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175. Part C of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§1431 et seq.) of chapter 33 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1400 of Title 20 and Tables.

Section 7102(10) of title 22, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xxiv), was redesignated section 7102(12) of title 22 by Pub. L. 115–427, §2(1), Jan. 9, 2019, 132 Stat. 5503.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(F), is Pub. L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, which is classified principally to chapter 119 (§11301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 11301 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 106 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 105 and is classified to section 5106 of this title.

Amendments

2019—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(vii). Pub. L. 115–424 amended cl. (vii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (vii) read as follows: "provisions for immunity from prosecution under State and local laws and regulations for individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect;".

2016—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 114–198, §503(b)(1), substituted "substance abuse" for "illegal substance abuse" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 114–198, §503(b)(2), substituted "substance abuse" for "illegal substance abuse" and inserted before semicolon at end "to ensure the safety and well-being of such infant following release from the care of health care providers, including through—

"(I) addressing the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the infant and affected family or caregiver; and

"(II) the development and implementation by the State of monitoring systems regarding the implementation of such plans to determine whether and in what manner local entities are providing, in accordance with State requirements, referrals to and delivery of appropriate services for the infant and affected family or caregiver".

Subsec. (d)(17). Pub. L. 114–198, §503(c)(1), added par. (17) relating to the number of infants described in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii) and (iii).

Subsec. (d)(18). Pub. L. 114–198, §503(c)(2), redesignated par. (17) relating to the number of infants described in subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii) and (iii) as (18).

2015—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xxiv), (xxv). Pub. L. 114–22, §802(b)(1), added cls. (xxiv) and (xxv).

Subsec. (d)(17). Pub. L. 114–22, §802(b)(2), added par. (17) relating to the number of children determined to be victims described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xxiv).

2010—Pub. L. 111–320, §115(a), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "child abuse and neglect" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(1), substituted "from allotments made under subsection (f) for" for "based on the population of children under the age of 18 in" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(2), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse and neglect".

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(3)(A), inserted ", intra-agency, interstate, and intrastate" after "interagency".

Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(3)(B), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse and neglect".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(4), inserted ", including the use of differential response" after "protocols".

Subsec. (a)(6)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(5)(A), inserted ", including the use of differential response," after "strategies".

Subsec. (a)(6)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(5)(B)–(D), in subpar. (B), struck out "and" at end, in subpar. (C), substituted "workers; and" for "workers;;", and added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (a)(8), (9). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(6)–(8), added par. (8), redesignated par. (10) as (9) and added subpar. (D), and struck out former pars. (8) and (9) which read as follows:

"(8) developing and facilitating training protocols for individuals mandated to report child abuse or neglect;

"(9) developing and facilitating research-based strategies for training for individuals mandated to report child abuse or neglect;".

Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(7), (9), redesignated par. (11) as (10) and inserted ", including the use of differential response" before semicolon at end. Former par. (10) redesignated (9).

Subsec. (a)(11). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(7), redesignated par. (12) as (11). Former par. (11) redesignated (10).

Subsec. (a)(12). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(7), (10), redesignated par. (13) as (12) and struck out "or" at end. Former par. (12) redesignated (11).

Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(7), (11), redesignated par. (14) as (13), substituted "supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration among public health agencies, agencies in the child protective service system, and agencies carrying out private community-based programs—" for "supporting and enhancing collaboration among public health agencies, the child protection system, and private community-based programs", inserted subpar. (A) designation before "to provide" and substituted "systems), and the use of differential response; and" for "systems) and", and inserted subpar. (B) designation before "to address" and substituted "victims of child abuse or neglect;" for "abused or neglected" and "; or" for period at end.

Subsec. (a)(14). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(b)(12), added par. (14). Former par. (14) redesignated (13).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which related to requirement that a State submit a plan at the time of the initial grant application and every 5 years thereafter and additional requirement to provide notice of substantive changes and significant changes in how funds have been used.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(H), substituted "subparagraph (B)" for "subparagraph (A)" in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(B), substituted "Contents" for "Coordination" in heading and, in introductory provisions, substituted "A State plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain a description of the activities that the State will carry out using amounts received under the grant to achieve the objectives of this subchapter, including—" for "A State plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be coordinated with the State plan under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act relating to child welfare services and family preservation and family support services, and shall contain an outline of the activities that the State intends to carry out using amounts received under the grant to achieve the purposes of this subchapter, including—".

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(B), added subpar. (A). Former subpar. (A) redesignated (B).

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(A), (C)(i), redesignated subpar. (A) as (B) and, in introductory provisions, substituted "Governor" for "chief executive officer" and "statewide" for "Statewide". Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C).

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(ii), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as follows: "provisions or procedures for the reporting of known and suspected instances of child abuse and neglect;".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(iii), in introductory provisions, inserted "with" after "born" and "or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder," after "drug exposure" and, in subcl. (I), inserted "or neglect" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(iv), inserted ", or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(v). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(v), inserted ", including the use of differential response," after "procedures".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(vi). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(vi), substituted "a victim of child abuse or neglect" for "the abused or neglected child" and "danger of child abuse or neglect" for "danger of abuse or neglect".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ix). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(vii), substituted "child abuse and neglect" for "abuse and neglect".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xi). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(viii), substituted "and neglect" for "or neglect".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xiii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(ix), in introductory provisions, substituted "a victim of child abuse or neglect" for "an abused or neglected child" and inserted "including training in early childhood, child, and adolescent development," after "to the role,".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xv)(II). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(x), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse or neglect".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xvi)(V), (VI). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(xii), added subcls. (V) and (VI).

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xviii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(xi), substituted "abuse or" for "abuse and".

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xxi). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(xiii), inserted "(20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.)" after "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" and struck out "and" at end.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xxii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(xiv), struck out "not later than 2 years after June 25, 2003," before "provisions" and inserted "that meet the requirements of section 471(a)(20) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20))" after "checks" and "and" at end.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(xxiii). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(C)(xv), added cl. (xxiii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(A), (D), redesignated subpar. (B) as (C), substituted "infants with disabilities who have" for "disabled infants with" wherever appearing, and in cl. (iii) substituted "life-threatening" for "life threatening". Former subpar. (C) redesignated (D).

Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(A), (E), redesignated subpar. (C) as (D) and added cls. (iv) to (vi). Former subpar. (D) redesignated (E).

Subsec. (b)(2)(E). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(A), (F)(i), redesignated subpar. (D) as (E) and inserted "(42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.)", which was translated as "[42 U.S.C. 620 et seq.]", after "part B of title IV of the Social Security Act".

Subsec. (b)(2)(F), (G). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(2)(F)(ii), (G), added subpars. (F) and (G).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(c)(3), substituted "paragraph (2)(B)" for "paragraph (2)(A)".

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(d)(1), inserted ", and may include adult former victims of child abuse or neglect" before period at end.

Subsec. (c)(4)(A)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(d)(2), inserted "(42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.)" after "Act".

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(1), substituted "as victims of child abuse or neglect" for "as abused or neglected".

Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(2), inserted ", including use of differential response," after "services".

Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(3), added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: "The number of child protective services workers responsible for the intake and screening of reports filed in the previous year."

Subsec. (d)(9). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(4), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse or neglect".

Subsec. (d)(10). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(5), added par. (10) and struck out former par. (10) which read as follows: "The number of child protective services workers responsible for intake, assessment, and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports relative to the number of reports investigated in the previous year."

Subsec. (d)(11). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(6), substituted "or neglect" for "and neglect".

Subsec. (d)(15), (16). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(e)(7), added pars. (15) and (16).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(f), inserted "and neglect" before period at end.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–320, §115(g), added subsec. (f).

2003—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(1), inserted ", including ongoing case monitoring," after "case management" and "and treatment" after "and delivery of services".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(2), substituted "developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols" for "improving risk and safety assessment tools and protocols, automation systems that support the program and track reports of child abuse and neglect from intake through final disposition and information referral systems".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(5), added par. (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(6), substituted "including—" and subpars. (A) to (C) for "opportunities and requirements for individuals overseeing and providing services to children and their families through the child protection system".

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(4), redesignated par. (5) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (8).

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(3), (7), added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: "developing, strengthening, and supporting child abuse and neglect prevention, treatment, and research programs in the public and private sectors;".

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(4), redesignated par. (6) as (8). Former par. (8) redesignated (9).

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(8), added par. (9) and struck out former par. (9) which related to programs to improve the provision of services for disabled infants with life-threatening conditions.

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(4), redesignated par. (8) as (9). Former par. (9) redesignated (12).

Subsec. (a)(10), (11). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(8), added pars. (10) and (11).

Subsec. (a)(12). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(4), (9), redesignated par. (9) as (12) and substituted a semicolon for period at end.

Subsec. (a)(13), (14). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(a)(10), added pars. (13) and (14).

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(A), substituted "Secretary—" for "Secretary", "(i) of any substantive changes; and" for "of any substantive changes", and "under this section; and" for "under this section." and added cl. (ii).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(C), inserted concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(ii), added cls. (ii) and (iii). Former cls. (ii) and (iii) redesignated (iv) and (vi), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(iii), inserted "risk and" before "safety assessment".

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (ii) as (iv). Former cl. (iv) redesignated (vii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(iv), added cl. (v). Former cl. (v) redesignated (viii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(vi), (vii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cls. (iii) and (iv) as (vi) and (vii), respectively. Former cls. (vi) and (vii) redesignated (x) and (xi), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(viii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (v) as (viii). Former cl. (viii) redesignated (xii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(viii)(II). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(v), substituted ", as described in clause (ix)" for ", having a need for such information in order to carry out its responsibilities under law to protect children from abuse and neglect".

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(ix). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(vi), added cl. (ix). Former cl. (ix) redesignated (xiii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(x) to (xii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cls. (vi) to (viii) as (x) to (xii), respectively. Former cls. (x) to (xii) redesignated (xiv) to (xvi), respectively.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xiii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(vii), inserted "who has received training appropriate to the role, and" after "guardian ad litem," and "who has received training appropriate to that role" after "advocate".

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (ix) as (xiii). Former cl. (xiii) redesignated (xvii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xiv). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (x) as (xiv).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xv). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(viii), struck out "to be effective not later than 2 years after October 3, 1996" before dash at end of introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (xi) as (xv).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xvi). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(ix)(I), struck out "to be effective not later than 2 years after October 3, 1996," after "mechanisms" in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (xii) as (xvi).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xvi)(IV). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(ix)(II), struck out "and" at end.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xvii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(x), substituted "clause (xvi)" for "clause (xii)" in two places.

Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(i), redesignated cl. (xiii) as (xvii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(A)(xviii) to (xxii). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(1)(B)(xi), added cls. (xviii) to (xxii).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(b)(2), substituted "With regard to clauses (vi) and (vii) of paragraph (2)(A)" for "With regard to clauses (v) and (vi) of paragraph (2)(A)".

Subsec. (c)(4)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(c)(1)(A)(i), in introductory provisions, substituted ", procedures, and practices" for "and procedures" and "State and local child protection system agencies" for "the agencies".

Subsec. (c)(4)(A)(iii)(I). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(c)(1)(A)(ii), substituted "State and local" for "State".

Subsec. (c)(4)(C). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(c)(1)(B), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(c)(2), substituted "State and the public" for "public" and inserted before period at end "and recommendations to improve the child protection services system at the State and local levels. Not later than 6 months after the date on which a report is submitted by the panel to the State, the appropriate State agency shall submit a written response to State and local child protection systems and the citizen review panel that describes whether or how the State will incorporate the recommendations of such panel (where appropriate) to make measurable progress in improving the State and local child protective system".

Subsec. (d)(13), (14). Pub. L. 108–36, §114(d), added pars. (13) and (14).

1996—Pub. L. 104–235 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally, revising and restating subsecs. (a) and (b), substituting provisions relating to citizen review panels for provisions relating to State program plan in subsec. (c), provisions relating to annual State data reports for provisions relating to waivers in subsec. (d), provisions relating to annual report by Secretary for provisions relating to reduction of funds in case of failure to obligate in subsec. (e), and striking out subsecs. (f) and (g) which related to child welfare services and compliance and education grants, respectively.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295, §114(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "The Secretary, through the Center, is authorized to make grants to the States for purposes of assisting the States in developing, strengthening, and carrying out child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment programs."

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–586 amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: "provide for methods to preserve the confidentiality of all records in order to protect the rights of the child and of the child's parents or guardians;".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–295, §114(b), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–295, §114(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–295, §114(c), which directed the amendment of subsec. (d) by substituting "subsection (a) of this section" for "this subsection" in provisions preceding subparagraph (A), was executed by making the substitution the second place that phrase appeared in introductory provisions of par. (1) of subsec. (d) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 102–295, §114(b)(1), redesignated subsecs. (d) to (f) as (e) to (g), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–198, title V, §503(c)(2), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 730, provided that the amendment made by section 503(c)(2) is effective on May 29, 2017.

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–22, title VIII, §802(a), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 263, provided that: "The amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) made by this section [amending this section and section 5106g of this title and provisions set out as a note under section 5101 of this title] shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [May 29, 2015]."

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §114(d), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 195, as amended by Pub. L. 103–171, §9(a), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1994, provided that: "The amendments described in subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section] are made upon the date of the enactment of this Act [May 28, 1992]. Such amendments take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year for which $40,000,000 or more is made available under subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii) of section 114 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act [section 5106h(a)(2)(B)(ii) of this title] (as amended by section 117 of this Act). Prior to such amendments taking effect, section 107(a) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act [subsec. (a) of this section], as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, continues to be in effect."

[Pub. L. 103–171, §9(b), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1994, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending section 114(d) of Pub. L. 102–295, set out above] take effect on September 30, 1993."]

Construction of 2016 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–198, title V, §503(e), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 731, provided that: "Nothing in this section [enacting section 5108 of this title, amending this section and section 5104 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note above], or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services or any other officer of the Federal Government to add new requirements to section 106(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)), as amended by this section."

Report

Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §114(e), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 812, required the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare and submit to Congress, not later than 2 years after June 25, 2003, a report describing the extent of State implementation of the policies and procedures required under section 5106a(b)(2)(B)(ii) of this title.

Congressional Findings

Pub. L. 102–586, §9(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5036, provided that: "The Congress finds that—

"(1) circumstances surrounding the death of a young boy named Adam Mann in New York City prompted a shocking documentary focusing on the inability of child protection services to protect suffering children;

"(2) the documentary described in paragraph (1) showed the serious need for systemic changes in our child welfare protection system;

"(3) thorough, coordinated, and comprehensive investigation will, it is hoped, lead to the prevention of abuse, neglect, or death in the future;

"(4) an undue burden is placed on investigation due to strict Federal and State laws and regulations regarding confidentiality;

"(5) while the Congress recognizes the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of records pertaining to child abuse, neglect, and death, often the purpose of confidentiality laws and regulations are [sic] defeated when they have the effect of protecting those responsible;

"(6) comprehensive and coordinated interagency communication needs to be established, with adequate provisions to protect against the public disclosure of any detrimental information need to be established [sic];

"(7) certain States, including Georgia, North Carolina, California, Missouri, Arizona, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Oregon, have taken steps to establish by statute interagency, multidisciplinary fatality review teams to fully investigate incidents of death believed to be caused by child abuse or neglect;

"(8) teams such as those described in paragraph (7) should be established in every State, and their scope of review should be expanded to include egregious incidents of child abuse and neglect before the child in question dies; and

"(9) teams such as those described in paragraph (7) will increase the accountability of child protection services."

¹ So in original.

² See References in Text note below.

§5106a–1. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–252, title IV, §401(b)(2), May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 672

Section, Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §107A, as added Pub. L. 101–226, §21, Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1937; amended Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §115(a), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 195, related to emergency child abuse prevention services grants.

§5106b. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §108, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3078

Section, Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §108, formerly §9, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 113; renumbered title I, §108, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(4), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765, related to technical assistance to States for child abuse prevention and treatment programs.

§5106c. Grants to States for programs relating to investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases

(a) Grants to States

The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General, is authorized to make grants to the States for the purpose of assisting States in developing, establishing, and operating programs designed to improve—

(1) the assessment and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect cases, including cases of suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child and the child's family;

(2) the assessment and investigation of cases of suspected child abuse-related fatalities and suspected child neglect-related fatalities;

(3) the investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation; and

(4) the assessment and investigation of cases involving children with disabilities or serious health-related problems who are suspected victims of child abuse or neglect.

(b) Eligibility requirements

In order for a State to qualify for assistance under this section, such State shall—

(1) fulfill the requirements of section 5106a(b) of this title;

(2) establish a task force as provided in subsection (c);

(3) fulfill the requirements of subsection (d);

(4) submit annually an application to the Secretary at such time and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary considers necessary, including an assurance that the State will—

(A) make such reports to the Secretary as may reasonably be required; and

(B) maintain and provide access to records relating to activities under subsections (a) and (b); and

(5) submit annually to the Secretary a report on the manner in which assistance received under this program was expended throughout the State, with particular attention focused on the areas described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a).

(c) State task forces

(1) General rule

Except as provided in paragraph (2), a State requesting assistance under this section shall establish or designate, and maintain, a State multidisciplinary task force on children's justice (hereinafter referred to as "State task force") composed of professionals with knowledge and experience relating to the criminal justice system and issues of child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities. The State task force shall include—

(A) individuals representing the law enforcement community;

(B) judges and attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect (including individuals involved with the defense as well as the prosecution of such cases);

(C) child advocates, including both attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates;

(D) health and mental health professionals;

(E) individuals representing child protective service agencies;

(F) individuals experienced in working with children with disabilities;

(G) parents;

(H) representatives of parents' groups;

(I) adult former victims of child abuse or neglect; and

(J) individuals experienced in working with homeless children and youths (as defined in section 11434a of this title).

(2) Existing task force

As determined by the Secretary, a State commission or task force established after January 1, 1983, with substantially comparable membership and functions, may be considered the State task force for purposes of this subsection.

(d) State task force study

Before a State receives assistance under this section, and at three year intervals thereafter, the State task force shall comprehensively—

(1) review and evaluate State investigative, administrative and both civil and criminal judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal; and

(2) make policy and training recommendations in each of the categories described in subsection (e).

The task force may make such other comments and recommendations as are considered relevant and useful.

(e) Adoption of State task force recommendations

(1) General rule

Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), before a State receives assistance under this section, a State shall adopt recommendations of the State task force in each of the following categories—

(A) investigative, administrative, and judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal, in a manner which reduces the additional trauma to the child victim and the victim's family and which also ensures procedural fairness to the accused;

(B) experimental, model, and demonstration programs for testing innovative approaches and techniques which may improve the prompt and successful resolution of civil and criminal court proceedings or enhance the effectiveness of judicial and administrative action in child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including the enhancement of performance of court-appointed attorneys and guardians ad litem for children, and which also ensure procedural fairness to the accused; and

(C) reform of State laws, ordinances, regulations, protocols, and procedures to provide comprehensive protection for children, which may include those children involved in reports of child abuse or neglect with a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal, from child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, while ensuring fairness to all affected persons.

(2) Exemption

As determined by the Secretary, a State shall be considered to be in fulfillment of the requirements of this subsection if—

(A) the State adopts an alternative to the recommendations of the State task force, which carries out the purpose of this section, in each of the categories under paragraph (1) for which the State task force's recommendations are not adopted; or

(B) the State is making substantial progress toward adopting recommendations of the State task force or a comparable alternative to such recommendations.

(f) Funds available

For grants under this section, the Secretary shall use the amount authorized by section 20104 of title 34.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §107, formerly §10, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 113; renumbered title I, §109, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(5), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §116(a), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 195; renumbered §107 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §113(a)(1)(B), (2), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §115, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §116, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3474.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 107 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 106 and is classified to section 5106a of this title.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(1)(A), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

"(1) the handling of child abuse and neglect cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the child victim;

"(2) the handling of cases of suspected child abuse or neglect related fatalities;".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(1)(B), substituted "including" for "particularly".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(1)(C), substituted "the assessment and investigation" for "the handling" and "suspected victims of child abuse" for "victims of abuse".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(2), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 5106a(b) of this title.

Subsec. (c)(1)(I), (J). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(3), added subpars. (I) and (J).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(4), substituted "including" for "particularly" and inserted "intrastate," before "interstate".

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(5)(A), substituted "including" for "particularly" and inserted "intrastate," before "interstate,".

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(5)(B), inserted a comma after "model" and substituted "improve the prompt and successful resolution of civil and criminal court proceedings or enhance the effectiveness of judicial and administrative action in child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including the enhancement of performance of court-appointed attorneys and guardians ad litem for children" for "improve the rate of successful prosecution or enhance the effectiveness of judicial and administrative action in child abuse cases, particularly child sexual abuse cases".

Subsec. (e)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(5)(C), inserted a comma after "protocols" and ", which may include those children involved in reports of child abuse or neglect with a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as intrastate, interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal," after "protection for children" and substituted "from child abuse and neglect" for "from abuse" and "including" for "particularly".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–320, §116(6), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 20104 of title 34.

2003—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–36 added par. (4).

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235, §113(a)(2)(A), substituted "The Secretary, in consultation" for "The Secretary, acting through the Center and in consultation" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §113(a)(2)(B), substituted "section" for "sections".

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §113(a)(2)(C), inserted comma after "maintain" in introductory provisions and semicolon at end of subpar. (F).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §113(a)(2)(D), inserted "and" at end.

1992—Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(1), in section catchline inserted "and neglect" after "child abuse".

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(2), added pars. (1) to (3) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

"(1) the handling of child abuse cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the child victim; and

"(2) the investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(3)(A), substituted "sections 5106a(b) of this title" for "sections 5106a(b) and 5106a(e) of this title or receive a waiver under section 5106a(c) of this title".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(3)(C), inserted "annually" after "submit".

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(3)(B), (D), added par. (5).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(4), in introductory provisions inserted ", and maintain" after "designate" and substituted "child physical abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and child maltreatment related fatalities" for "child abuse", in subpar. (B) substituted "judges and attorneys involved in both civil and criminal court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect" for "judicial and legal officers", in subpar. (C) inserted ", including both attorneys for children and, where such programs are in operation, court appointed special advocates", and in subpar. (F) substituted "disabilities" for "handicaps;".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(5), in introductory provisions substituted "and at three year intervals thereafter, the State task force shall comprehensively" for "the State task force shall", in par. (1) substituted "both civil and criminal judicial handling of cases of child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal;" for "judicial handling of cases of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse; and" and in par. (2) inserted "policy and training" before "recommendations".

Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(6)(A), substituted "child abuse and neglect, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as cases involving suspected child maltreatment related fatalities and cases involving a potential combination of jurisdictions, such as interstate, Federal-State, and State-Tribal, in a manner which reduces the additional trauma to the child victim and the victim's family" for "child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse cases, in a manner which reduces the additional trauma to the child victim".

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(6)(B), which directed substitution of "improve the prompt and successful resolution of civil and criminal court proceedings or enhance the effectiveness of judicial and administrative action in child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including the enhancement of performance of court-appointed attorneys and guardians ad litem for children" for "improve the rate" and all that followed through "abuse cases", could not be executed because the phrase "abuse cases" appeared twice. See 2010 Amendment note above.

Subsec. (e)(1)(C). Pub. L. 102–295, §116(a)(6)(C), inserted ", protocols" after "regulations" and "and exploitation" after "sexual abuse".

1989—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(5), made technical amendments to references to section 5106a of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

§5106d. Miscellaneous requirements relating to assistance

(a) Construction of facilities

(1) Restriction on use of funds

Assistance provided under this subchapter and subchapter III may not be used for construction of facilities.

(2) Lease, rental, or repair

The Secretary may authorize the use of funds received under this subchapter and subchapter III—

(A) where adequate facilities are not otherwise available, for the lease or rental of facilities; or

(B) for the repair or minor remodeling or alteration of existing facilities.

(b) Geographical distribution

The Secretary shall establish criteria designed to achieve equitable distribution of assistance under this subchapter and subchapter III among the States, among geographic areas of the Nation, and among rural and urban areas of the Nation. To the extent possible, the Secretary shall ensure that the citizens of each State receive assistance from at least one project under this subchapter and subchapter III.

(c) Limitation

No funds appropriated for any grant or contract pursuant to authorizations made in this subchapter and subchapter III may be used for any purpose other than that for which such funds were authorized to be appropriated.

(d) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should encourage all States and public and private entities that receive assistance under this subchapter to—

(1) ensure that children and families with limited English proficiency who participate in programs under this subchapter are provided with materials and services through such programs in an appropriate language other than English; and

(2) ensure that individuals with disabilities who participate in programs under this subchapter are provided with materials and services through such programs that are appropriate to their disabilities.

(e) Annual report

A State that receives funds under section 5106a(a) of this title shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report describing the manner in which funds provided under this subchapter and subchapter III, alone or in combination with other Federal funds, were used to address the purposes and achieve the objectives of section 5106a of this title.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §108, formerly §11, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 115; renumbered title I, §110, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; renumbered §108 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§109, 113(a)(1)(B), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3078, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §116, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §117, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3475.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 108 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5106b of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–235.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–320 amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should encourage all States and public and private agencies or organizations that receive assistance under this subchapter to ensure that children and families with limited English proficiency who participate in programs under this subchapter are provided materials and services under such programs in an appropriate language other than English."

2003—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 108–36 added subsecs. (d) and (e).

1996—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 104–235 redesignated subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (c). Text read as follows: "The Secretary, in consultation with the task force and the board, shall ensure that a majority share of assistance under this subchapter and subchapters III and V of this chapter is available for discretionary research and demonstration grants."

§5106e. Coordination of child abuse and neglect programs

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations and make such arrangements as may be necessary or appropriate to ensure that there is effective coordination among programs related to child abuse and neglect under this subchapter and subchapter III and other such programs which are assisted by Federal funds.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §109, formerly §12, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 116; renumbered title I, §111, Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764; renumbered §109, Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §113(a)(1)(B), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3079.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 109 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 107 and is classified to section 5106c of this title.

§5106f. Reports

(a) Coordination efforts

Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on efforts to coordinate the objectives and activities of agencies and organizations that are responsible for programs and activities related to child abuse and neglect. Not later than 3 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to those committees a second report on such efforts during the 3-year period following December 20, 2010. Not later than 5 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to those committees a third report on such efforts during the 5-year period following December 20, 2010.

(b) Effectiveness of State programs and technical assistance

Not later than 2 years after December 20, 2010, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report evaluating the effectiveness of programs receiving assistance under section 5106a of this title in achieving the objectives of section 5106a of this title.

(c) Study and report relating to citizen review panels

(1) In general

The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the effectiveness of citizen review panels, established under section 5106a(c) of this title, in achieving the stated function of such panels under section 5106a(c)(4)(A) of this title of—

(A) examining the policies, procedures, and practices of State and local child protection agencies; and

(B) evaluating the extent to which such State and local child protection agencies are fulfilling their child protection responsibilities, as described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 5106a(c)(4)(A) of this title.

(2) Content of study

The study described in paragraph (1) shall be completed in a manner suited to the unique design of citizen review panels, including consideration of the variability among the panels within and between States. The study shall include the following:

(A) Data describing the membership, organizational structure, operation, and administration of all citizen review panels and the total number of such panels in each State.

(B) A detailed summary of the extent to which collaboration and information-sharing occurs between citizen review panels and State child protective services agencies or any other entities or State agencies. The summary shall include a description of the outcomes that result from collaboration and information sharing.

(C) Evidence of the adherence and responsiveness to the reporting requirements under section 5106a(c)(6) of this title by citizen review panels and States.

(3) Report

Not later than 2 years after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).

(d) Study and report relating to immunity from prosecution for professional consultation in suspected and known instances of child abuse and neglect

(1) Study

The Secretary shall complete a study, in consultation with experts in the provision of healthcare, law enforcement, education, and local child welfare administration, that examines how provisions for immunity from prosecution under State and local laws and regulations facilitate and inhibit individuals cooperating, consulting, or assisting in making good faith reports, including mandatory reports, of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect.

(2) Report

Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2010, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report that contains the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1) and any recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes the Secretary determines appropriate. Such report may be submitted electronically.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §110, formerly §13, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 116; renumbered title I, §112, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(6), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765; renumbered §110 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §113(a)(1)(B), (3), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §118, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 813; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §118, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3475.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 110 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 108 and is classified to section 5106d of this title.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §118(a), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which required the Secretary to submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a biennial report on efforts to coordinate the objectives and activities of agencies and organizations which are responsible for programs and activities related to child abuse and neglect.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–320, §118(a), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Not later than two years after the first fiscal year for which funds are obligated under section 10603a of this title, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report evaluating the effectiveness of assisted programs in achieving the objectives of section 5106c of this title."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–320, §118(b), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(1) Study.—The Secretary shall conduct a study by random sample of the effectiveness of the citizen review panels established under section 5106a(c) of this title.

"(2) Report.—Not later than 3 years after June 25, 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that contains the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1)."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–320, §118(c), added subsec. (d).

2003—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–36 added subsec. (c).

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–235 substituted "effectiveness of assisted programs in achieving the objectives of section 5106c of this title" for "effectiveness of—

"(1) assisted programs in achieving the objectives of section 5106c of this title; and

"(2) the technical assistance provided under section 5106b of this title".

1989—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(6), made technical amendments to references to sections 5106b and 5106c of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding sections of original act.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.

§5106f–1. Report concerning voluntary reporting system

Not later than April 30, 1993, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the measures being taken to assist States in implementing a voluntary reporting system for child abuse and neglect. Such reports shall contain information concerning the extent to which the child abuse and neglect reporting systems developed by the States are coordinated with the automated foster care and adoption reporting system required under section 679 of this title.

(Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §142, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 200.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1992, and not as part of title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act which comprises this subchapter.

§5106g. Definitions

(a) Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter—

(1) the term "Alaska Native" has the meaning given the term "Native" in section 1602 of title 43;

(2) the term "infant or toddler with a disability" has the meaning given the term in section 1432 of title 20;

(3) the term "Native Hawaiian" has the meaning given the term in section 7517 of title 20;

(4) the term "sexual abuse" includes—

(A) the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or

(B) the rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children; and

(5) the term "withholding of medically indicated treatment" means the failure to respond to the infant's life-threatening conditions by providing treatment (including appropriate nutrition, hydration, and medication) which, in the treating physician's or physicians' reasonable medical judgment, will be most likely to be effective in ameliorating or correcting all such conditions, except that the term does not include the failure to provide treatment (other than appropriate nutrition, hydration, or medication) to an infant when, in the treating physician's or physicians' reasonable medical judgment—

(A) the infant is chronically and irreversibly comatose;

(B) the provision of such treatment would—

(i) merely prolong dying;

(ii) not be effective in ameliorating or correcting all of the infant's life-threatening conditions; or

(iii) otherwise be futile in terms of the survival of the infant; or

(C) the provision of such treatment would be virtually futile in terms of the survival of the infant and the treatment itself under such circumstances would be inhumane.

(b) Special rule

(1) In general

For purposes of section 3(2) ¹ and subsection (a)(4), a child shall be considered a victim of "child abuse and neglect" and of "sexual abuse" if the child is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality involved, as being a victim of human trafficking.

(2) State option

Notwithstanding the definition of "child" in section 3(1),¹ a State may elect to define that term for purposes of the application of paragraph (1) to section 3(2) ¹ and subsection (a)(4) as a person who has not attained the age of 24.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §111, formerly §14, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 116; renumbered title I, §113, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(7), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765; renumbered §111 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§110, 113(a)(1)(B), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3078, 3079; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§119, 142(b), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3477, 3483; Pub. L. 114–22, title VIII, §802(c)(1), (3), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 264; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, §9215(o), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2170; Pub. L. 117–348, title I, §133, Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6221.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 3, referred to in subsec. (b), means section 3 of Pub. L. 93–247, which is set out as a Definitions note under section 5101 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 111 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 109 and is classified to section 5106e of this title.

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 117–348 substituted "a victim of 'child abuse and neglect' and of 'sexual abuse' if the child is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality involved, as being a victim of human trafficking." for "a victim of 'child abuse and neglect' and of 'sexual abuse' if the child is identified, by a State or local agency employee of the State or locality involved, as being a victim of sex trafficking (as defined in paragraph (10) of section 7102 of title 22) or a victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons described in paragraph (9)(A) of that section."

2015—Pub. L. 114–22, §802(c)(1), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading and added subsec. (b).

Subsec. (a)(5)(C). Pub. L. 114–22, §802(c)(3), substituted period for semicolon at end.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7517 of title 20.

2010—Pars. (1), (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(1), (2), redesignated pars. (7) and (8) as (1) and (2), respectively, and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:

"(1) the term 'child' means a person who has not attained the lesser of—

"(A) the age of 18; or

"(B) except in the case of sexual abuse, the age specified by the child protection law of the State in which the child resides;

"(2) the term 'child abuse and neglect' means, at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm;".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(1)–(3), redesignated par. (10) as (3), struck out "and" at end, and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: "the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services;".

Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(4), inserted "and" after semicolon at end.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(1), (5), redesignated par. (6) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: "except as provided in section 5106a(f) of this title, the term 'State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,;".

Pub. L. 111–320, §119(1), inserted "except as provided in section 5106a(f) of this title," after "(5)", inserted "and" after "Samoa,", and struck out "and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands" after "Northern Mariana Islands,".

Par. (6). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(5), redesignated par. (6) as (5).

Par. (6)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §119(2), substituted a semicolon for period at end.

Pars. (7) to (11). Pub. L. 111–320, §142(b)(1), (2), redesignated pars. (7), (8), and (10) as (1), (2), and (3), respectively, and struck out pars. (9) and (11) which read as follows:

"(9) the terms 'Indian', 'Indian tribe', and 'tribal organization' have the meanings given the terms in section 450b of title 25;"

"(11) the term 'unaccompanied homeless youth' means an individual who is described in paragraphs (2) and (6) of section 11434a of this title."

Pub. L. 111–320, §119(3), added pars. (7) to (11).

1996—Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(1), (2)(A), redesignated par. (3) as (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "the term 'board' means the Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect established under section 5102 of this title;".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(A), (3), redesignated par. (4) as (2) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "the term 'child abuse and neglect' means the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare, under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary;".

Pub. L. 104–235, §110(1) struck out par. (2) which read as follows: "the term 'Center' means the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect established under section 5101 of this title;".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(A), redesignated par. (6) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (1).

Par. (4). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(A), (4), redesignated par. (7) as (4) and in subpar. (B) inserted ", and in cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape" after "rape". Former par. (4) redesignated (2).

Par. (5). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(1), (2)(A), redesignated par. (8) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: "the term 'person who is responsible for the child's welfare' includes—

"(A) any employee of a residential facility; and

"(B) any staff person providing out-of-home care;".

Par. (6). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(B), redesignated par. (10) as (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (3).

Pars. (7), (8). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(A), redesignated pars. (7) and (8) as (4) and (5), respectively.

Par. (9). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(1), struck out par. (9) which read as follows: "the term 'task force' means the Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect established under section 5103 of this title; and".

Par. (10). Pub. L. 104–235, §110(2)(B), redesignated par. (10) as (6).

1989—Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(7)(A), made technical amendment to reference to this subchapter to reflect the insertion of title designations in the original act.

Pars. (1), (2), (9). Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(7)(B)–(D), made technical amendments to references to sections 5101, 5102, and 5103 of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding sections of original act.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–22 effective 2 years after May 29, 2015, see section 802(a) of Pub. L. 114–22, set out as a note under section 5106a of this title.

¹ See References in Text note below.

§5106h. Authorization of appropriations

(a) In general

(1) General authorization

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

(2) Discretionary activities

(A) In general

Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make available 30 percent of such amounts to fund discretionary activities under this subchapter.

(B) Demonstration projects

Of the amounts made available for a fiscal year under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make available not more than 40 percent of such amounts to carry out section 5105 of this title.

(b) Availability of funds without fiscal year limitation

The Secretary shall ensure that funds appropriated pursuant to authorizations in this subchapter shall remain available until expended for the purposes for which they were appropriated.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §112, formerly §15, as added Pub. L. 100–294, title I, §101, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 117; renumbered title I, §114, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §3(a)(1), (2), (b)(8), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 765; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §117(a), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 197; renumbered §112 and amended Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§111, 113(a)(1)(B), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3078, 3079; Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §117, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §120, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3477.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 112 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 110 and is classified to section 5106f of this title.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320 substituted "2010" for "2004" and "2011 through 2015" for "2005 through 2008".

2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §117(a), amended heading and text of par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001."

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §117(b), substituted "Secretary shall make" for "Secretary make" and "section 5105" for "section 5106a".

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235 amended heading and text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(1) Authorization.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter, except for section 5106a–1 of this title, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995.

"(2) Allocations.—

"(A) Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, $5,000,000 shall be available for the purpose of making additional grants to the States to carry out the provisions of section 5106a(g) of this title.

"(B) Of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year and available after compliance with subparagraph (A)—

"(i) 331/3 percent shall be available for activities under sections 5104, 5105, and 5106 of this title; and

"(ii) 662/3 percent of such amounts shall be made available in each such fiscal year for activities under sections 5106a and 5106b of this title."

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for purposes of carrying out this subchapter $48,000,000 for fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1989, 1990, and 1991. Of the funds appropriated for any fiscal year under this section, except as provided in the succeeding sentence (1)(A) $11,000,000 shall be available for activities under sections 5104, 5105, and 5106 of this title, and (B), $9,000,000 shall be available in each fiscal year for activities under sections 5106a(a) and 5106b of this title, giving special consideration to continued funding of child abuse and neglect programs or projects (previously funded by the Department of Health and Human Services) of national or regional scope and demonstrated effectiveness, (2) $5,000,000 shall be available in each such year for grants and contracts under section 5106(a) of this title, for identification, treatment, and prevention of sexual abuse, and (3) $5,000,000 shall be available in each such year for the purpose of making additional grants to the States to carry out the provisions of section 5106a(f) of this title. With respect to any fiscal year in which the total amount appropriated under this section is less than $30,000,000, no less than $20,000,000 of the funds appropriated in such fiscal year shall be available as provided in clause (1) in the preceding sentence and of the remainder, one-half shall be available as provided for in clause (2) and one-half as provided for in clause (3) in the preceding sentence."

1989—Pub. L. 101–126, §3(b)(8), made technical amendments to references to this subchapter and to sections 5104, 5105, 5106, 5106a, and 5106b of this title to reflect the insertion of title designations and renumbering of corresponding sections in original act.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §117(b), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 197, provided that: "Paragraph (2) of section 114(a) [42 U.S.C. 5106h(a)(2)], as amended by subsection (a), shall become effective on October 1 of the first fiscal year for which $30,000,000 or more would be available under subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii) of such section 114 (if such subsection were in effect), and until such fiscal year, the second and third sentences of section 114(a) [see 1992 Amendment note above] (as in effect prior to the amendment made by such subsection (a)) shall continue in effect."

§5106i. Rule of construction

(a) In general

Nothing in this subchapter and subchapter III shall be construed—

(1) as establishing a Federal requirement that a parent or legal guardian provide a child any medical service or treatment against the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian; and

(2) to require that a State find, or to prohibit a State from finding, child abuse or neglect in cases in which a parent or legal guardian relies solely or partially upon spiritual means rather than medical treatment, in accordance with the religious beliefs of the parent or legal guardian.

(b) State requirement

Notwithstanding subsection (a), a State shall, at a minimum, have in place authority under State law to permit the child protective services system of the State to pursue any legal remedies, including the authority to initiate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, to provide medical care or treatment for a child when such care or treatment is necessary to prevent or remedy serious harm to the child, or to prevent the withholding of medically indicated treatment from children with life threatening conditions. Except with respect to the withholding of medically indicated treatments from disabled infants with life threatening conditions, case by case determinations concerning the exercise of the authority of this subsection shall be within the sole discretion of the State.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §113, formerly §115, as added and renumbered §113, Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §§112, 113(a)(1)(C), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3078, 3079; amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §121, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3478.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–320 substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse or neglect".

§5107. Discretionary programs; authorization of appropriations

(a)(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, either directly, through grants to States and public and private, nonprofit organizations and agencies, or through jointly financed cooperative arrangements with States, public agencies, and other agencies and organizations, is authorized to provide for activities of national significance related to child abuse prevention and treatment and adoption reform, including operation of a national center to collect and disseminate information regarding child abuse and neglect, and operation of a national adoption information exchange system to facilitate the adoptive placement of children.

(2) The Secretary, in carrying out the provisions of this subsection, shall provide for the continued operation of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect in accordance with section 5101(a) of this title for each of the fiscal years 1982 and 1983.

(3) If the Secretary determines, in fiscal year 1982 or 1983, to carry out any of the activities described in section 5101(b) of this title, the Secretary shall carry out such activities through the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

(b) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Of the amounts appropriated under this subsection for any fiscal year, not less than $2,000,000 shall be available to carry out title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 [42 U.S.C. 5111 et seq.].

(Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, §610, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 488.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 95–266, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 205. Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 is classified generally to subchapter II (§5111 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 5101 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, and not as part of title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act which comprises this subchapter.

§5108. Monitoring and oversight

The Secretary shall conduct monitoring to ensure that each State that receives a grant under section 5106a of this title is in compliance with the requirements of section 5106a(b) of this title, which—

(1) shall—

(A) be in addition to the review of the State plan upon its submission under section 5106a(b)(1)(A) of this title; and

(B) include monitoring of State policies and procedures required under clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 5106a(b)(2)(B) of this title; and

(2) may include—

(A) a comparison of activities carried out by the State to comply with the requirements of section 5106a(b) of this title with the State plan most recently approved under section 629b of this title;

(B) a review of information available on the website of the State relating to its compliance with the requirements of section 5106a(b) of this title;

(C) site visits, as may be necessary to carry out such monitoring; and

(D) a review of information available in the State's Annual Progress and Services Report most recently submitted under section 1357.16 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

(Pub. L. 93–247, title I, §114, as added Pub. L. 114–198, title V, §503(d)(1), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 730.)

SUBCHAPTER II—ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES

§5111. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

(a) Findings

Congress finds that—

(1) on the last day of fiscal year 2009, some 424,000 children were living in temporary foster family homes or other foster care settings;

(2) most children in foster care are victims of child abuse or neglect by their biological parents and their entry into foster care brought them the additional trauma of separation from their homes and often their communities;

(3) on average, children entering foster care have more physical and mental health needs than do children in the general population, and some require intensive services because the children entering foster care—

(A) were born to mothers who did not receive prenatal care;

(B) were born with life-threatening conditions or disabilities;

(C) were born addicted to alcohol or other drugs; or

(D) have HIV/AIDS;

(4) each year, thousands of children in foster care, regardless of their age, the size of the sibling group they are a part of, their racial or ethnic status, their medical condition, or any physical, mental or emotional disability they may have, are in need of placement with permanent, loving, adoptive families;

(5)(A) States have made important strides in increasing the number of children who are placed in permanent homes with adoptive parents and in reducing the length of time children wait for such a placement; and

(B) many thousands of children, however, still remain in institutions or foster homes solely because of legal and other barriers to such a placement;

(6)(A) on the last day of fiscal year 2009, there were 115,000 children waiting for adoption;

(B) children waiting for adoption have had parental rights of all living parents terminated or the children have a permanency goal of adoption;

(C)(i) the average age of children adopted with public child welfare agency involvement during fiscal year 2009 was a little more than 6 years; and

(ii) the average age of children waiting for adoption on the last day of that fiscal year was a little more than 8 years of age and more than 30,000 of those children were 12 years of age or older; and

(D)(i) 25 percent of the children adopted with public child welfare agency involvement during fiscal year 2009 were African-American; and

(ii) 30 percent of the children waiting for adoption on the last day of fiscal year 2009 were African-American;

(7) adoption may be the best alternative for assuring the healthy development of children placed in foster care;

(8) there are qualified persons seeking to adopt such children who are unable to do so because of barriers to their placement and adoption; and

(9) in order both to enhance the stability of and love in the home environments of such children and to avoid wasteful expenditures of public funds, such children—

(A) should not have medically indicated treatment withheld from them; or

(B) be maintained in foster care or institutions when adoption is appropriate and families can be found for such children.

(b) Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to facilitate the elimination of barriers, including geographic barriers, to adoption and to provide permanent and loving home environments for children who would benefit from adoption, particularly older children, minority children, and children with special needs, including disabled infants with life-threatening conditions, by providing a mechanism to—

(1) promote quality standards for adoption services, pre-placement, post-placement, and post-legal adoption counseling, and standards to protect the rights of children in need of adoption;

(2) maintain an Internet-based national adoption information exchange system to—

(A) bring together children who would benefit from adoption and qualified prospective adoptive parents who are seeking such children;

(B) conduct national recruitment efforts in order to reach prospective parents for children awaiting adoption; and

(C) connect placement agencies, prospective adoptive parents, and adoptive parents to resources designed to reduce barriers to adoption, support adoptive families, and ensure permanency; and

(3) demonstrate expeditious ways to free children for adoption for whom it has been determined that adoption is the appropriate plan.

(Pub. L. 95–266, title II, §201, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 208; Pub. L. 98–457, title II, §201, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1755; Pub. L. 102–295, title IV, §401, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 211; Pub. L. 104–235, title II, §211, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3090; Pub. L. 108–36, title II, §201, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 818; Pub. L. 111–320, title III, §301(a), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3510.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(a)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which related to findings on children in institutions or foster homes.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(a)(2)(A), inserted "older children, minority children, and" after "particularly" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(a)(2)(B), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "maintain an Internet-based national adoption information exchange system to bring together children who would benefit from adoption and qualified prospective adoptive parents who are seeking such children, and conduct national recruitment efforts in order to reach prospective parents for children awaiting adoption; and".

2003—Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(A), added pars. (1) to (3) and struck out former pars. (1) to (3) which read as follows:

"(1) the number of children in substitute care increased by nearly 61 percent between 1986 and 1994, as our Nation's foster care population included more than 452,000 as of June 1994;

"(2) increasingly children entering foster care have complex problems which require intensive services;

"(3) an increasing number of infants are born to mothers who did not receive prenatal care, are born addicted to alcohol and other drugs, and exposed to infection with the etiologic agent for the human immunodeficiency virus, are medically fragile, and technology dependent;".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(A), (D), redesignated par. (5) as (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: "the welfare of thousands of children in institutions and foster homes and disabled infants with life-threatening conditions may be in serious jeopardy and some such children are in need of placement in permanent, adoptive homes;".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(D), redesignated par. (7) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (4).

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(B), (D), redesignated par. (8) as (6) and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows: "the majority of such children are of school age, members of sibling groups or disabled;".

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(D), redesignated par. (9) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (5).

Subsec. (a)(7)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(C), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "currently, 40,000 children are free for adoption and awaiting placement;".

Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(1)(D), redesignated pars. (8) to (10) as (6) to (8), respectively.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(2)(A), inserted ", including geographic barriers," after "barriers" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §201(2)(B), substituted "an Internet-based national" for "a national".

1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–235, §211(1)(A), substituted "61 percent between 1986 and 1994" for "50 percent between 1985 and 1990" and "452,000 as of June 1994" for "400,000 children at the end of June, 1990".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 104–235, §211(1)(B), substituted "legal" for "local".

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–235, §211(1)(C), amended par. (7) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (7) read as follows: "currently one-half of children free for adoption and awaiting placement are minorities;".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–235, §211(2), substituted "conditions, by providing a mechanism to—" for "conditions, by—

"(1) promoting model adoption legislation and procedures in the States and territories of the United States in order to eliminate jurisdictional and legal obstacles to adoption; and

"(2) providing a mechanism for the Department of Health and Human Services to—",

redesignated subpars. (A) to (C) of former par. (2) as pars. (1) to (3), respectively, and realigned margins.

1992—Pub. L. 102–295 amended section generally, designating existing provisions as subsecs. (a) and (b), inserting findings relating to the number of children in substitute care, foster care children with complex problems which require intensive services, infants born without prenatal care, addicted to alcohol or other drugs, or exposed to infection with the etiologic agent for human immunodeficiency virus, and percentage of children awaiting adoption who are minorities, inserting as purposes of this subchapter to provide a mechanism to recruit prospective parents for children awaiting adoption and to demonstrate expeditious ways to free children for adoption, and striking out as a purpose to provide a mechanism to coordinate with Federal departments and agencies to provide national adoption and foster care information data-gathering and analysis system.

1984—Pub. L. 98–457, §201(a), (b)(1), in provisions before par. (1), inserted "the welfare of thousands of children in institutions and foster homes and disabled infants with life-threatening conditions may be in serious jeopardy and that some such children are in need of placement in permanent, adoptive homes, that" and substituted "should not have medically indicated treatment withheld from them, nor be maintained in foster care" for "should not be maintained in foster care" and "children with special needs, including disabled infants with life-threatening conditions, by" for "children with special needs by".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 98–457, §201(b)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "providing a mechanism for the Department of Health and Human Services to (A) promote quality standards for adoption services (including pre-placement, post-placement, and post-adoption counseling and standards to protect the rights of children in need of adoption), and (B) provide for a national adoption and foster care information data gathering and analysis system and a national adoption information exchange system to bring together children who would benefit by adoption and qualified prospective adoptive parents who are seeking such children."

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Study of Interjurisdictional Adoption Issues

Pub. L. 105–89, title II, §202(c), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2126, provided that the Comptroller General of the United States would study and consider improvement of procedures and policies to facilitate the timely and permanent adoptions of children across State and county jurisdictions, examine various interjurisdictional adoption issues, and report the results of the study and improvement recommendation no later than 1 year after Nov. 19, 1997.

§5112. Repealed. Pub. L. 102–295, title IV, §402, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 213

Section, Pub. L. 95–266, title II, §202, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 208; Pub. L. 98–457, title II, §202, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1756, related to model adoption legislation and procedures.

§5113. Information and services

(a) In general

The Secretary shall establish in the Department of Health and Human Services an appropriate administrative arrangement to provide a centralized focus for planning and coordinating of all departmental activities affecting adoption and foster care and for carrying out the provisions of this subchapter. The Secretary shall make available such consultant services, on-site technical assistance and personnel, together with appropriate administrative expenses, including salaries and travel costs, as are necessary for carrying out such purposes, including services to facilitate the adoption of older children, minority children, and children with special needs, particularly infants and toddlers with disabilities who have life-threatening conditions, and services to families considering adoption of children with special needs.

(b) Required activities

In connection with carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies or organizations) an education and training program on adoption, and prepare, publish, and disseminate (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies and organizations) to all interested parties, public and private agencies and organizations (including, but not limited to, hospitals, health care and family planning clinics, and social services agencies), and governmental bodies, information and education and training materials regarding adoption, adoption assistance programs, and post-legal adoption services;

(2) conduct, directly or by grant or contract with public or private organizations, ongoing, extensive recruitment efforts on a national level, including efforts to promote the adoption of older children, minority children, and children with special needs, develop national public awareness efforts to unite children in need of adoption with appropriate adoptive parents, and establish a coordinated referral system of recruited families with appropriate State or regional adoption resources to ensure that families are served in a timely fashion;

(3) notwithstanding any other provision of law, provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies or organizations) for (A) the operation of a national adoption information exchange system (including only such information as is necessary to facilitate the adoptive placement of children, utilizing computers and data processing methods to assist in the location of children who would benefit by adoption and in the placement in adoptive homes of children awaiting adoption); and (B) the coordination of such system with similar State and regional systems;

(4) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies or organizations, including adoptive family groups and minority groups) for the provision of technical assistance in the planning, improving, developing, and carrying out of programs and activities relating to adoption, and to promote professional leadership training of minorities in the adoption field;

(5) encourage involvement of corporations and small businesses in supporting adoption as a positive family-strengthening option, including the establishment of adoption benefit programs for employees who adopt children;

(6) support the placement of children in kinship care arrangements, pre-adoptive, or adoptive homes;

(7) increase the effective use of public or private agencies (including community-based and other organizations) by States, or sectarian institutions, for the recruitment of potential adoptive and foster families and to provide assistance in the placement of children for adoption, including assisting in efforts to work with organizations that promote the placement of older children, minority children, and children with special needs;

(8) consult with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies in order to promote maximum coordination of the services and benefits provided under programs carried out by such departments and agencies with those carried out by the Secretary, and provide for the coordination of such aspects of all programs within the Department of Health and Human Services relating to adoption;

(9) maintain (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies or organizations) a National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption to—

(A) promote professional leadership development of minorities in the adoption field;

(B) provide training and technical assistance to service providers and State agencies to improve professional competency in the field of adoption and the adoption of children with special needs;

(C) facilitate the development of interdisciplinary approaches to meet the needs of children who are waiting for adoption and the needs of adoptive families; and

(D) identify best practices to reduce adoption disruption and termination;

(10) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with States, local government entities, tribal child welfare agencies, public or private licensed child welfare or adoption agencies or adoptive family groups and community-based organizations with experience in working with minority populations) for the provision of programs aimed at increasing the number of minority children (who are in foster care and have the goal of adoption) placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on recruitment of minority families—

(A) which may include such activities as—

(i) outreach, public education, or media campaigns to inform the public of the needs and numbers of such children;

(ii) recruitment of prospective adoptive families for such children, including developing and using procedures to notify family and relatives when a child enters the child welfare system;

(iii) expediting, where appropriate, the legal availability of such children;

(iv) expediting, where appropriate, the agency assessment of prospective adoptive families identified for such children;

(v) formation of prospective adoptive family support groups;

(vi) training of personnel of—

(I) public agencies;

(II) private child welfare and adoption agencies that are licensed by the State; and

(III) adoptive parents organizations and community-based organizations with experience in working with minority populations;

(vii) education and training of prospective adoptive or adoptive parents;

(viii) use of volunteers and adoptive parent groups; and

(ix) any other activities determined by the Secretary to further the purposes of this subchapter; and

(B) shall be subject to the condition that such grants or contracts may be renewed if documentation is provided to the Secretary demonstrating that appropriate and sufficient placements of such children have occurred during the previous funding period; and

(11) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with States, local government entities, or public or private licensed child welfare or adoption agencies) for the implementation of programs that are intended to increase the number of older children (who are in foster care and with the goal of adoption) placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on child-specific recruitment strategies, including—

(A) outreach, public education, or media campaigns to inform the public of the needs and numbers of older youth available for adoption;

(B) training of personnel in the special needs of older youth and the successful strategies of child-focused, child-specific recruitment efforts; and

(C) recruitment of prospective families for such children.

(c) Services for families adopting special needs children

(1) In general

The Secretary shall provide (directly or by grant to or contract with States, local government entities, public or private licensed child welfare or adoption agencies or adoptive family groups) for the provision of post legal adoption services for families who have adopted special needs children.

(2) Services

Services provided under grants made under this subsection shall supplement, not supplant, services from any other funds available for the same general purposes, including—

(A) individual counseling;

(B) group counseling;

(C) family counseling;

(D) case management;

(E) training public agency adoption personnel, personnel of private, child welfare and adoption agencies licensed by the State to provide adoption services, mental health services professionals, and other support personnel to provide services under this subsection;

(F) assistance to adoptive parent organizations;

(G) assistance to support groups for adoptive parents, adopted children, and siblings of adopted children;

(H) day treatment; and

(I) respite care.

(d) Improving placement rate of children in foster care

(1) In general

The Secretary shall make grants for improving State efforts to increase the placement of foster care children legally free for adoption, according to a pre-established plan and goals for improvement.

(2) Applications; technical and other assistance

(A) Applications

Each State entering into an agreement under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary that describes the manner in which the State will use funds during the 3 fiscal years subsequent to the date of the application to accomplish the purposes of this section. Such application shall be in a form and manner determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, consistent with the purpose of this subchapter. Each application shall contain information that—

(i) describes how the State plans to improve the placement rate of children in permanent homes;

(ii) describes the methods the State, prior to submitting the application, has used to improve the placement of older children, minority children, and children with special needs, who are legally free for adoption;

(iii) describes the evaluation the State plans to conduct, to identify the effectiveness of programs and methods of placement under this subsection, and submit to the Secretary; and

(iv) describes how the State plans to coordinate activities under this subsection with relevant activities under section 673 of title 42.

(B) Technical and other assistance

The Secretary shall provide, directly or by grant to or contract with public or private agencies or organizations—

(i) technical assistance and resource and referral information to assist State or local governments with termination of parental rights issues, in recruiting and retaining adoptive families, in the successful placement of older children, minority children, and children with special needs, and in the provision of pre- and post-placement services, including post-legal adoption services; and

(ii) other assistance to help State and local governments replicate successful adoption-related projects from other areas in the United States.

(C) Evaluation

The Secretary shall compile the results of evaluations submitted by States (described in subparagraph (A)(iii)) and submit a report containing the compiled results to the appropriate committees of Congress.

(3) Payments

(A) In general

Payments under this subsection shall begin during fiscal year 1989. Payments under this section during any fiscal year shall not exceed $1,000,000. No payment may be made under this subsection unless an amount in excess of $5,000,000 is appropriated for such fiscal year under section 5115(a) of this title.

(B) Reversion of unused funds

Any payment made to a State under this subsection which is not used by such State for the purpose provided in paragraph (1) during the fiscal year payment is made shall revert to the Secretary on October 1st of the next fiscal year and shall be used to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

(e) Elimination of barriers to adoptions across jurisdictional boundaries

(1) In general

The Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into contracts with, States, local government entities, public or private child welfare or adoption agencies, adoption exchanges, or adoption family groups to carry out initiatives to improve efforts to eliminate barriers to placing children for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries.

(2) Services to supplement not supplant

Services provided under grants made under this subsection shall supplement, not supplant, services provided using any other funds made available for the same general purposes including—

(A) developing a uniform homestudy standard and protocol for acceptance of homestudies between States and jurisdictions;

(B) developing models of financing cross-jurisdictional placements;

(C) expanding the capacity of all adoption exchanges to serve increasing numbers of children;

(D) developing training materials and training social workers on preparing and moving children across State lines; and

(E) developing and supporting initiative models for networking among agencies, adoption exchanges, and parent support groups across jurisdictional boundaries.

(Pub. L. 95–266, title II, §203, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 209; Pub. L. 98–457, title II, §203, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1756; Pub. L. 100–294, title II, §202, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 122; Pub. L. 102–295, title IV, §403, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 213; Pub. L. 104–235, title II, §212, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3090; Pub. L. 108–36, title II, §202, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 819; Pub. L. 111–320, title III, §301(b), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3511.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(1), substituted "older children, minority children, and children with special needs, particularly infants and toddlers with disabilities who have life-threatening conditions, and services to families considering adoption of children with special needs." for "children with special needs and particularly of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions and services to couples considering adoption of children with special needs."

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(A), substituted a comma for "and" after "regarding adoption" and inserted ", and post-legal adoption services" after "adoption assistance programs".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(B), inserted ", including efforts to promote the adoption of older children, minority children, and children with special needs" after "national level".

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(C), substituted "increase the effective use of" for "study the efficacy of States contracting with" and "by States," for the comma after "organizations)" and inserted a comma after "institutions" and ", including assisting in efforts to work with organizations that promote the placement of older children, minority children, and children with special needs" after "children for adoption".

Subsec. (b)(9)(D). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(D), added subpar. (D).

Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(E)(i), inserted "tribal child welfare agencies," after "local government entities," in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(10)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(E)(ii)(I), inserted ", including developing and using procedures to notify family and relatives when a child enters the child welfare system" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(10)(A)(vii) to (ix). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(2)(E)(ii)(II), (III), added cl. (vii) and redesignated former cls. (vii) and (viii) as (viii) and (ix), respectively.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(3)(A), struck out at end: "Grants funded by this section must include a strong evaluation component which outlines the innovations used to improve the placement of special needs children who are legally free for adoption, and the successes and failures of the initiative. The evaluations will be submitted to the Secretary who will compile the results of projects funded by this section and submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress. The emphasis of this program must focus on the improvement of the placement rate—not the aggregate number of special needs children placed in permanent homes. The Secretary, when reviewing grant applications shall give priority to grantees who propose improvements designed to continue in the absence of Federal funds."

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(3)(B)(i), inserted ", consistent with the purpose of this subchapter" after "by the Secretary", substituted "Each application shall contain information that—" for "Each application shall include verification of the placements described in paragraph (1).", and added cls. (i) to (iv).

Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(3)(B)(ii), inserted "older children, minority children, and" after "successful placement of".

Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(b)(3)(B)(iii), added subpar. (C).

2003—Pub. L. 108–36, §202(1), added section catchline and struck out former catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(2), inserted heading.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(A), inserted heading.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(B), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies or" in two places.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(C), struck out "nonprofit" before "organizations,".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(D), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies or organizations)".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(E), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies or organizations,".

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(F), substituted "support" for "study the nature, scope, and effects of".

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(G), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies (including".

Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(H), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies or organizations)" in introductory provisions and "and" at end.

Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(I), struck out "nonprofit" before "licensed child" in introductory provisions and before "child welfare and adoption" in subpar. (A)(vi)(II), and substituted "; and" for period at end.

Subsec. (b)(11). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(3)(J), added par. (11).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(4)(A), inserted heading.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(4)(A), (D), inserted heading and struck out "nonprofit" before "licensed child" in text.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(4)(B)–(D), inserted heading, realigned margins, struck out "nonprofit" before "child welfare" in subpar. (E), and added subpars. (H) and (I).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(5), inserted subsec., par., and subpar. headings and, in par. (2)(B), struck out "nonprofit" before "agencies" and realigned cl. margins.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–36, §202(6), added subsec. (e).

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235, §212(1), struck out at end "The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after May 28, 1992, prepare and submit to the committees of Congress having jurisdiction over such services reports, as appropriate, containing appropriate data concerning the manner in which activities were carried out under this subchapter, and such reports shall be made available to the public."

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 104–235, §212(2)(A), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: "continue to study the nature, scope, and effects of the placement of children in adoptive homes (not including the homes of stepparents or relatives of the child in question) by persons or agencies which are not licensed by or subject to regulation by any governmental entity;".

Subsec. (b)(7) to (10). Pub. L. 104–235, §212(2)(B), (C), added par. (7) and redesignated former pars. (7) to (9) as (8) to (10), respectively.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 104–235, §212(3), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), substituted "that describes the manner in which the State will use funds during the 3 fiscal years subsequent to the date of the application to accomplish the purposes of this section. Such application shall be" for "for each fiscal year", and added subpar. (B).

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295, §403(1), inserted ", on-site technical assistance" after "consultant services" and "including salaries and travel costs," after "administrative expenses," and inserted at end "The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after May 28, 1992, prepare and submit to the committees of Congress having jurisdiction over such services reports, as appropriate, containing appropriate data concerning the manner in which activities were carried out under this subchapter, and such reports shall be made available to the public."

Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 102–295, §403(2)(A), (B), added par. (2), redesignated former par. (2) as (1), and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "provide (after consultation with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, including the Bureau of the Census and appropriate State and local agencies) for the establishment and operation of a Federal adoption and foster care data-gathering and analysis system;".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–295, §403(2)(C), inserted ", and to promote professional leadership training of minorities in the adoption field".

Subsec. (b)(8), (9). Pub. L. 102–295, §403(2)(D), added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9).

1988—Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 100–294, §202(a), added par. (8).

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 100–294, §202(b), (c), added subsecs. (c) and (d).

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(a), (b)(1), substituted "Health and Human Services" for "Health, Education, and Welfare" and inserted provision requiring the Secretary to make available services to facilitate the adoption of children with special needs and particularly of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions and services to couples considering adoption of children with special needs.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(c)(1), substituted "this subchapter" for "subsection (a) of this section" in provisions preceding par. (1).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(c)(2), substituted "provide (after consultation with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, including the Bureau of the Census and appropriate State and local agencies) for the establishment and operation of a Federal adoption and foster care data-gathering and analysis system" for "provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations) for the establishment and operation of a national adoption and foster care data gathering and analysis system utilizing data collected by States pursuant to requirements of law".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(c)(3)(A), substituted "adoptive family groups and minority groups" for "parent groups".

Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(c)(3)(B), (C), added pars. (5) and (6). Former par. (5) redesignated (7).

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 98–457, §203(c)(3)(C), (D), redesignated former par. (5) as (7) and substituted "Health and Human Services" for "Health, Education, and Welfare".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Kinship Care

Pub. L. 105–89, title III, §303, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2129, provided that:

"(a) Report.—

"(1) In general.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

"(A) not later than June 1, 1998, convene the advisory panel provided for in subsection (b)(1) and prepare and submit to the advisory panel an initial report on the extent to which children in foster care are placed in the care of a relative (in this section referred to as 'kinship care'); and

"(B) not later than June 1, 1999, submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a final report on the matter described in subparagraph (A), which shall—

"(i) be based on the comments submitted by the advisory panel pursuant to subsection (b)(2) and other information and considerations; and

"(ii) include the policy recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the matter.

"(2) Required contents.—Each report required by paragraph (1) shall—

"(A) include, to the extent available for each State, information on—

"(i) the policy of the State regarding kinship care;

"(ii) the characteristics of the kinship care providers (including age, income, ethnicity, and race, and the relationship of the kinship care providers to the children);

"(iii) the characteristics of the household of such providers (such as number of other persons in the household and family composition);

"(iv) how much access to the child is afforded to the parent from whom the child has been removed;

"(v) the cost of, and source of funds for, kinship care (including any subsidies such as medicaid and cash assistance);

"(vi) the permanency plan for the child and the actions being taken by the State to achieve the plan;

"(vii) the services being provided to the parent from whom the child has been removed; and

"(viii) the services being provided to the kinship care provider; and

"(B) specifically note the circumstances or conditions under which children enter kinship care.

"(b) Advisory Panel.—

"(1) Establishment.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, shall convene an advisory panel which shall include parents, foster parents, relative caregivers, former foster children, State and local public officials responsible for administering child welfare programs, private persons involved in the delivery of child welfare services, representatives of tribal governments and tribal courts, judges, and academic experts.

"(2) Duties.—The advisory panel convened pursuant to paragraph (1) shall review the report prepared pursuant to subsection (a), and, not later than October 1, 1998, submit to the Secretary comments on the report."

§5114. Study and report of unlicensed or unregulated adoption placements

(a) In general

The Secretary shall provide for a study (the results of which shall be reported to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than eighteen months after June 25, 2003) designed to determine—

(1) the nature, scope, and effects of the interstate (and, to the extent feasible, intrastate) placement of children in adoptive homes (not including the homes of stepparents or relatives of the child in question) by persons or agencies.¹

(2) how interstate placements are being financed across State lines;

(3) recommendations on best practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions; and

(4) how State policies in defining special needs children differentiate or group similar categories of children.

(b) Dynamics of successful adoption

The Secretary shall conduct research (directly or by grant to, or contract with, public or private nonprofit research agencies or organizations) about adoption outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes. The Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of such research to the appropriate committees of the Congress not later than the date that is 36 months after June 25, 2003.

(c) Interjurisdictional adoption

Not later than 1 year after June 25, 2003, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report that contains recommendations for an action plan to facilitate the interjurisdictional adoption of foster children.

(Pub. L. 95–266, title II, §204, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 210; Pub. L. 108–36, title II, §§203, 204, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 821.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2003—Pub. L. 108–36 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted subsec. heading and par. (1) designation, substituted "June 25, 2003" for "April 24, 1978" and "to determine—" for "to determine", struck out "which are not licensed by or subject to regulation by any governmental entity" after "by persons or agencies", and added pars. (2) to (4) and subsecs. (b) and (c).

¹ So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

§5115. Authorization of appropriations

(a) There are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to carry out programs and activities authorized under this subchapter.

(b) Not less than 30 percent and not more than 50 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (a) shall be allocated for activities under subsections (b)(10) and (c) of section 5113 of this title.

(c) The Secretary shall ensure that funds appropriated pursuant to authorizations in this subchapter shall remain available until expended for the purposes for which they were appropriated.

(Pub. L. 95–266, title II, §205, Apr. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 211; Pub. L. 98–457, title II, §204, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1757; Pub. L. 100–294, title II, §201, Apr. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 122; Pub. L. 102–295, title IV, §404, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 214; Pub. L. 104–235, title II, §213, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3091; Pub. L. 108–36, title II, §205, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 822; Pub. L. 111–320, title III, §301(c), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3513.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original "this subtitle", and was translated as reading "this title", meaning title II of Pub. L. 95–266, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because Pub. L. 95–266 does not contain subtitles.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(c)(1), substituted "2010" for "2004" and "2011 through 2015" for "2005 through 2008".

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 111–320, §301(c)(2), (3), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–36 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001 to carry out programs and activities authorized."

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–235, §213(1), substituted "$20,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001 to carry out programs and activities authorized" for "$10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995, to carry out programs and activities under this subchapter except for programs and activities authorized under sections 5113(b)(9) and 5113(c)(1) of this title".

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104–235, §213(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: "For any fiscal year in which appropriations under subsection (a) of this section exceeds $5,000,000, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995, to carry out section 5113(b)(9) of this title, and there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995, to carry out section 5113(c)(1) of this title."

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–295, §404(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: "There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for the fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1989, 1990, and 1991 to carry out programs and activities under this subchapter except for programs and activities authorized under sections 5113(b)(8) and 5113(c)(1) of this title."

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–295, §404(2), substituted "$10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995, to carry out section 5113(b)(9) of this title, and there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1995, to carry out section 5113(c)(1) of this title" for "$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1989, 1990, and 1991 for the purpose of carrying out section 5113(b)(8) of this title, and there are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1989, 1990, and 1991 for the purpose of carrying out section 5113(c)(1) of this title".

1988—Pub. L. 100–294 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, such sums as may be necessary for the succeeding three fiscal years, and $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987, to carry out this subchapter."

1984—Pub. L. 98–457 inserted provisions authorizing appropriations of $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987.

§5115a. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §1808(d), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1904

Section, Pub. L. 103–382, title V, §553, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4056, related to multiethnic placements.

SUBCHAPTER III—COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Editorial Notes

Codification

Subchapter is comprised of title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Pub. L. 93–247. Title I of that Act is classified to subchapter I (§5101 et seq.) of this chapter.

Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §131, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3478, substituted "COMMUNITY-BASED" for "COMMUNITY–BASED" in subchapter heading.

Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §121(c), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 814, substituted "COMMUNITY–BASED GRANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT" for "COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY RESOURCE AND SUPPORT GRANTS" in subchapter heading.

§5116. Purpose and authority

(a) Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and coordinate initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect and to support the coordination of resources and activities, to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and

(2) to foster an understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations in order to be effective in preventing and treating child abuse and neglect.

(b) Authority

The Secretary shall make grants under this subchapter on a formula basis to the entity designated by the State as the lead entity (referred to in this subchapter as the "lead entity") under section 5116a(1) of this title for the purpose of—

(1) developing, operating, expanding, and enhancing community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect that are accessible, effective, culturally appropriate, and build upon existing strengths that—

(A) offer assistance to families;

(B) provide early, comprehensive support for parents;

(C) promote the development of parenting skills, especially in young parents and parents with very young children;

(D) increase family stability;

(E) improve family access to other formal and informal resources and opportunities for assistance available within communities, including access to such resources and opportunities for unaccompanied homeless youth;

(F) support the additional needs of families with children with disabilities through respite care and other services;

(G) demonstrate a commitment to involving parents in the planning and program implementation of the lead agency and entities carrying out local programs funded under this title, including involvement of parents of children with disabilities, parents who are individuals with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of other underrepresented or underserved groups; and

(H) provide referrals to early health and developmental services;

(2) fostering the development of a continuum of preventive services for children and families, including unaccompanied homeless youth, through State and community-based collaborations and partnerships both public and private;

(3) financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or redesign of specific community-based child abuse and neglect prevention program services (such as respite care services, child abuse and neglect prevention activities, disability services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, domestic violence services, housing services, transportation, adult education, home visiting and other similar services) identified by the inventory and description of current services required under section 5116d(3) ¹ of this title as an unmet need, and integrated with the network of community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs to the extent practicable given funding levels and community priorities;

(4) maximizing funding through leveraging of funds for the financing, planning, community mobilization, collaboration, assessment, information and referral, startup, training and technical assistance, information management and reporting, reporting and evaluation costs for establishing, operating, or expanding community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect; and

(5) financing public information activities that focus on the healthy and positive development of parents and children and the promotion of child abuse and neglect prevention activities.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §201, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3080; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §121(a), (b), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 813; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §132, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3478.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 5116d(3) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was in the original "section 205(a)(3)" and was translated as meaning section 204(3) of Pub. L. 93–247 to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of section 205 as 204 by Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3482, and because section 204 does not contain subsections.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §201, as added Pub. L. 103–252, title IV, §401(a), May 18, 1994, 108 Stat. 666, related to community-based family resource programs, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–235, §121.

Another prior section 5116, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §201, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §402, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2197; renumbered §201 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(a), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §121(b), May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 198, set forth purpose of subchapter to assist States in supporting child abuse and neglect prevention activities through community based grants, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and, where appropriate to network, initiatives aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and to support networks of coordinated resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(A), struck out "hereafter" before "referred" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(B)(i), in introductory provisions, inserted a comma after "expanding" and struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect".

Subsec. (b)(1)(E). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(B)(ii), inserted ", including access to such resources and opportunities for unaccompanied homeless youth" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (b)(1)(G). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(B)(iii), added subpar. (G) and struck out former subpar. (G) which read as follows: "demonstrate a commitment to meaningful parent leadership, including among parents of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of other underrepresented or underserved groups; and".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(C), inserted ", including unaccompanied homeless youth," after "children and families".

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(D), substituted "specific community-based child abuse and neglect prevention program services" for "specific family resource and support program services", inserted "substance abuse treatment services, domestic violence services," after "mental health services,", and substituted "the network of community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs" for "the network of community-based family resource and support program".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 111–320, §132(2)(E), inserted "and reporting" after "information management" and struck out comma after "prevention-focused" and "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect".

2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §121(a), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "to support State efforts to develop, operate, expand and enhance a network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs that coordinate resources among existing education, vocational rehabilitation, disability, respite care, health, mental health, job readiness, self-sufficiency, child and family development, community action, Head Start, child care, child abuse and neglect prevention, juvenile justice, domestic violence prevention and intervention, housing, and other human service organizations within the State; and".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–36, §121(b)(1)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate) that are accessible, effective, culturally appropriate, and build upon existing strengths that" for "Statewide networks of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs that".

Subsec. (b)(1)(G), (H). Pub. L. 108–36, §121(b)(1)(B), (C), added subpars. (G) and (H) and struck out former subpar. (G) which read as follows: "decrease the risk of homelessness;".

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 108–36, §121(b)(2), inserted "through leveraging of funds" after "maximizing funding" and substituted "community-based and prevention-focused" for "a Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused" and "programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "family resource and support program".

¹ See References in Text note below.

§5116a. Eligibility

A State shall be eligible for a grant under this subchapter for a fiscal year if—

(1)(A) the Governor of the State has designated a lead entity to administer funds under this subchapter for the purposes identified under the authority of this subchapter, including to develop, implement, operate, enhance, or expand community-based and prevention-focused, programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(B) such lead entity is an existing public, quasi-public, or nonprofit private entity (which may be an entity that has not been established pursuant to State legislation, executive order, or any other written authority of the State) that exists to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect with a demonstrated ability to work with other State and community-based agencies to provide training and technical assistance, and that has the capacity and commitment to ensure the meaningful involvement of parents who are consumers and who can provide leadership in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policy decisions of the applicant agency in accomplishing the desired outcomes for such efforts;

(C) in determining which entity to designate under subparagraph (A), the Governor should give priority consideration equally to a trust fund advisory board of the State or to an existing entity that leverages Federal, State, and private funds for a broad range of child abuse and neglect prevention activities and family resource programs, and that is directed by an interdisciplinary, public-private structure, including participants from communities; and

(D) in the case of a State that has designated a State trust fund advisory board for purposes of administering funds under this subchapter (as such subchapter was in effect on October 3, 1996) and in which one or more entities that leverage Federal, State, and private funds (as described in subparagraph (C)) exist, the Governor shall designate the lead entity only after full consideration of the capacity and expertise of all entities desiring to be designated under subparagraph (A);

(2) the Governor of the State provides assurances that the lead entity will provide or will be responsible for providing—

(A) community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect composed of local, collaborative, public-private partnerships directed by interdisciplinary structures with balanced representation from private and public sector members, parents, adult former victims of child abuse or neglect, and public and private nonprofit service providers and individuals and organizations experienced in working in partnership with families with children with disabilities;

(B) direction through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, public-private structure with balanced representation from private and public sector members, parents, adult former victims of child abuse or neglect, and public sector and private nonprofit sector service providers, and parents with disabilities; and

(C) direction and oversight through identified goals and objectives, clear lines of communication and accountability, the provision of leveraged or combined funding from Federal, State, and private sources, centralized assessment and planning activities, the provision of training and technical assistance, and reporting and evaluation functions; and

(3) the Governor of the State provides assurances that the lead entity—

(A) has a demonstrated commitment to parental participation in the development, operation, and oversight of the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(B) has a demonstrated ability to work with State and community-based public and private nonprofit organizations to develop a continuum of preventive, family centered, comprehensive services for children and families through the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(C) has the capacity to provide operational support (both financial and programmatic) ¹ training, technical assistance, and evaluation assistance, to community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect, through innovative, interagency funding and interdisciplinary service delivery mechanisms; and

(D) will integrate its efforts with individuals and organizations experienced in working in partnership with families with children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, and with the child abuse and neglect prevention activities of the State, and demonstrate a financial commitment to those activities.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §202, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3081; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §122, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §133, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3479.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116a, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §202, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §403, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2197; renumbered §202 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(b), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, defined "Secretary" and "State" as used in this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–320, §133(1), (2), substituted "Governor" for "chief executive officer" wherever appearing, and, in subpar. (A), inserted a comma after "enhance" and struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §133(2)–(4), in introductory provisions, substituted "Governor" for "chief executive officer", in subpar. (A), struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect", in subpars. (A) and (B), inserted "adult former victims of child abuse or neglect," after "parents,", and in subpar. (C), inserted a comma after "State".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–320, §133(2), (3), in introductory provisions, substituted "Governor" for "chief executive officer", and, in subpars. (A) to (C), struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect".

2003—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(1)(A), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused" for "a Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused" and "programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "family resource and support programs, child abuse and neglect prevention activities and access to respite care services integrated with the Statewide network".

Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(1)(B), inserted "that exists to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" after "written authority of the State)".

Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(2)(A), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "a network of community-based family resource and support programs".

Par. (2)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(2)(B), struck out "to the network" after "direction" and inserted ", and parents with disabilities" before semicolon.

Par. (2)(C). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(2)(C), struck out "to the network" after "direction and oversight".

Par. (3)(A). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(3)(A), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(3)(B), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (3)(C). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(3)(C), substituted "training, technical assistance, and evaluation assistance, to community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "and training and technical assistance, to the Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 108–36, §122(3)(D), inserted ", parents with disabilities," after "children with disabilities".

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.

§5116b. Amount of grant

(a) Reservation

The Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 5116i ¹ of this title for a fiscal year to make allotments to Indian tribes and tribal organizations and migrant programs.

(b) Remaining amounts

(1) In general

The Secretary shall allot the amount appropriated under section 5116i ¹ of this title for a fiscal year and remaining after the reservation under subsection (a) among the States as follows:

(A) 70 percent

70 percent of such amount appropriated shall be allotted among the States by allotting to each State an amount that bears the same proportion to such amount appropriated as the number of children under the age of 18 residing in the State bears to the total number of children under the age of 18 residing in all States (except that no State shall receive less than $175,000 under this subparagraph).

(B) 30 percent

30 percent of such amount appropriated shall be allotted among the States by allotting to each State an amount that bears the same proportion to such amount appropriated as the amount of private, State or other non-Federal funds leveraged and directed through the currently designated State lead entity in the preceding fiscal year bears to the aggregate of the amounts leveraged by all States from private, State, or other non-Federal sources and directed through the current lead entity of such States in the preceding fiscal year.

(2) Additional requirement

The Secretary shall provide allotments under paragraph (1) to the State lead entity.

(c) Allocation

Funds allotted to a State under this section—

(1) shall be for a 3-year period; and

(2) shall be provided by the Secretary to the State on an annual basis, as described in subsection (b).

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §203, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3082; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §123, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 815; Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §134, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3479.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 5116i of this title, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(1), was in the original "section 210", and was translated as meaning section 209 of Pub. L. 93–247 to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of section 210 as 209 by Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3482.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116b, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §203, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §404, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2197; renumbered §203 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(c), 5, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766-768; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §122, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 198, authorized Secretary to make grants and authorized appropriations to carry out this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–320 inserted subpar. headings.

2003—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §123(1), substituted "as the amount of private, State or other non-Federal funds leveraged and directed through the currently designated" for "as the amount leveraged by the State from private, State, or other non-Federal sources and directed through the", "State lead entity" for "State lead agency", and "the current lead entity" for "the lead agency".

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 108–36, §123(2), substituted "subsection (b)" for "subsection (a)".

¹ See References in Text note below.

§5116c. Repealed. Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §124, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 815

Section, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §204, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3083; amended Pub. L. 106–400, §2, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1675, related to continuation of grants and agreements in effect on October 3, 1996.

A prior section 5116c, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §204, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §405, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2198; renumbered §204 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(d), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, 767; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §123, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 198, established requirement for State grant eligibility, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

§5116d. Application

A grant may not be made to a State under this subchapter unless an application therefor is submitted by the State to the Secretary and such application contains the types of information specified by the Secretary as essential to carrying out the provisions of section 5116a of this title, including—

(1) a description of the lead entity that will be responsible for the administration of funds provided under this subchapter and the oversight of programs funded through the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect which meets the requirements of section 5116a of this title;

(2) a description of how the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect will operate, including how community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs provided by public and private, nonprofit organizations will be integrated into a developing continuum of family centered, holistic, preventive services for children and families;

(3) a description of the inventory of current unmet needs and current community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect, and other family resource services operating in the State;

(4) a budget for the development, operation, and expansion of the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect that verifies that the State will expend in non-Federal funds an amount equal to not less than 20 percent of the amount received under this subchapter (in cash, not in-kind) for activities under this subchapter;

(5) an assurance that funds received under this subchapter will supplement, not supplant, other State and local public funds designated for the start up, maintenance, expansion, and redesign of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(6) a description of the State's capacity to ensure the meaningful involvement of parents who are consumers, of family advocates, and of adult former victims of child abuse or neglect, who can provide leadership in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the programs and policy decisions of the applicant agency in accomplishing the desired outcomes for such efforts;

(7) a description of the criteria that the entity will use to develop, or select and fund, community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect as part of network development, expansion, or enhancement;

(8) a description of outreach activities that the entity and the community-based and prevention-focused programs designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect will undertake to maximize the participation of racial and ethnic minorities, children and adults with disabilities, homeless families and those at risk of homelessness, unaccompanied homeless youth, and members of other underserved or underrepresented groups;

(9) a plan for providing operational support, training, and technical assistance to community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect for development, operation, expansion and enhancement activities;

(10) a description of how the applicant entity's activities and those of the network and its members (where appropriate) will be evaluated;

(11) a description of the actions that the applicant entity will take to advocate systemic changes in State policies, practices, procedures, and regulations to improve the delivery of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect services to children and families; and

(12) an assurance that the applicant entity will provide the Secretary with reports at such time and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §204, formerly §205, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3083; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §125, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 815; renumbered §204 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§135, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3479, 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116d, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §205, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §406, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2198; renumbered §205 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), (2), 4(e), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, 767; Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §124, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 198, related to grant allotments, required use of grants, and grant application requirements, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

A prior section 204 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116c of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §124, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 815.

Another prior section 204 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116c of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(1), struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(1), (2), struck out "(through networks where appropriate)" after "child abuse and neglect", and substituted ", including how community-based child abuse and neglect prevention" for "and how family resource and support" and "programs provided" for "services provided".

Par. (4). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(3), inserted a comma after "operation".

Par. (6). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(4), substituted "a description of the State's" for "an assurance that the State has the" and "consumers, of family advocates, and of adult former victims of child abuse or neglect," for "consumers and".

Par. (7). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(5), inserted a comma after "expansion".

Par. (8). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(6), struck out "and activities" after "prevention-focused programs" and inserted "unaccompanied homeless youth," after "homelessness,".

Par. (9). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(7), inserted a comma after "training".

Par. (11). Pub. L. 111–320, §135(8), inserted a comma after "procedures".

2003—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(1), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(2), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect (through networks where appropriate)" for "network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs" and struck out ", including those funded by programs consolidated under this subchapter and subchapter I of this chapter," before "will be integrated".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(3), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: "an assurance that an inventory of current family resource programs, respite care, child abuse and neglect prevention activities, and other family resource services operating in the State, and a description of current unmet needs, will be provided;".

Par. (4). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(4), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "State's network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (5). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(5), substituted "start up, maintenance, expansion, and redesign of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (7). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(6), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "individual community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (8). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(7), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (9). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(8), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (10). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(9), inserted "(where appropriate)" after "members".

Par. (11). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(10), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "prevention-focused, family resource and support program".

Pars. (12), (13). Pub. L. 108–36, §125(11), redesignated par. (13) as (12).

§5116e. Local program requirements

(a) In general

Grants made under this subchapter shall be used to develop, implement, operate, expand, and enhance community-based, and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect that—

(1) assess community assets and needs through a planning process that involves parents, local public agencies, local nonprofit organizations, and private sector representatives in meaningful roles;

(2) develop a comprehensive strategy to provide a continuum of preventive, family-centered services to children and families, especially to young parents, to parents with young children, and to parents who are adult former victims of domestic violence or child abuse or neglect, through public-private partnerships;

(3)(A) provide for core child abuse and neglect prevention services, which may be provided directly by the local recipient of the grant funds or through grants or agreements with other local agencies, such as—

(i) parent education, mutual support and self help, and parent leadership services;

(ii) respite care services;

(iii) outreach and followup services, which may include voluntary home visiting services; and

(iv) community and social service referrals; and

(B) provide access to optional services, including—

(i) referral to and counseling for adoption services for individuals interested in adopting a child or relinquishing their child for adoption;

(ii) child care, early childhood education and care, and intervention services;

(iii) referral to services and supports to meet the additional needs of families with children with disabilities and parents who are individuals with disabilities;

(iv) referral to job readiness services;

(v) referral to educational services, such as academic tutoring, literacy training, and General Educational Degree services;

(vi) self-sufficiency and life management skills training;

(vii) community referral services, including early developmental screening of children;

(viii) peer counseling; and

(ix) domestic violence service programs that provide services and treatment to children and their non-abusing caregivers.

(4) develop leadership roles for the meaningful involvement of parents in the development, operation, evaluation, and oversight of the programs and services;

(5) provide leadership in mobilizing local public and private resources to support the provision of needed child abuse and neglect prevention program services; and

(6) participate with other community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect in the development, operation, and expansion of networks where appropriate.

(b) Priority

In awarding local grants under this subchapter, a lead entity shall give priority to effective community-based programs serving low-income communities and those serving young parents or parents with young children, including community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs..¹

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §205, formerly §206, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3085; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §126, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 816; renumbered §205 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§136, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3480, 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116e, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §206, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §407, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2199; renumbered §206 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(f), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, 768, related to withholding of grant payments upon failure to comply with provisions of this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

A prior section 205 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 204 and is classified to section 5116d of this title.

Another prior section 205 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116d of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(1), inserted a comma after "expand" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(2), substituted "parents," for "parents and" and inserted "in meaningful roles" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(3), substituted "a comprehensive strategy to provide" for "a strategy to provide, over time,", "family-centered" for "family centered", and ", to parents with young children, and to parents who are adult former victims of domestic violence or child abuse or neglect," for "and parents with young children,".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(A), struck out introductory provisions which read as follows: "provide—".

Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(A), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows:

"(A) core family resource and support services such as—

"(i) parent education, mutual support and self help, and leadership services;

"(ii) outreach services;

"(iii) community and social service referrals; and

"(iv) follow-up services;".

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(A), (B)(i), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B), inserted "provide" before "access", and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: "other core services, which must be provided or arranged for through contracts or agreements with other local agencies, including voluntary home visiting and all forms of respite care services to the extent practicable; and".

Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(B)(ii), added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: "child care, early childhood development and intervention services;".

Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(B)(iii), inserted "and parents who are individuals with disabilities" before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(v). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(B)(iv), (viii), amended cl. (v) identically, substituting "academic tutoring" for "scholastic tutoring".

Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(ix). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(B)(v)–(vii), added cl. (ix).

Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(4)(B)(i), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B).

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(5), substituted "child abuse and neglect prevention program" for "family resource and support program".

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(a)(6), inserted a comma after "operation".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–320, §136(b), substituted "low-income" for "low income" and "child abuse and neglect prevention programs." for "family resource and support programs".

2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–36, §126(1), substituted "and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "prevention-focused, family resource and support programs" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 108–36, §126(2), inserted "voluntary home visiting and" after "including".

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 108–36, §126(3), added par. (6) and struck out former par. (6) which read as follows: "participate with other community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support program grantees in the development, operation and expansion of the Statewide network."

¹ So in original.

§5116f. Performance measures

A State receiving a grant under this subchapter, through reports provided to the Secretary—

(1) shall demonstrate the effective development, operation, and expansion of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect that meets the requirements of this subchapter;

(2) shall supply an inventory and description of the services provided to families by local programs that meet identified community needs, including core and optional services as described in section 5116a of this title which description shall specify whether those services are supported by research;

(3) shall demonstrate that they will have addressed unmet needs identified by the inventory and description of current services required under section 5116d(3) of this title;

(4) shall describe the number of families served, including families with children with disabilities, and parents with disabilities, and the involvement of a diverse representation of families in the design, operation, and evaluation of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect, and in the design, operation, and evaluation of the networks of such community-based and prevention-focused programs;

(5) shall demonstrate a high level of satisfaction among families who have used the services of the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(6) shall demonstrate the establishment or maintenance of innovative funding mechanisms, at the State or community level, that blend Federal, State, local, and private funds, and innovative, interdisciplinary service delivery mechanisms, for the development, operation, expansion, and enhancement of the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(7) shall describe the results of evaluation, or the outcomes of monitoring, conducted under the State program to demonstrate the effectiveness of activities conducted under this subchapter in meeting the purposes of the program; and

(8) shall demonstrate an implementation plan to ensure the continued leadership of parents in the on-going planning, implementation, and evaluation of such community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §206, formerly §207, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3086; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §127, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 817; renumbered §206 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§137, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3481, 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116f, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §207, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §408, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2199; renumbered §207 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(1), 4(g), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, 768, related to audits of grant recipients, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

A prior section 206 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 205 and is classified to section 5116e of this title.

Another prior section 206 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116e of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(1), inserted a comma after "operation".

Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(2), inserted "which description shall specify whether those services are supported by research" after "section 5116a of this title".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(3)(A), which directed the making of a technical amendment in par. (4) to a reference in the original act which appears in text as a reference to section 5116d(3) of this title, was executed by making the technical amendment to such reference in par. (3) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(3)(B), which directed amendment of par. (4) by inserting a comma after "operation", was executed by making the insertion after "operation" the second place appearing to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Par. (6). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(4), inserted a comma after "local" and after "expansion".

Par. (7). Pub. L. 111–320, §137(5), substituted "the results of evaluation, or the outcomes of monitoring, conducted under the State program to demonstrate the effectiveness of activities conducted under this subchapter in meeting the purposes of the program; and" for "the results of a peer review process conducted under the State program; and".

2003—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(1), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "a Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: "shall demonstrate the establishment of new respite care and other specific new family resources services, and the expansion of existing services, to address unmet needs identified by the inventory and description of current services required under section 5116d(3) of this title;".

Par. (4). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(3), inserted "and parents with disabilities," after "children with disabilities," and substituted "evaluation of community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect, and in the design, operation and evaluation of the networks of such community-based and prevention-focused programs" for "evaluation of the Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs, and in the design, operation and evaluation of the individual community-based family resource and support programs that are part of the Statewide network funded under this subchapter".

Par. (5). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(4), substituted "and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for ", prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (6). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(5), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "Statewide network of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

Par. (8). Pub. L. 108–36, §127(6), substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "community based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

§5116g. National network for community-based family resource programs

The Secretary may allocate such sums as may be necessary from the amount provided under the State allotment to support the activities of the lead entity in the State—

(1) to create, operate, and maintain a peer review process;

(2) to create, operate, and maintain an information clearinghouse;

(3) to fund a yearly symposium on State system change efforts that result from the operation of the community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect;

(4) to create, operate, and maintain a computerized communication system between lead entities; and

(5) to fund State-to-State technical assistance through bi-annual conferences.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §207, formerly §208, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3086; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §128, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 817; renumbered §207 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§138, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3481, 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5116g, Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §208, formerly Pub. L. 98–473, title IV, §409, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2199; renumbered §208 of Pub. L. 93–247, and amended Pub. L. 101–126, §§2(a), 3(a)(3), (c)(3), 4(h), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 764, 766, 768, related to reports to Congress, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

A prior section 207 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 206 and is classified to section 5116f of this title.

Another prior section 207 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116f of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Pars. (1), (2), (4). Pub. L. 111–320, §138, inserted a comma after "operate".

2003—Par. (3). Pub. L. 108–36 substituted "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" for "Statewide networks of community-based, prevention-focused, family resource and support programs".

§5116h. Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter:

(1) Community referral services

The term "community referral services" means services provided under contract or through interagency agreements to assist families in obtaining needed information, mutual support and community resources, including respite care services, health and mental health services, employability development and job training, and other social services, including early developmental screening of children, through help lines or other methods.

(2) Community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect

The term "community-based and prevention-focused programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to prevent child abuse and neglect" includes organizations such as family resource programs, family support programs, voluntary home visiting programs, respite care programs, parenting education, mutual support programs, and other community programs or networks of such programs that provide activities that are designed to prevent or respond to child abuse and neglect.

(3) Respite care services

The term "respite care services" means short term care services, including the services of crisis nurseries, provided in the temporary absence of the regular caregiver (parent, other relative, foster parent, adoptive parent, or guardian) to children who—

(A) are in danger of child abuse or neglect;

(B) have experienced child abuse or neglect; or

(C) have disabilities or chronic or terminal illnesses.

Such services shall be provided within or outside the home of the child, be short-term care (ranging from a few hours to a few weeks of time, per year), and be intended to enable the family to stay together and to keep the child living in the home and community of the child.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §208, formerly §209, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3087; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §129, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 817; renumbered §208 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§139, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3481, 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 208 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 207 and is classified to section 5116g of this title.

Another prior section 208 of Pub. L. 93–247 was classified to section 5116g of this title prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 103–252, §401(a).

Amendments

2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(1), (2), redesignated par. (2) as (1) and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text of par. (1) read as follows: "The term 'children with disabilities' has the same meaning given the term 'child with a disability' in section 1401(3) or 'infant or toddler with a disability' in section 1432(5) of title 20."

Par. (2). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(2), redesignated par. (3) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1).

Par. (3). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(2), (3)(A), redesignated par. (5) as (3) and inserted ", including the services of crisis nurseries," after "short term care services" in introductory provisions. Former par. (3) redesignated (2).

Par. (3)(A), (B). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(3)(B), substituted "child abuse or neglect" for "abuse or neglect".

Par. (3)(C). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(3)(C), substituted "have disabilities or chronic or terminal illnesses." for "have disabilities, chronic, or terminal illnesses."

Par. (5). Pub. L. 111–320, §139(2), redesignated par. (5) as (3).

2003—Par. (1). Pub. L. 108–36, §129(a), substituted "given the term 'child with a disability' in section 1401(3) or 'infant or toddler with a disability' in section 1432(5) of title 20" for "given such term in section 1401(a)(2) of title 20".

Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 108–36, §129(b), added par. (3) and struck out former pars. (3) and (4), which related, respectively, to family resource and support programs and outreach services.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions

For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 3 of Pub. L. 93–247, set out as a note under section 5101 of this title.

§5116i. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

(Pub. L. 93–247, title II, §209, formerly §210, as added Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §121, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3088; amended Pub. L. 108–36, title I, §130, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 818; renumbered §209 and amended Pub. L. 111–320, title I, §§140, 141, Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3482.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 209 of Pub. L. 93–247 was renumbered section 208 and is classified to section 5116h of this title.

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–320, §140, substituted "2010" for "2004" and "2011 through 2015" for "2005 through 2008".

2003—Pub. L. 108–36 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter, $66,000,000 for fiscal year 1997 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2001."

SUBCHAPTER IV—TEMPORARY CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND CRISIS NURSERIES

§§5117 to 5117d. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §142(a), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3089

Section 5117, Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §202, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 907, related to congressional findings for this subchapter.

Section 5117a, Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §203, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 101–127, §2(1), Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 770, related to temporary child care for children with disabilities and chronically ill children.

Section 5117b, Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §204, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 907, related to crisis nurseries for children who are abused and neglected, at high risk of abuse and neglect, or who are in families receiving child protective services.

Section 5117c, Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §205, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 908; Pub. L. 101–127, §§2(2), 3, 4, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 770, 771; Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, §901(a)(3), (g), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1142, 1151; Pub. L. 102–295, title II, §202, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 200, related to administrative provisions.

Section 5117d, Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §206, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 909; Pub. L. 100–403, §1, Aug. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1013; Pub. L. 101–127, §5, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 102–295, title II, §203, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 200, related to authorization of appropriations for carrying out this subchapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §207, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 909, which provided that title II of Pub. L. 99–401 was effective Oct. 1, 1986, was repealed by Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §142(a), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3089.

Short Title

Pub. L. 99–401, title II, §201, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 907, as amended by Pub. L. 101–127, §6, Oct. 25, 1989, 103 Stat. 772, which provided that title II of Pub. L. 99–401 be cited as the "Temporary Child Care for Children With Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986", was repealed by Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §142(a), Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3089.

SUBCHAPTER IV–A—ABANDONED INFANTS ASSISTANCE

Editorial Notes

Codification

This subchapter was comprised generally of Pub. L. 100–505, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2533, and was formerly set out as a note under section 670 of this title prior to its transfer to this subchapter and subsequent repeal by Pub. L. 115–271.

§§5117aa to 5117aa–22. Repealed. Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, §7065(b), Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4028

Section 5117aa, Pub. L. 100–505, §2, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2533; Pub. L. 102–236, §2, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 108–36, title III, §301, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 822; Pub. L. 111–320, title IV, §401(a), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3513, related to congressional findings.

Sections 5117aa–11 and 5117aa–12 comprised part A of this subchapter "Projects Regarding Abandonment of Infants and Young Children in Hospitals".

Section 5117aa–11, Pub. L. 100–505, title I, §101, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2534; Pub. L. 102–236, §3, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 104–235, title II, §221, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3091; Pub. L. 108–36, title III, §302, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 823, related to establishment of local projects.

Section 5117aa–12, Pub. L. 100–505, title I, §102, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2535; Pub. L. 102–236, §4, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1814; Pub. L. 108–36, title III, §303, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 823, related to evaluations, study, and reports by Secretary.

Sections 5117aa–21 and 5117aa–22 comprised part B of this subchapter "General Provisions".

Section 5117aa–21, Pub. L. 100–505, title III, §301, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2537; Pub. L. 108–36, title III, §305(a), June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 824; Pub. L. 111–320, title IV, §401(c), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3513, provided definitions for this subchapter.

Section 5117aa–22, Pub. L. 100–505, title III, §302, formerly title I, §104, Oct. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 2536; Pub. L. 102–236, §6, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1815; Pub. L. 104–235, title II, §222, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3092; renumbered title III, §302, and amended Pub. L. 108–36, title III, §304, June 25, 2003, 117 Stat. 824; Pub. L. 111–320, title IV, §401(d), Dec. 20, 2010, 124 Stat. 3513, related to authorization of appropriations.

SUBCHAPTER V—CERTAIN PREVENTIVE SERVICES REGARDING CHILDREN OF HOMELESS FAMILIES OR FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

§§5118 to 5118e. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–235, title I, §131, Oct. 3, 1996, 110 Stat. 3088

Section 5118, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §301, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4755, related to demonstration grants for prevention of inappropriate separation from family and for prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Section 5118a, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §302, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4757, related to joint training of appropriate service personnel with respect to certain subjects and additional authorized activities for which a grantee may expend grant funds.

Section 5118b, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §303, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4757, related to additional agreements required of agencies, evaluations of effectiveness of demonstration programs, report to Congress, and restriction on use of grant to purchase or improve real property.

Section 5118c, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §304, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4759, related to required submission of description of intended uses of grant.

Section 5118d, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §305, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4759, related to requirement of submission of application for grant.

Section 5118e, Pub. L. 93–247, title III, §306, as added Pub. L. 101–645, title VI, §661(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4760; amended Pub. L. 102–295, title I, §131, May 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 199, related to authorization of appropriations for carrying out this subchapter.

SUBCHAPTER VI—CHILD ABUSE CRIME INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND CHECKS

§5119. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section 5119 was editorially reclassified as section 40101 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

§5119a. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section 5119a was editorially reclassified as section 40102 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

§5119b. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section 5119b was editorially reclassified as section 40103 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.

§5119c. Transferred

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section 5119c was editorially reclassified as section 40104 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforcement.