[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4299 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4299
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth
and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization
agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 1, 2021
Mr. Bacon (for himself, Ms. Bass, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Mullin)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
demonstration grant program to provide emergency relief to foster youth
and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization
agencies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foster Care Stabilization Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO IMPROVE PRE-PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Administration for Children and Families, shall
award 3 demonstration grants of not more than $1,000,000 to foster care
stabilization agencies for the purpose of providing emergency relief to
foster youth and improving pre-placement services for foster youth
waiting for placement.
(b) Duration.--A foster care stabilization agency that receives a
grant under this Act shall have 3 years to spend funds awarded by the
grant and return any unused grant funds to the Secretary.
(c) Application.--A foster care stabilization agency that desires
to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, that shall include the
following:
(1) A description of how grant funds will be used to
provide emergency relief to foster youth by the foster care
stabilization agency.
(2) A description of how grant funds will be used to
improve pre-placement services offered by the foster care
stabilization agency.
(d) Application Dissemination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
solicitation of applications for a grant under this Act is posted
publically on the website of the Administration for Children and
Families and shall make special dissemination efforts to rural areas
and among Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian
organizations.
(e) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section may be used
to carry out any of the following activities:
(1) Hiring of personnel necessary to provide emergency
relief to foster youth and ensure that services, resources, and
assistance reach such youth.
(2) Provision of clothing and other personal necessities to
a foster youth for a total not to exceed $250 per foster youth,
per year.
(3) Purchase of food and equipment needed to prepare food
for foster youth.
(4) Provision of service and support to prevent and respond
to occurrences of child abuse and neglect with respect to
foster youth.
(5) Any other extraordinary or emergency assistance needed
to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.
(6) Any other purpose that the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(f) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve $45,000 appropriated
pursuant to the authorization under subsection (i) to be used for
administration, oversight, and technical assistance activities related
to this section.
(g) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
(1) describes how grants awarded under this section have
been used to provide emergency relief to foster youth;
(2) describe how grants awarded under this section have
been used on pre-placement services;
(3) contains data on the extent of clothing and other
necessities purchased with grant funds awarded under this
section that have been provided to foster youth;
(4) provides an evaluation of case outcomes for foster
youth who have benefitted from grant funds; and
(5) states the number of home transfers for each foster
youth that has benefitted from grant funds.
(h) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Foster care stabilization agency.--The term ``foster
care stabilization agency'' means a local public or private
nonprofit, including community and faith-based organizations,
with expertise and experience providing direct services to one
or more of the following:
(A) Children who are under the care and placement
responsibility of a State or Tribal agency that
administers a plan under part B or E of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. and 670 et
seq.).
(B) Foster youth under the age of 18.
(C) Foster youth 18 years of age or over, but under
26 years of age.
(2) Foster youth.--The term ``foster youth'' means an
individual in foster care who has not attained 26 years of age.
(3) Home transfer.--The term ``home transfer'' means the
initial placement of a foster youth in to foster care, and any
subsequent placement move of that foster youth while in foster
care.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $3,045,000 for fiscal year
2022.
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