USC Subchapter III

in effect

42 U.S.C. § 5116 Purpose and authority

(a) PurposeIt 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) AuthorityThe 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) 11 See References in Text note below. 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.

42 U.S.C. § 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) 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. 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.

42 U.S.C. § 5116b Amount of grant

(a) ReservationThe Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 5116i 11 See References in Text note below. of this title for a fiscal year to make allotments to Indian tribes and tribal organizations and migrant programs. (b) Remaining amounts(1) In generalThe 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 percent70 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 percent30 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 requirementThe Secretary shall provide allotments under paragraph (1) to the State lead entity. (c) AllocationFunds 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).

42 U.S.C. § 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.

42 U.S.C. § 5116e Local program requirements

(a) In generalGrants 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) PriorityIn 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..11 So in original.

42 U.S.C. § 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.

42 U.S.C. § 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.

42 U.S.C. § 5116h Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter: (1) Community referral servicesThe 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 neglectThe 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 servicesThe 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.

42 U.S.C. § 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.