This bill would create a 5-year competitive grant pilot run by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The program would make up to five grants to fund specialized foster care programs that are designed to place together sibling groups of three or more, sibling groups with a wide age range, and sibling groups that include a youth with complex needs. The bill defines "complex needs" to include challenging or risky behaviors that could cause serious harm, severe mental health needs that impair daily life, disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act), life‑threatening or continuously monitored illnesses, issues that come from siblings having different parents, and youth with a history of trauma.
Eligible applicants include State child welfare agencies; State, tribal, or local agencies; faith‑ or community‑based organizations; and nonprofit organizations with foster care experience and State supervision. Applications must describe how funds will be used, the specialized program design, data on placement challenges and numbers of sibling groups awaiting placement, and other information the Secretary requires. Grant funds may only be used to develop specialized, evidence‑based programs that identify placements for and place siblings together and are proven to substantially increase joint sibling placements. Grant recipients must report on program size, sibling group sizes served, placement methods, and placement outcomes. The Secretary may issue regulations to carry out the pilot. The bill authorizes up to $10,000,000 to be appropriated and available during the 5‑year pilot.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.