§ 290bb–25 — Grants For Services For Children Of Substance Abusers

(1) The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out programs— (A) to provide the services described in subsection (b) to children of substance abusers; (B) to provide the applicable services described in subsection (c) to families in which a member is a substance abuser; (C) to identify such children and such families through youth service agencies, family social services, child care providers, Head Start, schools and after-school programs, early childhood development programs, community-based family resource and support centers, the criminal justice system, health, substance abuse and mental health providers through screenings conducted during regular childhood examinations and other examinations, self and family member referrals, substance abuse treatment services, and other providers of services to children and families; and (D) to provide education and training to health, substance abuse and mental health professionals, and other providers of services to children and families through youth service agencies, family social services, child care, Head Start, schools and after-school programs, early childhood development programs, community-based family resource and support centers, the criminal justice system, and other providers of services to children and families. (2) The Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families and the Assistant Secretary of the Health Resources and Services Administration shall be consulted regarding the promulgation of program guidelines and funding priorities under this section. (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may make a grant under paragraph (1) only if, in the case of any service under such paragraph that is covered in the State plan approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.] for the State involved— (I) the entity involved will provide the service directly, and the entity has entered into a participation agreement under the State plan and is qualified to receive payments under such plan; or (II) the entity will enter into an agreement with an organization under which the organization will provide the service, and the organization has entered into such a participation agreement and is qualified to receive such payments; and (ii) the entity will identify children who may be eligible for medical assistance under a State program under title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq., 1397aa et seq.]. (i) regarding the provision of services under paragraph (1), the requirement established in such subparagraph regarding a participation agreement shall be waived by the Secretary if the organization does not, in providing health or mental health services, impose a charge or accept reimbursement available from any third-party payor, including reimbursement under any insurance policy or under any Federal or State health benefits program. (ii) A determination by the Secretary of whether an organization referred to in clause (i) meets the criteria for a waiver under such clause shall be made without regard to whether the organization accepts voluntary donations regarding the provision of services to the public. (b) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees to make available (directly or through agreements with other entities) to children of substance abusers each of the following services: (1) Periodic evaluation of children for developmental, psychological, alcohol and drug, and medical problems. (2) Primary pediatric care. (3) Other necessary health and mental health services. (4) Therapeutic intervention services for children, including provision of therapeutic child care. (5) Developmentally and age-appropriate drug and alcohol early intervention, treatment and prevention services. (6) Counseling related to the witnessing of chronic violence. (7) Referrals for, and assistance in establishing eligibility for, services provided under— (A) education and special education programs; (B) Head Start programs established under the Head Start Act [42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.]; (C) other early childhood programs; (D) employment and training programs; (E) public assistance programs provided by Federal, State, or local governments; and (F) programs offered by vocational rehabilitation agencies, recreation departments, and housing agencies. (8) Additional developmental services that are consistent with the provision of early intervention services, as such term is defined in part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.]. (c) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if, in the case of families in which a member is a substance abuser, the applicant involved agrees to make available (directly or through agreements with other entities) each of the following services, as applicable to the family member involved: (1) Services as follows, to be provided by a public health nurse, social worker, or similar professional, or by a trained worker from the community who is supervised by a professional, or by an entity, where the professional or entity provides assurances that the professional or entity is licensed or certified by the State if required and is complying with applicable licensure or certification requirements: (A) Counseling to substance abusers on the benefits and availability of substance abuse treatment services and services for children of substance abusers. (B) Assistance to substance abusers in obtaining and using substance abuse treatment services and in obtaining the services described in subsection (b) for their children. (C) Visiting and providing support to substance abusers, especially pregnant women, who are receiving substance abuse treatment services or whose children are receiving services under subsection (b). (D) Aggressive outreach to family members with substance abuse problems. (E) Inclusion of consumer in the development, implementation, and monitoring of Family Services Plan. (2) In the case of substance abusers: (A) Alcohol and drug treatment services, including screening and assessment, diagnosis, detoxification, individual, group and family counseling, relapse prevention, pharmacotherapy treatment, after-care services, and case management. (B) Primary health care and mental health services, including prenatal and post partum care for pregnant women. (C) Consultation and referral regarding subsequent pregnancies and life options and counseling on the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. (D) Where appropriate, counseling regarding family violence. (E) Career planning and education services. (F) Referrals for, and assistance in establishing eligibility for, services described in subsection (b)(7). (3) In the case of substance abusers, spouses of substance abusers, extended family members of substance abusers, caretakers of children of substance abusers, and other people significantly involved in the lives of substance abusers or the children of substance abusers: (A) An assessment of the strengths and service needs of the family and the assignment of a case manager who will coordinate services for the family. (B) Therapeutic intervention services, such as parental counseling, joint counseling sessions for families and children, and family therapy. (C) Child care or other care for the child to enable the parent to attend treatment or other activities and respite care services. (D) Parenting education services and parent support groups which include child abuse and neglect prevention techniques. (E) Support services, including, where appropriate, transportation services. (F) Where appropriate, referral of other family members to related services such as job training. (G) Aftercare services, including continued support through parent groups and home visits. (d) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) for the training of health, substance abuse and mental health professionals and other providers of services to children and families through youth service agencies, family social services, child care providers, Head Start, schools and after-school programs, early childhood development programs, community-based family resource centers, the criminal justice system, and other providers of services to children and families. Such training shall be to assist professionals in recognizing the drug and alcohol problems of their clients and to enhance their skills in identifying and understanding the nature of substance abuse, and obtaining substance abuse early intervention, prevention and treatment resources. (e) The Secretary shall distribute the grants through the following types of entities: (1) Alcohol and drug early intervention, prevention or treatment programs, especially those providing treatment to pregnant women and mothers and their children. (2) Public or nonprofit private entities that provide health or social services to disadvantaged populations, and that have— (A) expertise in applying the services to the particular problems of substance abusers and the children of substance abusers; or (B) an affiliation or contractual relationship with one or more substance abuse treatment programs or pediatric health or mental health providers and family mental health providers. (3) Consortia of public or nonprofit private entities that include at least one substance abuse treatment program. (4) Indian tribes. (f) The Federal share of a program carried out under subsection (a) shall be 90 percent. The Secretary shall accept the value of in-kind contributions, including facilities and personnel, made by the grant recipient as a part or all of the non-Federal share of grants. (g) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that the grant will not be expended— (1) to provide inpatient hospital services; (2) to make cash payments to intended recipients of services; (3) to purchase or improve land, purchase, construct, or permanently improve (other than minor remodeling) any building or other facility, or purchase major medical equipment; (4) to satisfy any requirement for the expenditure of non-Federal funds as a condition for the receipt of Federal funds; or (5) to provide financial assistance to any entity other than a public or nonprofit private entity. (h) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved submits to the Secretary— (1) a description of the population that is to receive services under this section and a description of such services that are to be provided and measurable goals and objectives; (2) (3) such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (i) The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that for each fiscal year for which the applicant receives such a grant the applicant, in accordance with uniform standards developed by the Secretary, will submit to the Secretary a report containing— (1) a description of specific services and activities provided under the grant; (2) information regarding progress toward meeting the program’s stated goals and objectives; (3) information concerning the extent of use of services provided under the grant, including the number of referrals to related services and information on other programs or services accessed by children, parents, and other caretakers; (4) information concerning the extent to which parents were able to access and receive treatment for alcohol and drug abuse and sustain participation in treatment over time until the provider and the individual receiving treatment agree to end such treatment, and the extent to which parents re-enter treatment after the successful or unsuccessful termination of treatment; (5) information concerning the costs of the services provided and the source of financing for health care services; (6) information concerning— (A) the number and characteristics of families, parents, and children served, including a description of the type and severity of childhood disabilities, and an analysis of the number of children served by age; (B) the number of children served who remained with their parents during the period in which entities provided services under this section; and (C) the number of case workers or other professionals trained to identify and address substance abuse issues. (7) information on hospitalization or emergency room use by the family members participating in the program; and (8) such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (j) The Secretary may make any grant under subsection (a) only if— (1) an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary; (2) the application contains the agreements required in this section and the information required in subsection (h); and (3) the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section. (k) The Secretary shall periodically conduct evaluations to determine the effectiveness of programs supported under subsection (a)— (1) in reducing the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse among substance abusers participating in the programs; (2) in preventing adverse health conditions in children of substance abusers; (3) in promoting better utilization of health and developmental services and improving the health, developmental, and psychological status of children receiving services under the program; and (4) in improving parental and family functioning, including increased participation in work or employment-related activities and decreased participation in welfare programs. (l) (o), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, a report that contains a description of programs carried out under this section. At a minimum, the report shall contain— (1) information concerning the number and type of programs receiving grants; (2) information concerning the type and use of services offered; and (3) information concerning— (A) the number and characteristics of families, parents, and children served; and (B) (m) The Secretary shall periodically collect and report on information concerning the numbers of children in substance abusing families, including information on the age, gender and ethnicity of the children, the composition and income of the family, and the source of health care finances. The periodic report shall include a quantitative estimate of the prevalence of alcohol and drug problems in families involved in the child welfare system, the barriers to treatment and prevention services facing these families, and policy recommendations for removing the identified barriers, including training for child welfare workers. (n) For purposes of this section: (1) The term “caretaker”, with respect to a child of a substance abuser, means any individual acting in a parental role regarding the child (including any birth parent, foster parent, adoptive parent, relative of such a child, or other individual acting in such a role). (2) The term “children of substance abusers” means— (A) children who have lived or are living in a household with a substance abuser who is acting in a parental role regarding the children; and (B) children who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or other drugs. (3) The term “Indian tribe” means any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.]), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. (4) The term “public or nonprofit private entities that provide health or social services to disadvantaged populations” includes community-based organizations, local public health departments, community action agencies, hospitals, community health centers, child welfare agencies, developmental disabilities service providers, and family resource and support programs. (5) The term “substance abuse” means the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. (o) For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003.