(3)
Conditions for State eligibility
For purposes of a new demonstration project under this section that is initially approved in any of fiscal years 2012 through 2014, a State shall be authorized to conduct such demonstration project only if the State satisfies the following conditions:
(A)
Identify 1 or more goals
(i)
In general
The State shall demonstrate that the demonstration project is designed to accomplish 1 or more of the following goals:
(I)
Increase permanency for all infants, children, and youth by reducing the time in foster placements when possible and promoting a successful transition to adulthood for older youth.
(II)
Increase positive outcomes for infants, children, youth, and families in their homes and communities, including tribal communities, and improve the safety and well-being of infants, children, and youth.
(III)
Prevent child abuse and neglect and the re-entry of infants, children, and youth into foster care.
(ii)
Long-term therapeutic family treatment centers; addressing domestic violence
With respect to a demonstration project that is designed to accomplish 1 or more of the goals described in clause (i), the State may elect to establish a program—
(I)
to permit foster care maintenance payments to be made under part E of subchapter IV to a long-term therapeutic family treatment center (as described in paragraph (8)(B)) on behalf of a child residing in the center; or
(II)
to identify and address domestic violence that endangers children and results in the placement of children in foster care.
(B)
Demonstrate readiness
(C)
Demonstrate implemented or planned child welfare program improvement policies
(ii)
Previous implementation
(iii)
Implementation review
(7)
Child welfare program improvement policies
For purposes of paragraph (3)(C), the child welfare program improvement policies described in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
The establishment of a bill of rights for infants, children, and youth in foster care that is widely shared and clearly outlines protections for infants, children, and youth, such as assuring frequent visits with parents, siblings, and caseworkers, access to attorneys, and participation in age-appropriate extracurricular activities, and procedures for ensuring the protections are provided.
(B)
The development and implementation of a plan for meeting the health and mental health needs of infants, children, and youth in foster care that includes ensuring that the provision of health and mental health care is child-specific, comprehensive, appropriate, and consistent (through means such as ensuring the infant, child, or youth has a medical home, regular wellness medical visits, and addressing the issue of trauma, when appropriate).
(C)
The inclusion in the State plan under
section 671 of this title of an amendment implementing the option under subsection (a)(28) of that section to enter into kinship guardianship assistance agreements.
(D)
The election under the State plan under
section 671 of this title to define a “child” for purposes of the provision of foster care maintenance payments, adoption assistance payments, and kinship guardianship assistance payments, so as to include individuals described in each of subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of
section 675(8)(B)(i) of this title who have not attained age 21.
(E)
The development and implementation of a plan that ensures congregate care is used appropriately and reduces the placement of children and youth in such care.
(F)
Of those infants, children, and youth in out-of-home placements, substantially increasing the number of cases of siblings who are in the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoptive placement, above the number of such cases in fiscal year 2008.
(G)
The development and implementation of a plan to improve the recruitment and retention of high quality foster family homes trained to help assist infants, children, and youth swiftly secure permanent families. Supports for foster families under such a plan may include increasing maintenance payments to more adequately meet the needs of infants, children, and youth in foster care and expanding training, respite care, and other support services for foster parents.
(H)
The establishment of procedures designed to assist youth as they prepare for their transition out of foster care, such as arranging for participation in age-appropriate extra-curricular activities, providing appropriate access to cell phones, computers, and opportunities to obtain a driver’s license, providing notification of all sibling placements if siblings are in care and sibling location if siblings are out of care, and providing counseling and financial support for post-secondary education.
(I)
The inclusion in the State plan under
(i)
ensuring that youth in foster care who have attained age 16 are engaged in discussions, including during the development of the transition plans required under paragraphs (1)(D) and (5)(H) of
section 675 of this title, that explore whether the youth wishes to reconnect with the youth’s biological family, including parents, grandparents, and siblings, and, if so, what skills and strategies the youth will need to successfully and safely reconnect with those family members;
(ii)
providing appropriate guidance and services to youth whom
1
So in original. Probably should be “who”.
affirm an intent to reconnect with biological family members on how to successfully and safely manage such reconnections; and
(iii)
making, when appropriate, efforts to include biological family members in such reconnection efforts.
(J)
The establishment of one or more of the following programs designed to prevent infants, children, and youth from entering foster care or to provide permanency for infants, children, and youth in foster care:
(i)
An intensive family finding program.
(ii)
A kinship navigator program.
(iii)
A family counseling program, such as a family group decision-making program, and which may include in-home peer support for families.
(iv)
A comprehensive family-based substance abuse treatment program.
(v)
A program under which special efforts are made to identify and address domestic violence that endangers infants, children, and youth and puts them at risk of entering foster care.
(vi)
A mentoring program.
(8)
Definitions
In this subsection—
(A)
the term “youth” means, with respect to a State, an individual who has attained age 12 but has not attained the age at which an individual is no longer considered to be a child under the State plans under parts B and E of subchapter IV, and
(B)
the term “long-term therapeutic family treatment center” means a State licensed or certified program that enables parents and their children to live together in a safe environment for a period of not less than 6 months and provides, on-site or by referral, substance abuse treatment services, children’s early intervention services, family counseling, legal services, medical care, mental health services, nursery and preschool, parenting skills training, pediatric care, prenatal care, sexual abuse therapy, relapse prevention, transportation, and job or vocational training or classes leading to a secondary school diploma or a certificate of general equivalence.