Pub. L. 118–258, title I, §§ 103(c), 108(b), 110(b)(2), 115(b)(2)(D), 117,
(1) in subsection (a), by striking “2017 through 2023” and inserting “2025 through 2029”; and
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “629f(b)(1) of this title” and inserting “629e of this title”; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
(5) Preventive services evaluation partnerships
The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 for grants under section 629e(f) of this title for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
(6) Kinship navigators
The Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under section 627 of this title for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
Pub. L. 118–258, title I, §§ 105(b)–(d), (f)–(l), 115(b)(2)(E), 117,
(f) Targeted grants to implement IV–E prevention services, and improve the well-being of, and improve permanency outcomes for, children and families affected by heroin, opioids, and other substance abuse
(1) Purpose
The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to regional partnerships to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, services and activities that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent’s or caretaker’s substance abuse, and expand the scope of the evidence-based services that may be approved by the clearinghouse established under section 676(d) of this title.
(2) Regional partnership defined
In this subsection, the term “regional partnership” means a collaborative agreement (which may be established on an interstate, State, or intrastate basis) entered into by the following:
(A) Mandatory partners for all partnership grants
(i) The State child welfare agency that is responsible for the administration of the State plan under this part and part E.
(ii) The State agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant provided under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300x–21 et seq.].
(iii) The most appropriate administrative office of the juvenile court or State court overseeing court proceedings involving families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.
(B) Optional partners
At the option of the partnership, any of the following:
(i) An Indian tribe or tribal consortium.
(ii) Nonprofit child welfare service providers.
(iii) For-profit child welfare service providers.
(iv) Community health service providers, including substance abuse treatment providers.
(v) Community mental health providers.
(vi) Local law enforcement agencies.
(vii) School personnel.
(viii) Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortia of the agencies).
(ix) State or local agencies that administer Federal health care, housing, family support, or other related programs.
(x) Any other providers, agencies, personnel, officials, or entities that are related to the provision of child and family services under a State plan approved under this subpart.
(C) Exception for regional partnerships where the lead applicant is an Indian tribe or tribal consortia
If an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a regional partnership for purposes of this subsection, the Indian tribe or tribal consortium—
(i) may (but is not required to) include the State child welfare agency as a partner in the collaborative agreement and
(ii) may not enter into a collaborative agreement only with tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies).
(3) Authority to award grants
(A) In general
The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection, from the amounts reserved for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 under section 629f(b)(4) of this title, to regional partnerships that satisfy the requirements of this subsection, in amounts that are not less than $250,000 and not more than $1,000,000 per grant per fiscal year.
(B) Required minimum period of approval; planning
(i) In general
A grant shall be awarded under this subsection for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, subject to clauses (ii) and (iii).
(ii) Extension of grant
On application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the period for which a grant is awarded under this subsection.
(iii) Sufficient planning
(I) In general
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be disbursed in two phases: a planning phase (not to exceed 2 years) and an implementation phase. The total disbursement to a grantee for the planning phase may not exceed the total anticipated funding for the implementation phase.
(II) Exception
The Secretary, on a case-by-case basis, may waive the planning phase for a partnership that demonstrates that the partnership has engaged in sufficient planning before submitting an application for a grant under this subsection.
(C) Multiple grants allowed
This subsection shall not be interpreted to prevent a grantee from applying for, or being awarded, separate grants under this subsection.
(D) Limitation on payment for a fiscal year
No payment shall be made under subparagraph (A) or (C) for a fiscal year until the Secretary determines that the eligible partnership has made sufficient progress in meeting the goals of the grant and that the members of the eligible partnership are coordinating to a reasonable degree with the other members of the eligible partnership.
(4) Application requirements
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a regional partnership shall submit to the Secretary a written application containing the following:
(A) Recent evidence demonstrating that substance abuse has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(B) A description of the goals and outcomes to be achieved during the funding period for the grant that will—
(i) enhance the well-being of children, parents, and families receiving services or taking part in activities conducted with funds provided under the grant;
(ii) lead to safe, permanent caregiving relationships for the children;
(iii) improve the substance abuse treatment outcomes for parents including retention in treatment and successful completion of treatment;
(iv) facilitate the implementation, delivery, and effectiveness of prevention services and programs under section 671(e) of this title; and
(v) decrease the number of out-of-home placements for children, increase reunification rates for children who have been placed in out-of-home care, or decrease the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(C) A description of the joint activities to be funded in whole or in part with the funds provided under the grant, including the sequencing of the activities proposed to be conducted under the funding period for the grant.
(D) A description of the strategies for integrating programs and services determined to be appropriate for the child and the child’s family.
(E) A description of a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period, including through the use of prevention services and programs under section 671(e) of this title and other funds provided to the State for child welfare and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
(F) Additional information needed by the Secretary to determine that the proposed activities and implementation will be consistent with research or evaluations showing which practices and approaches are most effective.
(5) Use of funds
Funds made available under a grant made under this subsection shall only be used for services or activities that are consistent with the purpose of this subsection and may include the following:
(A) Family-based comprehensive long-term substance use disorder treatment including medication assisted treatment and in-home substance abuse disorder treatment and recovery services.
(B) Early intervention and preventative services.
(C) Children and family counseling.
(D) Mental health services.
(E) Parenting skills training.
(F) Replication of successful models for providing family-based comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment services.
(6) Matching requirement
(A) Federal share
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be available to pay a percentage share of the costs of services provided or activities conducted under such grant, not to exceed—
(i) 85 percent for the first and second fiscal years for which the grant is awarded to a recipient;
(ii) 80 percent for the third and fourth such fiscal years;
(iii) 75 percent for the fifth such fiscal year;
(iv) 70 percent for the sixth such fiscal year; and
(v) 65 percent for the seventh such fiscal year.
(B) Non-Federal share
The non-Federal share of the cost of services provided or activities conducted under a grant awarded under this subsection may be in cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
(7) Considerations in awarding grants
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the extent to which applicant regional partnerships—
(A) demonstrate that substance abuse by parents or caretakers has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region;
(B) have limited resources for addressing the needs of children affected by such abuse;
(C) have a lack of capacity for, or access to, comprehensive family treatment services;
(D) demonstrate a track record of successful collaboration among child welfare, substance abuse disorder treatment and mental health agencies;
(E) demonstrate a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period;
(F) have submitted information pursuant to paragraph (4)(F) that demonstrates the capability to participate in rigorous evaluation of program effectiveness; and
(G) are a State or public agency, or outline a plan to increase the availability of services funded under the grant statewide.
(8) Performance indicators
(A) In general
Not later than 9 months after
(B) Consultation required
In establishing the performance indicators required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall base the performance measures on lessons learned from prior rounds of regional partnership grants under this subsection, and consult with the following:
(i) The Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
(ii) The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(iii) The Administrator of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
(iv) Other stakeholders or constituencies as determined by the Secretary.
(9) Reports
(A) Grantee reports
(i) Semiannual reports
Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year in which a recipient of a grant under this subsection is paid funds under the grant, and every 6 months thereafter, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report on the services provided and activities carried out during the reporting period, progress made in achieving the goals of the program, the number of children, adults, and families receiving services, and such additional information as the Secretary determines is necessary. The report due not later than September 30 of the last such fiscal year shall include, at a minimum, data on each of the performance indicators included in the evaluation of the regional partnership.
(ii) Incorporation of information related to performance indicators
Each recipient of a grant under this subsection shall incorporate into the first annual report required by clause (i) that is submitted after the establishment of performance indicators under paragraph (8), information required in relation to such indicators.
(B) Reports to Congress
On the basis of the reports submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary annually shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on—
(i) the services provided and activities conducted with funds provided under grants awarded under this subsection;
(ii) the performance indicators established under paragraph (8);
(iii) the progress that has been made in addressing the needs of families with substance abuse problems who come to the attention of the child welfare system and in achieving the goals of child safety, permanence, and family stability; and
(iv) whether any programs funded by the grants were submitted to the clearinghouse established under section 676(d) of this title for review and the results of any such review.
(10) Limitation on use of funds for administrative expenses of the Secretary
Not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated or reserved for awarding grants under this subsection may be used by the Secretary for salaries and Department of Health and Human Services administrative expenses in administering this subsection.
See 2025 Amendment notes below.
The Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(A)(ii), is act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682. Subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subpart II (§ 300x–21 et seq.) of part B of subchapter XVII of chapter 6A of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
A prior section 437 of act
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–258, § 103(c), substituted “2025 through 2029” for “2017 through 2023”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 118–258, § 115(b)(2)(D), substituted “629e of this title” for “629f(b)(1) of this title”.
Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 118–258, § 108(b), added par. (5).
Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(b)(2), added par. (6).
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(d)(1), inserted “, and expand the scope of the evidence-based services that may be approved by the clearinghouse established under section 676(d) of this title” before period at end.
Subsec. (f)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(j), added cl. (iii).
Subsec. (f)(2)(B), (C). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(l)(2), redesignated subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text of subpar. (B) read as follows: “If the partnership proposes to serve children in out-of-home placements, the Juvenile Court or Administrative Office of the Court that is most appropriate to oversee the administration of court programs in the region to address the population of families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.”
Subsec. (f)(2)(C)(ix), (x). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(k), added cl. (ix) and redesignated former cl. (ix) as (x).
Subsec. (f)(2)(D). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(l)(2), redesignated subpar. (D) as (C).
Subsec. (f)(2)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(l)(1), struck out cl. (iii) which read as follows: “if the condition described in paragraph (2)(B) applies, may include tribal court organizations in lieu of other judicial partners.”
Subsec. (f)(3)(A). Pub. L. 118–258, § 115(b)(2)(E), substituted “629f(b)(4) of this title” for “629f(b)(5) of this title”.
Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(b)(1), substituted “The Secretary” for “In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary” and “2025 through 2029” for “2017 through 2023”.
Subsec. (f)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(c), designated existing provisions as subcl. (I) and inserted heading, struck out “may not exceed $250,000, and” after “planning phase”, and added subcl. (II).
Subsec. (f)(7)(F). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(d)(2), added subpar. (F).
Subsec. (f)(7)(G). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(i), added subpar. (G).
Subsec. (f)(8)(A). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(f), in first sentence, substituted “the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act” for “this subsection” and inserted “child permanency, reunification, re-entry into care,” before “parental recovery” and “, and access to services for families with substance use disorder, including those with children who are overrepresented in foster care, difficult to place, or have disproportionately low permanency rates” before period at end.
Subsec. (f)(8)(B)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(g), added cl. (iii) and redesignated former cl. (iii) as (iv).
Subsec. (f)(9)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(h), added cl. (iv).
Subsec. (f)(10). Pub. L. 118–258, § 105(b)(2), struck out “for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023” before “may be used”.
2022—Subsecs. (a), (f)(3)(A), (10). Pub. L. 117–328 substituted “2023” for “2021”.
2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50752(b)(2), substituted “2017 through 2021” for “2012 through 2016”.
Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50722(d), added par. (4).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(1), substituted “implement IV–E prevention services, and improve the well-being of, and improve permanency outcomes for, children and families affected by heroin, opioids, and other” for “increase the well-being of, and to improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by” in heading.
Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which defined regional partnership to mean a collaborative agreement, which may be established on an interstate or intrastate basis, entered into by at least 2 of certain entities.
Subsec. (f)(3)(A). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(3)(A), substituted “2017 through 2021” for “2012 through 2016” and “$250,000 and not more than $1,000,000” for “$500,000 and not more than $1,000,000”.
Subsec. (f)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(3)(B)(i), inserted “; planning” after “approval” in heading.
Subsec. (f)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(3)(B)(ii), substituted “clauses (ii) and (iii)” for “clause (ii)”.
Subsec. (f)(3)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(3)(B)(iii), added cl. (iii).
Subsec. (f)(3)(D). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(3)(C), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(i), inserted “, parents, and families” after “children”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(ii), substituted “safe, permanent caregiving relationships for the children;” for “safety and permanence for such children; and”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(iv), added cl. (iii). Former cl. (iii) redesignated (v).
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(iii), substituted “increase reunification rates for children who have been placed in out-of-home care, or decrease” for “or”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(iv), added cl. (iv).
Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(v). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(A)(iv), redesignated cl. (iii) as (v).
Subsec. (f)(4)(D). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(B), struck out “where appropriate,” before “the child’s family”.
Subsec. (f)(4)(E), (F). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(4)(C), added subpars. (E) and (F) and struck out former subpars. (E) and (F) which read as follows:
“(E) A description of the strategies for—
“(i) collaborating with the State child welfare agency described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) (unless that agency is the lead applicant for the regional partnership); and
“(ii) consulting, as appropriate, with—
“(I) the State agency described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii); and
“(II) the State law enforcement and judicial agencies.
To the extent the Secretary determines that the requirement of this subparagraph would be inappropriate to apply to a regional partnership that includes an Indian tribe, tribal consortium, or a tribal child welfare agency or a consortium of such agencies, the Secretary may exempt the regional partnership from the requirement.
“(F) Such other information as the Secretary may require.”
Subsec. (f)(5)(A). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(5), substituted “use disorder treatment including medication assisted treatment and in-home substance abuse disorder treatment and recovery” for “abuse treatment”.
Subsec. (f)(7)(D), (E). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(6), added subpar. (D) and redesignated former subpar. (D) as (E).
Subsec. (f)(8)(A). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(7)(A), substituted “review indicators that are” for “establish indicators that will be” and “and establish a set of core indicators related to child safety, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being. In developing the core indicators, to the extent possible, indicators shall be made consistent with the outcome measures described in section 671(e)(6) of this title” for “in using funds made available under such grants to achieve the purpose of this subsection”.
Subsec. (f)(8)(B). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(7)(B)(i), inserted “base the performance measures on lessons learned from prior rounds of regional partnership grants under this subsection, and” before “consult” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (f)(8)(B)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(7)(B)(ii), added cl. (iii) and struck out former cls. (iii) and (iv) which read as follows:
“(iii) Representatives of States in which a State agency described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(A) is a member of a regional partnership that is a grant recipient under this subsection.
“(iv) Representatives of Indian tribes, tribal consortia, or tribal child welfare agencies that are members of a regional partnership that is a grant recipient under this subsection.”
Subsec. (f)(9)(A)(i). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(8), added cl. (i) and struck out former cl. (i). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Not later than September 30 of the first fiscal year in which a recipient of a grant under this subsection is paid funds under the grant, and annually thereafter until September 30 of the last fiscal year in which the recipient is paid funds under the grant, the recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report on the services provided or activities carried out during that fiscal year with such funds. The report shall contain such information as the Secretary determines is necessary to provide an accurate description of the services provided or activities conducted with such funds.”
Subsec. (f)(10). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50723(9), substituted “2017 through 2021” for “2012 through 2016”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50722(c), added subsec. (g).
2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–34, § 102(a)(2), substituted “2012 through 2016” for “2007 through 2011”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(A), struck out “methamphetamine or other” before “substance abuse” in heading.
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(B), struck out “methamphetamine or other” before “substance abuse”.
Subsec. (f)(3)(A). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(1), substituted “2012 through 2016” for “2007 through 2011”.
Subsec. (f)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(C), added subpars. (B) and (C) and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text of subpar. (B) read as follows: “A grant shall be awarded under this subsection for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years.”
Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(B), struck out “methamphetamine or other” before “substance abuse”.
Subsec. (f)(6)(A)(iv), (v). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(D), added cls. (iv) and (v).
Subsec. (f)(7). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(E), substituted “shall” for “shall—”, struck out subpar. (A) designation before “take”, substituted period for “; and” at end of cl. (iv), redesignated cls. (i) to (iv) of former subpar. (A) as subpars. (A) to (D), respectively, of par. (7) and realigned margins, and struck out subpar. (B) which read as follows: “after taking such factors into consideration, give greater weight to awarding grants to regional partnerships that propose to address methamphetamine abuse and addiction in the partnership region (alone or in combination with other drug abuse and addiction) and which demonstrate that methamphetamine abuse and addiction (alone or in combination with other drug abuse and addiction) is adversely affecting child welfare in the partnership region.”
Subsec. (f)(7)(A)(i). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(B), struck out “methamphetamine or other” before “substance abuse”.
Subsec. (f)(9)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(B), struck out “methamphetamine or other” before “substance abuse”.
Subsec. (f)(10). Pub. L. 112–34, § 103(c)(2)(F), added par. (10).
2008—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(b)(1)(D), (2)(V), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits” for “food stamp”.
2006—Pub. L. 109–288, § 4(b)(2)(B)(i), inserted “and targeted” after “Discretionary” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–288, § 3(b), substituted “2007 through 2011” for “2002 through 2006”.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 109–288, § 5(b)(2)(A), inserted “or tribal consortia” after “Indian tribes” in heading and text.
Pub. L. 109–288, § 5(a)(2), substituted “3 percent” for “2 percent”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–288, § 5(b)(2)(B), inserted “or tribal consortia” after “tribes” in heading and inserted at end “If a consortium of Indian tribes applies and is approved for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.”
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 109–288, § 6(f)(5), substituted “section 623” for “section 621”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–288, § 4(b)(2)(B)(ii), substituted “subsection (a)” for “this section”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–288, § 4(b)(2)(A), added subsec. (f).
Amendment by Pub. L. 118–258 effective
Amendment by sections 50722(c), (d) and 50723 of Pub. L. 115–123 effective
Amendment by Pub. L. 112–34 effective
Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective
Amendment by section 4002(b)(1)(D), (2)(V) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–288 effective
Section effective