§ 5117aa-11. Establishment of local projects
(a)
In general
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of developing, implementing, and operating projects to demonstrate methods—
(1)
to prevent the abandonment of infants and young children, including the provision of services to members of the natural family for any condition that increases the probability of abandonment of an infant or young child;
(3)
to assist abandoned infants and young children to reside with their natural families or in foster care, as appropriate;
(5)
to carry out residential care programs for abandoned infants and young children who are unable to reside with their families or to be placed in foster care;
(6)
to carry out programs of respite care for families and foster families of infants and young children described in subsection (b);
(7)
to recruit and train health and social services personnel to work with families, foster care families, and residential care programs for abandoned infants and young children; and
(8)
to prevent the abandonment of infants and young children, and to care for the infants and young children who have been abandoned, through model programs providing health, educational, and social services at a single site in a geographic area in which a significant number of infants and young children described in subsection (b) reside (with special consideration given to applications from entities that will provide the services of the project through community-based organizations).
(b)
Priority in provision of services
The Secretary may not make a grant under subsection (a) unless the applicant for the grant agrees to give priority to abandoned infants and young children who—
(c)
Case plan with respect to foster care
The Secretary may not make a grant under subsection (a) unless the applicant for the grant agrees that, if the applicant expends the grant to carry out any program of providing care to infants and young children in foster homes or in other nonmedical residential settings away from their parents, the applicant will ensure that—
(1)
a case plan of the type described in paragraph (1) of section
675 of this title is developed for each such infant and young child (to the extent that such infant and young child is not otherwise covered by such a plan); and
(d)
Administration of grant
(1)
The Secretary may not make a grant under subsection (a) unless the applicant for the grant agrees—
(A)
to use the funds provided under this section only for the purposes specified in the application submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary pursuant to subsection (e);
(B)
to establish such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting of Federal funds paid to the applicant under this section;
(C)
to report to the Secretary annually on the utilization, cost, and outcome of activities conducted, and services furnished, under this section; and
(D)
that if, during the majority of the 180-day period preceding October 18, 1988, the applicant has carried out any program with respect to the care of abandoned infants and young children, the applicant will expend the grant only for the purpose of significantly expanding, in accordance with subsection (a), activities under such program above the level provided under such program during the majority of such period.
(2)
Subject to the availability of amounts made available in appropriations Acts for the fiscal year involved, the duration of a grant under subsection (a) shall be for a period of 3 years, except that the Secretary—
(e)
Requirement of application
The Secretary may not make a grant under subsection (a) unless—
(f)
Technical assistance to grantees
The Secretary may, without charge to any grantee under subsection (a), provide technical assistance (including training) with respect to the planning, development, and operation of projects described in such subsection. The Secretary may provide such technical assistance directly, through contracts, or through grants.
(g)
Technical assistance with respect to process of applying for grant
The Secretary may provide technical assistance (including training) to public and nonprofit private entities with respect to the process of applying to the Secretary for a grant under subsection (a). The Secretary may provide such technical assistance directly, through contracts, or through grants.
(h)
Priority requirement
In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to applicants located in States that have developed and implemented procedures for expedited termination of parental rights and placement for adoption of infants determined to be abandoned under State law.