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Title II — Improving Resources for Domestic Violence and Family Strengthening

S. 4844 · 116th Congress · Oct 22, 2020 · Lineage

II Improving Resources for Domestic Violence and Family Strengthening

Sec. 201 Best practices for coordination of policy to address domestic violence and family engagement

The Secretary shall develop a coordinated policy to address domestic violence and family strengthening that—
(1)
establishes criteria and best practices for coordination and partnership between domestic violence shelter and service organizations and responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage promotion programs;
(2)
not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue guidance containing such criteria and best practices; and
(3)
update and reissue such criteria and best practices at least once every 5 years.

Sec. 202 Grants supporting healthy family partnerships for domestic violence intervention and prevention

Section 403(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(6) Grants supporting healthy family partnerships for domestic violence intervention and prevention

“(A) In general—The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to healthy family partnerships to build capacity for, and facilitate such partnerships.

“(B) Use of funds—Funds made available under a grant awarded under this paragraph may be used for staff training, the provision of domestic violence intervention and prevention services, and the dissemination of best practices for—

“(i) assessing and providing services to individuals and families affected by domestic violence, including through caseworker training, the provision of technical assistance to other community partners, the implementation of safe visitation and exchange programs, and the implementation of safe child support procedures; or

“(ii) preventing domestic violence, particularly as a barrier to economic security, and fostering healthy relationships.

“(C) Application—The respective entity and organization of a healthy family partnership entered into for purposes of receiving a grant under this paragraph shall submit a joint application to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall specify, containing—

“(i) a description of how the partnership intends to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (B), including a detailed plan for how the entity and organization comprising the partnership will collaborate;

“(ii) an assurance that funds made available under the grant shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other funds used by the entity or organization to carry out programs, activities, or services described in subparagraph (B); and

“(iii) such other information as the Secretary may require.

“(D) General rules governing use of funds—Neither the rules of section 404 (other than subsection (b) of that section), nor section 417 shall apply to a grant made under this paragraph.

“(E) Definitions—In this paragraph:

“(i) Domestic violence—The term domestic violence means violence between intimate partners, which involves any form of physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological aggression, by a current or former intimate partner.

“(ii) Healthy family partnership—The term healthy family partnership means a partnership between—

“(I) an entity receiving funds under—

“(aa) a grant made under paragraph (2) to promote healthy marriage or responsible fatherhood; or

“(bb) the pilot program established under section 469C; and

“(II) a domestic violence shelter and service organization.

“(F) Appropriation—Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, $25,000,000 to carry out this paragraph.”

Sec. 203 Procedures to address domestic violence

(a)
In general— Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), as amended by subsections (c) and (h) of section 101, is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(2)
by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

“(D) Requirements for receipt of funds—An entity may not be awarded a grant under this paragraph unless the entity, as a condition of receiving funds under such a grant—

“(i) agrees to coordinate with the State domestic violence coalition (as defined in section 302(11) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10402(11)));

“(ii) identifies in its application for the grant the domestic violence shelter and service organization at the local, State, or national level with whom the entity will partner with respect to the development and implementation of the programs and activities of the entity;

“(iii) describes in such application how the programs or activities proposed in the application will address, as appropriate, issues of domestic violence, and contains a commitment by the entity to consult with experts in domestic violence or relevant domestic violence shelter and service organizations in the community in developing the programs and activities;

“(iv) describes in such application the roles and responsibilities of the entity and the domestic violence shelter and service organization, including with respect to training, cross-trainings for each entity, development of protocols using comprehensive and evidence-based practices and tools, and reporting, and the resources that each partner will be responsible for bringing to the program;

“(v) on award of the grant, and in consultation with the domestic violence shelter and service organization, develops and submits to the Secretary for approval, a written protocol using comprehensive and evidence-based practices and tools which describes—

“(I) how the entity will identify instances or risks of domestic violence among participants in the program and their families;

“(II) the procedures for responding to such instances or risks, including making service referrals, assisting with safety planning, and providing protections and other appropriate assistance for identified individuals and families;

“(III) how confidentiality issues will be addressed; and

“(IV) the training on domestic violence that will be provided to ensure effective and consistent implementation of the protocol;

“(vi) describes the entity's plan to build the capacity of program staff and other partners to address and communicate with parents about domestic violence;

“(vii) provides an assurance that the program staff will include a domestic violence coordinator to serve as the lead staff person on domestic violence for the entity (which may be funded with funds made available under the grant); and

“(viii) in an annual report to the Secretary, includes a description of the domestic violence protocols, and a description of any implementation issues identified with respect to domestic violence and how the issues were addressed.

“(E) Domestic violence defined—In this paragraph, the term domestic violence means violence between intimate partners, which involves any form of physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological aggression, by a current or former intimate partner.”

(b)
Conforming amendments— Section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), is further amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A)(i)—
(A)
by striking “and (E)” and inserting “(D), and (G)”; and
(B)
by striking “(D)” and inserting “(F)”; and
(2)
in subparagraphs (B)(i) and (C)(i), by striking “(D)” each place it appears and inserting “(F)”.
(c)
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2021.