Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Communities Advancing Reunification Efforts Act” or the “CARE Act”.
Communities Advancing Reunification Efforts Act
A BILL
To amend the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment Program to promote reunifying families, community-based care, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Incentive payments to States for increasing successful reunifications of children with their families
by striking “and” at the end of subparagraph (C);
by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(E) $500, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
“(i) the number of successful reunifications in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
“(ii) the number of successful reunifications in the State during the preceding fiscal year.”
Limitation on use of incentive payment— Section 473A(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(f)) is amended by striking “(including post-adoption services) that may be provided under part B or E” and inserting “that may be provided under part B or E (including post-adoption services, and community-based, trauma-informed services to assist in reuniting and strengthening families)”.
Definition of successful reunification— Section 473A(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(13) Successful reunification—The term “successful reunification” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the number of qualified children with respect to the State who—
“(A) in the preceding fiscal year, were reunified with their biological families in the State within 1 year after removal; and
“(B) have remained with their biological families, without re-entry into foster care, for at least 1 year after reunification.
“(14) Qualified child—The term “qualified child” means, with respect to a State, a child—
“(A) who is not ineligible for foster care under the supervision of the State by reason of age; and
“(B) the parental rights with respect to whom have not been terminated.”
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect when the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that the information needed to implement the amendments is available.