---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1397n–12"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1397n–12"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1397n-12"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter XX — Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice"
  - "Division C — Social Impact Demonstration Projects"
---

# §1397n–12. Definitions


In this division:

- (1) **Agency—** The term “agency” has the meaning given that term in [section 551 of title 5](/usc/5/551.md).
- (2) **Intervention—** The term “intervention” means a specific service delivered to achieve an impact through a [social impact partnership project](#4).
- (3) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6)” means the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) of the Treasury.
- (4) **Social impact partnership project—** The term “social impact partnership project” means a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) that finances [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) services using a [social impact partnership model](#5).
- (5) **Social impact partnership model—** The term “social impact partnership model” means a method of financing [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) services in which—
  - (A) Federal funds are awarded to a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government only if a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government achieves certain outcomes agreed on by the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government and the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6); and
  - (B) the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government coordinates with service providers, investors (if applicable to the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2)), and (if necessary) an intermediary to identify—
    - (i) an [intervention](#2) expected to produce the outcome;
    - (ii) a service provider to deliver the [intervention](#2) to the target population; and
    - (iii) investors to fund the delivery of the [intervention](#2).
- (6) **State—** The term “[State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5)” means each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2), the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, [territory](/usc/42/701.md?p=c-5-C) or possession of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2), and each federally recognized [Indian tribe](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A).

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2063, as added Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VIII, § 50802(2), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 282.)