---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 290ee–5a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "290ee–5a"
heading: "Sobriety treatment and recovery teams"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/290ee-5a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III–A — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration"
  - "Part D — Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health"
---

# §290ee–5a. Sobriety treatment and recovery teams

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may make grants to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), units of local government, or tribal governments to establish or expand Sobriety [Treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) And Recovery Team (referred to in this section as “START”) or other similar [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to determine the effectiveness of pairing social workers or mentors with families that are struggling with a substance use disorder and child abuse or neglect in order to help provide peer support, intensive [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and child welfare [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to such families.
- (b) **Allowable uses—** A grant awarded under this section may be used for one or more of the following activities:
  - (1) Training eligible staff, including social workers, social [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) coordinators, child welfare specialists, substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) professionals, and mentors.
  - (2) Expanding access to substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) testing.
  - (3) Enhancing data sharing with law enforcement [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), child welfare [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), substance use disorder [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), judges, and court personnel.
  - (4) [Program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) evaluation and technical assistance.
- (c) **Program requirements—** A [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), unit of local government, or tribal government receiving a grant under this section shall—
  - (1) serve only families for which—
    - (A) there is an open record with the child welfare [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
    - (B) substance use disorder was a reason for the record or finding described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1);[^1] and
  - (2) coordinate any grants awarded under this section with any grant awarded under [section 629g(f) of this title](/usc/42/629g.md?p=f) focused on improving outcomes for children affected by substance abuse.
- (d) **Technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may reserve not more than 5 percent of funds provided under this section to provide technical assistance on the establishment or expansion of [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) funded under this section from the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph (A)”.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 550A, formerly § 550, as added Pub. L. 115–271, title VIII, § 8214, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4116; renumbered § 550A, Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, § 1237, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5677.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 290ee–10 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 117–328.