Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2005 - Amends title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth.
Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements; (2) training; (3) screening; (4) educational requirements; (5) federal and nonfederal share of funds for the program; (6) considerations in awarding grants; and (7) use of funds.
Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a state or political subdivision.
Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care.
Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 822 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 822
To support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs
using a network of public and private community entities to provide
mentoring for children in foster care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 15, 2005
Ms. Millender-McDonald introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs
using a network of public and private community entities to provide
mentoring for children in foster care.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2005''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Research shows that caring adults can make a difference
in children's lives. Forty five percent of mentored teens are
less likely to use drugs. Fifty nine percent of mentored teens
have better academic performance. Seventy three percent of
mentored teens achieve higher goals generally.
(2) Children that have mentors have better relationships
with adults, fewer disciplinary referrals, and more confidence
to achieve their goals.
(3) In 2001, over 163,000 children in the foster care
system were under the age of 5 years.
(4) In 2001, over 124,000 children were under the age of 10
when they were removed from their parents or caretakers.
(5) The International Day of the Child, sponsored by
Children United Nations, has served as a great tool to recruit
mentors and partner them with needy foster care children.
(6) On November 10, 2002, as many as 3,000 children will be
matched with mentors as a result of the International Day of
the Child.
(7) States should be encouraged to incorporate mentor
programs into the delivery of their foster care services. The
State of California serves as a great example, matching close
to half a million mentors with needy children.
(8) Mentor programs that serve foster children are unique
and require additional considerations including specialized
training and support necessary to provide for consistent, long
term relationships for children in care.
(9) Mentor programs are cost-effective approaches to
decreasing the occurrence of so many social ills such as teen
pregnancy, substance abuse, incarceration and violence.
SEC. 3. PROGRAMS FOR MENTORING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.
Subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 629 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 440. PROGRAMS FOR MENTORING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.
``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to authorize the
Secretary to make grants to eligible applicants to support the
establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of
public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children
in foster care.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Children in foster care.--The term `children in
foster care' means children who have been removed from the
custody of their biological or adoptive parents by a State
child welfare agency.
``(2) Mentoring.--The term `mentoring' means a structured,
managed program in which children are appropriately matched
with screened and trained adult volunteers for one-on-one
relationships, that involves meetings and activities on a
regular basis, and that is intended to meet, in part, the
child's need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult
who provides a positive role model.
``(3) Political subdivision.--The term `political
subdivision' means a local jurisdiction below the level of the
State government, including a county, parish, borough, or city.
``(c) Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
to award grants to States to support the establishment or
expansion and operation of programs using networks of public
and private community entities to provide mentoring for
children in foster care.
``(2) Grants to political subdivisions.--The Secretary may
award a grant under this subsection directly to a political
subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of
foster care youth (as determined by the Secretary).
``(3) Application requirements.--To be eligible for a grant
under paragraph (1), the chief executive officer of the State
or political subdivision shall submit to the Secretary an
application containing the following:
``(A) Program design.--A description of the
proposed program to be carried out using amounts
provided under this grant, including--
``(i) a list of local public and private
organizations and entities that will
participate in the mentoring network;
``(ii) the name, description, and
qualifications of the entity that will
coordinate and oversee the activities of the
mentoring network;
``(iii) the number of mentor-child matches
proposed to be established and maintained
annually under the program;
``(iv) such information as the Secretary
may require concerning the methods to be used
to recruit, screen support, and oversee
individuals participating as mentors, (which
methods shall include criminal background
checks on the individuals), and to evaluate
outcomes for participating children, including
information necessary to demonstrate compliance
with requirements established by the Secretary
for the program; and
``(v) such other information as the
Secretary may require.
``(B) Training.--An assurance that all mentors
covered under the program will receive intensive and
ongoing training in the following areas:
``(i) Child development, including the
importance of bonding.
``(ii) Family dynamics, including the
effects of domestic violence.
``(iii) Foster care system, principles, and
practices.
``(iv) Recognizing and reporting child
abuse and neglect.
``(v) Confidentiality requirements for
working with children in care.
``(vi) Working in coordination with the
public school system.
``(vii) Other matters related to working
with children in care.
``(C) Screening.--An assurance that all mentors
covered under the program are appropriately screened
and have demonstrated a willingness to comply with all
aspects of the mentor program, including--
``(i) a description of the methods to be
used to conduct criminal background checks on
all prospective mentors; and
``(ii) a description of the methods to be
used to ensure that the mentors are willing and
able to serve as a mentor on a long term,
consistent basis.
``(D) Educational requirements.--An assurance that
all mentors recruited to serve as academic mentors
will--
``(i) have a high school diploma or its
equivalent; and
``(ii) have completed at least 1 year of
study in a program leading to a graduate or
post graduate degree.
``(E) Community consultation; coordination with
other programs.--A demonstration that, in developing
and implementing the program, the State or political
subdivision will, to the extent feasible and
appropriate--
``(i) consult with public and private
community entities, including religious
organizations, and including, as appropriate,
Indian tribal organizations and urban Indian
organizations, and with family members of
potential clients;
``(ii) coordinate the programs and
activities under the program with other
Federal, State, and local programs serving
children and youth; and
``(iii) consult and coordinate with
appropriate Federal, State, and local
corrections, workforce development, and
substance abuse and mental health agencies.
``(F) Equal access for local service providers.--An
assurance that public and private entities and
community organizations, including religious
organizations and Indian organizations, will be
eligible to participate on an equal basis.
``(G) Records, reports, and audits.--An agreement
that the State or political subdivision will maintain
such records, make such reports, and cooperate with
such reviews or audits as the Secretary may find
necessary for purposes of oversight of project
activities and expenditures.
``(H) Evaluation.--An agreement that the State or
political subdivision will cooperate fully with the
Secretary's ongoing and final evaluation of the program
under the plan, by means including providing the
Secretary access to the program and program-related
records and documents, staff, and grantees receiving
funding under the plan.
``(4) Federal share.--
``(A) In general.--A grant for a program under this
subsection shall be available to pay a percentage share
of the costs of the program up to 75 percent for each
year for which the grant is awarded.
``(B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of
the cost of projects under this subsection may be in
cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-
Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market
value to goods, services, and facilities contributed
from non-Federal sources.
``(5) Considerations in awarding grants.--In awarding
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into
consideration--
``(A) the overall qualifications and capacity of
the State or political subdivision program and its
partners to effectively carry out a mentoring program
under this subsection;
``(B) the level and quality of training provided to
mentors under the program;
``(C) evidence of coordination of the program with
the State's or political subdivision's social services
and education programs;
``(D) the ability of the State or political
subdivision to provide supervision and support for
mentors under the program and the youth served by such
mentors;
``(E) evidence of consultation with institutes of
higher learning;
``(F) the number of children in care served by the
State or political subdivision; and
``(G) any other factors that the Secretary
determines to be significant with respect to the need
for or the potential success of carrying out a
mentoring program under this subsection.
``(6) Use of funds.--Of the amount awarded to a State or
political subdivision under a grant under this subsection the
State or subdivision shall--
``(A) use not less than 50 percent of the total
grant amount for the training and ongoing educational
support of mentors; and
``(B) use not more than 10 percent of the total
grant amount for administrative purposes.
``(7) Maximum grant amount.--
``(A) In general.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall consider the number of
children served by the jurisdiction and the grant
amount relative to the need for services.
``(B) Limit.--The amount of a grant awarded to a
State or political subdivision under this subsection
shall not exceed $600,000.
``(8) Annual report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that
includes the following with respect to the year involved:
``(A) A description of the number of programs
receiving grant awards under this subsection.
``(B) A description of the number of mentors who
serve in the programs described in subparagraph (A).
``(C) A description of the number of mentored
foster children--
``(i) who graduate from high school;
``(ii) who enroll in college; and
``(iii) who are adopted by their mentors.
``(D) Any other information that the Secretary
determines to be relevant to the evaluation of the
program under this subsection.
``(9) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct an
evaluation of the effectiveness of programs funded under this
section, including a comparison between the rate of drug and
alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, delinquency, homelessness,
and other outcome measures for mentored foster care youth and
non-mentored foster care youth.
``(10) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection,
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and such
sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
``(d) National Coordination of Statewide Mentoring Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award a competitive
grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline
Service or Website to provide information to individuals who
are interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection,
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and such
sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
``(e) Loan Forgiveness.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Eligible mentor.--The term `eligible mentor'
means an individual who has served as a mentor in a
statewide mentor program established under subsection
(c) for at least 200 hours in a single calendar year.
``(B) Federal student loan.--The term `Federal
student loan' means any loan made, insured, or
guaranteed under part B, D, or E of tide IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(C) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the
Secretary of Education.
``(2) Relief from indebtedness.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of
the Federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible
mentor.
``(B) Method of discharge or cancellation.--A loan
that will be discharged or canceled under the program
under subparagraph (A) shall be discharged or canceled
as provided for using the method under section 437(a),
455(a)(1), or 464(c)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, as applicable.
``(C) Amount of relief.--The amount of relief to be
provided with respect to a loan under this subsection
shall--
``(i) be equal to $2,000 for each 200 hours
of service of an eligible mentor; and
``(ii) not exceed a total of $20,000 for an
eligible individual.
``(3) Facilitation of claims.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) establish procedures for the filing of
applications for the discharge or cancellation of loans
under this subsection by regulations that shall be
prescribed and published within 90 days after the date
of enactment of this section and without regard to the
requirements of section 553 of title 5, United States
Code; and
``(B) take such actions as may be necessary to
publicize the availability of the program established
under this subsection for eligible mentors.
``(4) Funding.--Amounts available for the purposes of
making payments to lenders in accordance with section 437(a) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 for the discharge of
indebtedness of deceased or disabled individuals shall be
available for making payments to lenders of loans to eligible
mentors as provided for in this subsection.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E388)
Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
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