Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018

Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide resources to early childhood care and education providers and other professionals working with young children on ways to recognize and respond to children who may be affected by a family member's or other adult's substance abuse. Such resources must include information on risk-assessment, age-appropriate care, and response options that support the whole family.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5889 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5889

 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate 
information, resources, and if requested, technical assistance to early 
 childhood care and education providers and professionals working with 
 young children on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 
       who may be impacted by trauma related to substance abuse.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2018

  Mr. Brat (for himself and Mr. O'Halleran) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to disseminate 
information, resources, and if requested, technical assistance to early 
 childhood care and education providers and professionals working with 
 young children on ways to properly recognize and respond to children 
       who may be impacted by trauma related to substance abuse.

    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 ``Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma 
Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. RECOGNIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

    (a) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall disseminate information, resources, and, if 
requested, technical assistance to early childhood care and education 
providers and professionals working with young children on--
            (1) ways to properly recognize children who may be impacted 
        by trauma related to substance abuse by a family member or 
        other adult, and
            (2) how to respond appropriately in order to provide for 
        the safety and well-being of young children and their families.
    (b) Goals.--The information, resources, and technical assistance 
provided under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) educate early childhood care and education providers 
        and professionals working with young children on understanding 
        and identifying the early signs and risk factors of children 
        who might be impacted by trauma due to exposure to substance 
        abuse,
            (2) suggest age-appropriate communication tools, 
        procedures, and practices for trauma-informed care, including 
        ways to prevent or mitigate the effects of trauma,
            (3) provide options for responding to children impacted by 
        trauma due to exposure to substance abuse that consider the 
        needs of the child and family, including recommending resources 
        and referrals for evidence-based services to support such 
        family, and
            (4) promote whole-family and multi-generational approaches 
        to prevent separation and support re-unification of families 
        whenever possible and in the best interest of the child.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Such information, resources, and if 
applicable, technical assistance, shall not be construed to amend the 
requirements under--
            (1) the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
        (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.),
            (2) the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), or
            (3) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
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