Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2022
This bill establishes a pilot program to provide training for caregivers on improving health and other outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities or delays.
To carry out the program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must award grants to, among other eligible entities, health systems and nonprofits to provide the training. HRSA must also establish a national center to provide technical assistance to grant recipients and to evaluate the program.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6783 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6783
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration,
to award grants for providing evidence-based caregiver skills training
to caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other
developmental disabilities or delays, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2022
Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Ms. Wild, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Bacon,
Ms. Dean, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Lee of
California, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Axne, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Matsui,
Mr. Deutch, Ms. Velazquez, Mrs. Hayes, and Ms. Craig) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration,
to award grants for providing evidence-based caregiver skills training
to caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other
developmental disabilities or delays, and for other purposes.
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 ``Autism Family Caregivers Act of
2022''.
SEC. 2. CAREGIVER SKILLS TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration, shall carry out a program, to be known as the Caregiver
Skills Training Pilot Program, under which the Secretary shall award
grants to eligible entities to provide evidence-based caregiver skills
training to caregivers, including family caregivers, of children with
autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays,
for the purposes of--
(1) improving the health outcomes and quality of life of
such children and their caregivers; and
(2) teaching caregivers of such children evidenced-based
intervention strategies to promote--
(A) improvement in the mental and physical well-
being of such children and their caregivers; and
(B) the greater inclusion of such children in
family and community life.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award under
subsection (a), an entity shall be--
(1) a nonprofit or other community-based organization;
(2) a Federally qualified health center;
(3) an academic health center;
(4) a health system; or
(5) a collaboration or consortium of 2 or more entities
listed in paragraphs (1) through (4).
(c) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an eligible
entity shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes--
(1) a description of--
(A) the applicant's experience delivering evidence-
based caregiver skills training to caregivers,
including family caregivers, of children with autism
spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities
or delays;
(B) the activities that the applicant proposes to
carry out through the grant; and
(C) how such activities will achieve the purposes
described in subsection (a); and
(2) a plan for--
(A) coordination with community-based
organizations, State and local early intervention
providers, Medicaid systems, schools, and other
providers of early intervening services;
(B) collaboration with health care payors
(including public and private insurance), State
departments of insurance, health plans, and other
relevant payors;
(C) expanding the skills training program proposed
to be carried out through the grant; and
(D) achieving sustainability of such program.
(d) Selection of Grantees.--
(1) Selection criteria.--In awarding a grant to an eligible
entity or a collaboration or consortium of 2 or more entities
described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall require at
least one of the recipients to--
(A) have at least 3 years of demonstrated
experience--
(i) delivering evidence-based, culturally
competent caregivers skills training programs
described in subsection (a), including in
medically underserved communities;
(ii) providing services to children with
autism spectrum disorder or other developmental
delays and disabilities, as well as
collaborating directly with their families;
(iii) providing individual caregiver
coaching as part of skills training to
caregivers of children with autism spectrum
disorder or other developmental delays and
disabilities; and
(iv) working with self-advocates or adults
with autism spectrum disorder or other
developmental delays and disabilities; and
(B) demonstrate the ability to access resources
from and collaborate with--
(i) health care providers;
(ii) allied health professionals;
(iii) educators;
(iv) social workers; and
(v) nonprofessional family caregivers who
assist with daily living and developmental
activities, including for children with autism
spectrum disorder or other developmental delays
and disabilities.
(2) Reducing disparities.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary may consider, as appropriate, the extent
to which an eligible entity can deliver evidence-based,
culturally competent caregivers skills training programs for
children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental
delays and disabilities from diverse racial, ethnic,
geographic, or linguistic backgrounds.
(e) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section
shall use the grant to provide--
(1) evidence-based caregiver skills training to caregivers
of children with autism spectrum disorders or other
developmental delays and disabilities; and
(2) such training in areas related to children's learning
and development, including--
(A) communication skills;
(B) social engagement;
(C) daily living skills; and
(D) caregiver response strategies to aggressive
behavior.
(f) Requirements.--
(1) Number of recipients and states.--The Secretary shall
award grants under subsection (a) to not fewer than 25 eligible
entities in not fewer than 15 States.
(2) Amount.--The total amount of each grant awarded under
subsection (a) shall be not less than $500,000 over a 5-year
period.
(g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to carry out
this section shall be in addition to amounts made available to provide
for--
(1) behavioral, medical, habilitative, and other services
covered by the Medicaid program or private health insurance;
(2) services provided under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.); or
(3) adaptations of a training program using evidence-based
approaches to serve children of different ages, communities,
and underrepresented groups.
(h) Caregiver Skills Training National Technical Assistance and
Evaluation Center.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish and
operate a center, to be known as the Caregiver Skills Training National
Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center, to--
(1) assist recipients of grants under subsection (a) in the
implementation of caregiver skills training programs using
lessons learned from other evidenced-based activities or
caregiver programs conducted or supported by the Health
Resources and Services Administration;
(2) assist such grant recipients in ensuring their programs
assist medically underserved communities, when possible;
(3) assist such grant recipients in developing plans for
achieving sustainability of their programs;
(4) collect and report on the effectiveness of practices
adopted pursuant to grants under subsection (a);
(5) conduct an annual evaluation of activities funded
through grants under subsection (a), in consultation with the
grant recipients, including evaluation of the effectiveness of
such grants at improving health outcomes and quality of life
for children with autism spectrum disorder or other
developmental delays and disabilities and their family
caregivers;
(6) convene national or regional meetings of such grant
recipients to discuss best practices; and
(7) provide other assistance as needed to improve or carry
out the program under this section.
(i) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 6 months after awarding
the first grant under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, and to other appropriate
congressional committees, a report on the implementation of
this section. Such report shall include--
(A) how many grants have been awarded;
(B) the name and location of the grant recipients;
(C) the communities impacted by the grants;
(D) a description of the kind of activities to be
carried out with the grants;
(E) an analysis, conducted by the Caregiver Skills
Training National Technical Assistance and Evaluation
Center in consultation with the recipients of grants
under subsection (a), of the effectiveness of such
grants at improving health outcomes and quality of life
for children with autism or other developmental
disabilities or delays and their family caregivers; and
(F) best practices, developed in consultation with
the Caregiver Skills Training National Technical
Assistance and Evaluation Center, to increase access to
caregiver skills training programs described in
subsection (a) in medically underserved communities.
(2) Final report.--Not later than the end of fiscal year
2027, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
and to other appropriate congressional committees, a final
report on the implementation of this section, including--
(A) the information, analysis, and best practices
listed in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph
(1); and
(B) recommendations on how to expand and extend the
program under this section.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``family caregiver'' means an adult family
member or other individual who has a significant relationship
with, and who provides a broad range of assistance to, a child
between the ages of 0 and 9 diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays.
(2) The term ``Federally qualified health center'' has the
meaning given the term in section 1861(aa) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)).
(3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health
and Human Services.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2027.
(2) Allocation for center.--Of the amount authorized by
paragraph (1) to be appropriated to carry out this section for
a fiscal year, $450,000 shall be for establishing or operating
the Caregiver Skills Training National Technical Assistance and
Evaluation Center.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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