,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ajgj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #i1 #bjai ,mr4 ,kaine introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to fund demonstration projects to improve recruitment and retention of child welfare workers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,child ,welfare ,workforce ,support ,act4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to demonstrate the impact of recruitment and retention strategies in the child welfare workforce and identify effective evidence-based strategies for improved worker recruitment1 retention1 and advancement4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term caseworker means an individual employed or contracted by a ,state who works in the field of prevention1 identification1 and treatment of child abuse and neglect2 7#b7 the term child welfare workforce means professional and paraprofessional personnel employed by1 or affiliated with1 a ,state in the fields of health care1 medicine1 law enforcement1 judiciary1 social work and child protection1 education1 child care1 and other relevant fields1 or individuals such as court appointed special advocates or guardian ad litem1 who are engaged in1 or intend to work in1 the field of prevention1 identification1 and treatment of child abuse and neglect2 7#c7 the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term ,indian tribe in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b72 7#d7 the term secondary trauma means the secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma that can occur when a professional experiences stress or symptoms of trauma when working with children and families who are experiencing abuse1 neglect1 or family violence2 7#e7 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services2 and 7#f7 the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #c of the ,child ,abuse ,prevention and ,treatment ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja note74 #d4 ,demonstration program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct a #e-year demonstration program under which the ,secretary awards1 on a competitive basis1 grants to eligible entities to plan and implement activities to achieve the strategic objectives described in subsection 7d7 with respect to the child welfare workforce4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a ,state or local governmental agency1 ,indian ,tribe or ,tribal organization1 a nonprofit entity1 or the lead entity administering a grant to the applicable ,state or ,indian ,tribe under title ,,ii of the ,child ,abuse ,prevention and ,treatment ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaaf et seq474 7c7 ,applications ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 a description of the strategic objectives described in subsection 7d7 that the eligible entity intends to strengthen the child welfare workforce2 7#b7 a description of the eligible entity and evidence of the eligible entity's capacity to carry out activities to achieve the strategic objectives as described under paragraph 7#a72 7#c7 an analysis of child welfare workforce needs of the ,state1 and barriers to recruitment and retention of such workforce1 including the impact of caseloads1 salaries1 and workplace violence prevention plans on retention1 and which may include consideration of any employee surveys on the organizational structure of relevant entities2 7#d7 a description of the current or prospective employees that will be targeted or recruited by the strategic objectives selected from subsection 7d71 including an analysis of the demographic characteristics of the child welfare workforce2 7#e7 a description of the activities the eligible entity intends to undertake to sustainable progress towards achieving such strategic objectives2 7#f7 a description of the performance measures the eligible entity intends to use to measure progress towards achieving such strategic objectives2 7#g7 a description of the eligible entity's pre-service training and continuum of support that such entity intends to use for the child welfare workforce1 including professionalization of the supervisory workforce2 7#h7 a description of the ,federal and non-,federal resources1 available under provisions of law other than this section and the ,child ,abuse ,prevention and ,treatment ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaja et seq471 that will be leveraged in support of the activities under the grant2 7#i7 a timeline for implementing and making progress towards achieving such strategic objectives1 and assurances that the eligible entity will provide periodic reports to the ,secretary on such progress1 as the ,secretary may require2 and 7#aj7 an identification of technology infrastructure updates the eligible entity intends to employ in order to improve case worker support4 7d7 ,strategic objectives ,the activities to be carried out under each grant awarded under this section shall be designed to achieve strategic objectives that-- 7#a7 include-- 7,a7 analysis of the child welfare workforce needs in the applicable ,state1 in order to reduce barriers to recruitment1 development1 and retention of such workforce1 which may include conducting a time study to determine how the child welfare workforce allocated working hours toward required work activities2 7,b7 planning for the recruitment1 hiring1 and pre-service training of prospective caseworkers and other members of the child welfare workforce1 utilizing evidence-based1 evidence-informed1 or other promising practices2 7,c7 planning for ongoing professional development opportunities and continuum of support to improve retention of child welfare workforce2 and 7,d7 consideration of best practices to meet the unique needs and development of infants1 children1 and youth1 including such individuals with disabilities and children under the age of #c2 and 7#b7 may include updating technology infrastructure in child welfare work systems and data sharing across child-serving systems4 7e7 ,award requirements 7#a7 ,duration ,each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period not to exceed #e years1 subject to the availability of funds4 7#b7 ,amount ,each grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount that is not more than #ajj1jjj per year for the duration of the grant period4 ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may allocate not more than #e percent of the funds awarded through a grant under this section to administrative expenses4 7#c7 ,allocation of awards ,the ,secretary shall award up to #aj grants to ,states or counties and up to #c grants to ,indian ,tribes1 and shall ensure that grantees are regionally diverse and serve both rural and urban populations4 7#d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that have high rates of child welfare workforce turnover4 7f7 ,demonstration project activities 7#a7 ,required activities ,to achieve the strategic objectives identified in an eligible entity's application under subsection 7c77#c71 each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall carry out the following activities1 in a manner that integrates services and funding sources to ensure effectiveness of the activities and that uses the grant funds efficiently3 7,a7 ,recruitment and hiring efforts ,the eligible entity shall provide services to expand awareness of1 interest in1 and preparation for1 careers in the child welfare workforce1 which-- 7i7 shall include prioritizing recruitment of nontraditional candidates 7such as older workers transitioning from other fields or reentering the workforce after raising families2 candidates whose race1 ethnicity1 and language capacity are reflective of communities they will be serving2 or students72 and 7ii7 may include-- 7,i7 updating child welfare workforce marketing and recruitment materials2 7,,ii7 developing partnerships between the ,state and institutions of higher education to implement training programs specific to the needs of the child welfare workforce of the ,state2 7,,iii7 providing internship and job shadowing opportunities for individuals considering careers in the child welfare workforce2 7,,iv7 developing a competency-based recruitment1 screening1 and selection process that may include completion of realistic caseworker exercises2 7,v7 developing and using simulation activities to share with potential new caseworkers during the application process2 7,,vi7 creating materials depicting real job experiences and interactions with clients1 emphasizing the direct impact that caseworker turnover has on children2 and 7,,vii7 developing publicly available career opportunity hub and offer position matching services4 7,b7 ,support services ,the eligible entity shall provide services to support the success of individuals employed by a child welfare agency1 which shall include the following3 7i7 ,early employment services ,services provided to such individuals who are in their first #f months of employment in the child welfare workforce1 to ensure that such individuals succeed in such careers1 including-- 7,i7 mentoring from colleague with #b or more years of child welfare work experience and may include compensation for mentors2 7,,ii7 phased training and orientation over initial #f months of employment1 including explicit training related to identifying traumatic stress and secondary traumatic stress and support resources available to employees2 7,,iii7 joint field visits with experienced child welfare worker2 and 7,,iv7 low-risk initial caseload assignment with gradual increase in caseload size and difficulty4 7ii7 ,employment services ,services to ensure that such individuals employed by the ,state for more than #f months have access to ongoing professional development and support to increase job sustainability and long-term retention1 which-- 7,i7 shall include-- 7aa7 providing peer mentoring1 a crisis helpline1 and onsite crisis response to address traumatic stress and secondary traumatic stress for caseworkers2 7bb7 providing support for supervisory personnel1 including by conducting interviews1 to assist employees in long-term career planning and discuss opportunities for advancement within the child welfare workforce2 7cc7 developing best practices to address caseworker burnout and other areas known to increase turnover2 and 7dd7 providing a system of career advancement with wage progression and opportunities to attain further education and professional development2 and 7,,ii7 may include-- 7aa7 creating additional positions to achieve manageable caseloads that reflect industry standards such as coaches1 mental health specialists1 substance abuse specialists1 homelessness specialist1 developmental disability specialists1 and child psychiatrists2 7bb7 safety awareness training and supports in the field2 7cc7 providing multi-modal training opportunities 7such as e,learning1 blended classroom1 video1 webinar1 and tools and job aids72 and 7dd7 providing employee wellness programs and educational leave4 7#b7 ,technology infrastructure ,in addition to the activities under paragraph 7#a71 an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use such grant funds to identify and act upon opportunities for technology infrastructure updates to ,state systems to support the child welfare workforce1 which may include-- 7,a7 ensuring technological accessibility for child welfare workers and other systems serving children and families2 7,b7 equipping caseworkers with smart phones1 tablets1 or laptop computers2 7,c7 providing technology professional development2 7,d7 improving mobile and remote access capabilities for use of telehealth or similar services2 and 7,e7 addressing other needs within ,states4 7g7 ,evaluation and progress reports ,not later than #b years after receiving a grant under this section1 and annually thereafter until the grant period ends1 each eligible entity shall submit a report to the ,secretary and to the governor of the ,state in which the eligible entity serves1 that describes-- 7#a7 the activities funded by the grant2 and 7#b7 the progress the eligible entity has made towards achieving the strategic objectives identified under subsection 7d77#c74 7h7 ,administration by the ,secretary 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may use not more than #aj percent of the amount appropriated under subsection 7i7 for each fiscal year for administrative expenses to carry out this section1 including the expenses of providing the technical assistance and oversight activities under paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,technical assistance2 oversight ,the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance and oversight to assist eligible entities in applying for grants under this section and carrying out programs using grants awarded under this section4 7#c7 ,evaluation and report 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct an evaluation of each grant awarded under this section and submit to ,congress a report on such evaluation4 ,such report shall-- 7i7 examine the results of the recruitment and retention initiatives supported by the ,states on the outcomes of the activities under subsection 7f72 and 7ii7 be completed not later than #ahj days after the date on which the ,secretary receives the report under subsection 7g7 from an eligible entity4 7,b7 ,data ,recipients of grants under this section shall submit to the ,secretary any data the ,secretary may require for the evaluation and report under this paragraph4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4