,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aiab ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ai1 #bjai,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself and ,mr4 ,lankford7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a national1 research-based1 and comprehensive home study assessment process for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents and provide funding to ,states and ,indian tribes to adopt such process4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,adoption and ,foster ,care ,home ,study ,act4 #b4 ,demonstration program for the implementation of a national home study process ,title ,,ii of the ,child ,abuse ,prevention and ,treatment ,act and ,adoption ,reform ,act of #aigh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaaa et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #bjc7;b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaac7;b77-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#c77;,a71 by striking 7including and inserting 7including the national database established under section #bjc;,a7c7 but containing2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#aj77;,b71 by striking 2 and and inserting 22 7,c7 in paragraph 7#aa77;,c71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#ab7 establish a demonstration program1 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,national ,adoption and ,foster ,care ,home ,study ,act1 through which each participating ,state or ,indian tribe-- 7,a7 adopts the uniform1 research-based home study methodology for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents developed by the ,secretary under section #bjc;,a7a72 and 7,b7 provides data gathered through operation of the program to the ,secretary1 as the ,secretary may require for purposes of the national database under section #bjc;,a7c74 2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #bjc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaac7 the following3 #bjc;,a4 ,national home study demonstration programs2 ,national database 7a7 ,program methodology ,each demonstration program established by a ,state or ,indian tribe in accordance with section #bjc7;b77#ab7 shall use a uniform1 research-based home study methodology for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents 7developed by the ,secretary after consultation with stakeholders and professionals in the field of child welfare7 that shall-- 7#a7 incorporate-- 7,a7 information gathering tools1 including-- 7i7 an initial written questionnaire that is a uniform set of closed-ended questions with a variety of possible answers that provides significant family information2 7ii7 a secondary in-person questionnaire that is administered in a private setting in the home1 and1 if applicable1 with both applicants present together2 and 7iii7 guidelines that describe standardized questions that an individual serving as a reference for the applicant uses in writing a reference letter1 to be sent directly to such individual and not shared with the applicant1 and which is consistent with the questionnaires described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii72 7,b7 a written guidance document to assist home study practitioners in performing a psychosocial evaluation of the applicant that-- 7i7 provides instructions on how to systematically analyze information learned from the information gathering tools described in subparagraph 7,a7 in order to identify specific strengths and concerns of the applicant2 7ii7 provides sufficient information for the home study practitioner to determine the significance of behaviors and events in the applicant's life in relation to being a successful foster care or adoption provider2 and 7iii7 includes a rating system that will be incorporated into the home study report described in subparagraph 7,c72 and 7,c7 a model home study report that may1 at the discretion of the ,secretary1 be customized by a ,state or ,indian tribe as necessary to comply with ,state or tribal and local regulations and requirements2 7#b7 ensure ongoing training of home study certified personnel2 and 7#c7 designate a home study auditor to ensure quality control and accuracy of information provided to placing agencies4 7b7 ,grants ,the ,secretary shall make grants to ,states and ,indian tribes to enable and encourage the ,states and ,indian tribes to establish demonstration programs in accordance with section #bjc7;b77#ab74 7c7 ,national database ,the ,secretary shall establish a secure national database of home study reports filed by home study practitioners using the home study methodology described in subsection 7a74 ,such database shall be accessible only to ,state and tribal foster care and adoption agencies1 or a designated entity1 as determined by the lead agency in the ,state1 to assist with the selection of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents4 7d7 ,condition on participation in demonstration project ,as a condition for participating in the demonstration program under section #bjc7;b77#ab71 a ,state or ,indian tribe shall agree to recognize as valid all home study reports listed in the database described in subsection 7c71 including such reports filed by other ,states or ,indian tribes4 7e7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent entity to-- 7#a7 carry out a periodic evaluation of the home study methodology established under subsection 7a7 and the demonstration programs established in accordance with section #bjc7;b77#ab72 and 7#b7 submit to the ,secretary a report that includes-- 7,a7 a description of the extent to which such methodology-- 7i7 meets the requirements of each of paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 of subsection 7a72 7ii7 expedites the screening of caregivers to promote more family-based care over institutional care for children2 7iii7 provides cost savings to ,state or ,indian tribe foster care and adoption systems1 7iv7 reduces the number of children waiting for foster care or adoptive placement2 and 7v7 reduces the number of prospective families waiting for foster care or adoptive placement2 and 7,b7 recommendations for expanding the demonstration program and home study methodology to all ,states and ,indian tribes4 2 and 7#c7 in section #bje7;b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaae7;b771 by adding at the end the following3 ,the ,secretary may allocate such sums as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate from the funds appropriated under subsection 7a7 for activities under sections #bjc7;b77#ab7 and #bjc;,a44