,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #accc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bg1 #bjbc,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration1 to award grants for providing evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,autism ,family ,caregivers ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,caregiver ,skills ,training ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,authorization ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program1 to be known as the ,caregiver ,skills ,training ,pilot ,program1 under which the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to provide evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays1 for the purposes of-- 7#a7 improving the well-being of children and their caregivers2 and 7#b7 teaching caregivers of such children evidenced-based intervention strategies to promote-- 7,a7 improvement in the well-being of such children and their caregivers2 and 7,b7 the greater inclusion of such children in family and community life4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under subsection 7a71 an entity shall be-- 7#a7 a nonprofit or other community-based organization2 7#b7 a ,federally qualified health center2 7#c7 an academic health center2 7#d7 a health system2 or 7#e7 a collaboration or consortium of #b or more entities listed in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d74 7c7 ,application ,to seek a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application that includes-- 7#a7 a description of-- 7,a7 the applicant's experience delivering evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays2 7,b7 the activities that the applicant proposes to carry out through the grant2 and 7,c7 how such activities will achieve the purposes described in subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 a plan for-- 7,a7 coordination with community-based organizations1 ,state and local early intervention providers1 ,state ,medicaid systems1 schools1 and other providers of early intervening services2 7,b7 collaboration with health care payors 7including public and private insurance71 ,state departments of insurance1 health plans1 and other relevant payors2 7,c7 expanding the skills training program proposed to be carried out through the grant2 7,d7 achieving sustainability of such program2 and 7,e7 establishing and maintaining a stakeholder implementation committee under subsection 7f74 7d7 ,selection of grantees 7#a7 ,selection criteria ,in awarding a grant to an eligible entity or a collaboration or consortium of #b or more entities described in subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall require at least one of the recipients to-- 7,a7 have at least #c years of demonstrated experience-- 7i7 delivering culturally competent services for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities1 as well as collaborating directly with their families1 including in medically underserved communities2 7ii7 providing services to children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities1 as well as collaborating directly with their families2 7iii7 providing individual caregiver coaching to caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities2 and 7iv7 working with self-advocates or adults with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities2 and 7,b7 demonstrate the ability to access resources from and collaborate with-- 7i7 health care providers2 7ii7 allied health professionals2 7iii7 educators2 7iv7 social workers2 and 7v7 nonprofessional family caregivers who assist with daily living and developmental activities1 including for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities4 7#b7 ,reducing disparities ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary may consider1 as appropriate1 the extent to which an eligible entity can deliver evidence-based1 culturally competent caregiver skills training programs for children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities from diverse racial1 ethnic1 geographic1 or linguistic backgrounds4 7e7 ,use of funds ,the recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant-- 7#a7 to provide1 at no or minimal cost to participants-- 7,a7 evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delays or disabilities2 and 7,b7 such training in areas related to children's learning and development1 including-- 7i7 communication skills2 7ii7 social engagement2 7iii7 daily living skills2 and 7iv7 caregiver response strategies to severe and challenging behaviors2 and 7#b7 to establish and maintain a stakeholder implementation committee under subsection 7f74 7f7 ,stakeholder implementation committee 7#a7 ,in general ,as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to use the grant to establish and maintain a stakeholder implementation committee to advise on ensuring that the training provided pursuant to the grant is accessible and culturally relevant4 7#b7 ,composition ,the members of the stakeholder implementation committee shall all be from the local community served pursuant to the grant 7or the relevant metropolitan statistical area7 and shall include1 at a minimum1 the following3 7,a7 ,family caregivers of children with autism or other developmental disabilities1 including autistic caregivers and other caregivers with disabilities4 7,b7 ,pediatric health care and early intervention providers with experience providing services to children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities4 7,c7 ,educators with experience working with children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities4 7,d7 ,representatives of local organizations familiar with the cultural values and priorities of individuals in the local community4 7,e7 ,local government officials4 7g7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,number of recipients and ,states ,the ,secretary shall award grants under subsection 7a7 to not fewer than #be eligible entities in not fewer than #ae ,states4 7#b7 ,amount ,the total amount of each grant awarded under subsection 7a7 shall be not less than #ejj1jjj over a #e-year period4 7h7 ,supplement not supplant ,amounts received through a grant under this section shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 other amounts received to provide-- 7#a7 behavioral1 medical1 habilitative1 and other services covered by the ,medicaid program or private health insurance2 7#b7 services provided under the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adjj et seq472 or 7#c7 adaptations of a training program using evidence-based approaches to serve children of different ages1 communities1 and underrepresented groups4 7i7 ,activities of the ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 assist recipients of grants under subsection 7a7 in-- 7,a7 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 ,administration2 7,b7 ensuring the programs of the recipients assist medically underserved communities1 when possible2 and 7,c7 developing plans for achieving sustainability of the programs of the recipients2 7#b7 conduct an annual evaluation of activities funded through grants under subsection 7a71 in consultation with the grant recipients1 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 or disabilities and their family caregivers2 and 7#c7 convene at least one national or regional meeting of such grant recipients to discuss best practices4 7j7 ,reports 7#a7 ,initial report ,not later than #f months after awarding the first grant under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate1 and to other appropriate congressional committees1 a report on the implementation of this section4 ,such report shall include-- 7,a7 how many grants have been awarded2 7,b7 the name and location of the grant recipients2 7,c7 the communities impacted by the grants2 7,d7 a description of the kind of activities to be carried out with the grants2 7,e7 an analysis1 conducted by the ,secretary1 based on the evaluation under subsection 7i77#b71 of the effectiveness of such grants at improving health outcomes and quality of life for children with autism or other developmental delays or disabilities and their family caregivers2 and 7,f7 best practices to increase access to caregiver skills training programs described in subsection 7a7 in medically underserved communities4 7#b7 ,final report ,not later than the end of fiscal year #bjbg1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate1 and to other appropriate congressional committees1 a final report on the implementation of this section1 including-- 7,a7 the information1 analysis1 and best practices listed in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,f7 of paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 recommendations on how to expand and extend the program under this section4 7k7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term family caregiver means an adult family member or other individual who has a significant relationship with1 and who provides a broad range of assistance to1 a child between the ages of #j and #i diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays4 7#b7 ,the term ,federally qualified health center has the meaning given the term in section #ahfa7;aa7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7aa774 7#c7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh4