42 USC § 629e - Evaluations; research; technical assistance

(a) Evaluations

(1) In general

The Secretary shall evaluate and report to the Congress biennially on the effectiveness of the programs carried out pursuant to this subpart in accomplishing the purposes of this subpart, and may evaluate any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the program under this subpart, in accordance with criteria established in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Criteria to be used

In developing the criteria to be used in evaluations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate parties, such as—

(A) State agencies administering programs under this part and part E of this subchapter;

(B) persons administering child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) for private, nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare; and

(C) other persons with recognized expertise in the evaluation of child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) or other related programs.

(3) Timing of report

Beginning in 2003, the Secretary shall submit the biennial report required by this subsection not later than April 1 of every other year, and shall include in each such report the funding level, the status of ongoing evaluations, findings to date, and the nature of any technical assistance provided to States under subsection (d) of this section.

(b) Coordination of evaluations

The Secretary shall develop procedures to coordinate evaluations under this section, to the extent feasible, with evaluations by the States of the effectiveness of programs under this subpart.

(c) Evaluation, research, and technical assistance with respect to targeted program resources

Of the amount reserved under section 629f (b)(1) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than—

(1) $1,000,000 for evaluations, research, and providing technical assistance with respect to supporting monthly caseworker visits with children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, in accordance with section 629f (b)(4)(B)(i) of this title; and

(2) $1,000,000 for evaluations, research, and providing technical assistance with respect to grants under section 629g (f) of this title.

(d) Technical assistance

To the extent funds are available therefor, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance that helps States and Indian tribes or tribal consortia to—

(1) develop research-based protocols for identifying families at risk of abuse and neglect of use in the field;

(2) develop treatment models that address the needs of families at risk, particularly families with substance abuse issues;

(3) implement programs with well-articulated theories of how the intervention will result in desired changes among families at risk;

(4) establish mechanisms to ensure that service provision matches the treatment model; and

(5) establish mechanisms to ensure that postadoption services meet the needs of the individual families and develop models to reduce the disruption rates of adoption.

Source

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 435, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13711(a)(2),Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 654; amended Pub. L. 107–133, title I, § 105,Jan. 17, 2002, 115 Stat. 2415; Pub. L. 109–288, §§ 4(c), 5 (b)(3)(C),Sept. 28, 2006, 120 Stat. 1242, 1243.)

References in Text

The enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is the enactment of Pub. L. 105–89, which was approved Nov. 19, 1997.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 435 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 635 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Amendments

2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–288, § 4(c), amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to topics for research and evaluation.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–288, § 5(b)(3)(C), inserted “or tribal consortia” after “Indian tribes” in introductory provisions.

2002—Pub. L. 107–133, § 105(1), substituted “Evaluations; research; technical assistance” for “Evaluations” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–133, § 105(1), substituted “The Secretary shall evaluate and report to the Congress biennially on” for “The Secretary shall evaluate”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 107–133, § 105(2), added par. (3).

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 107–133, § 105(3), added subsecs. (c) and (d).

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–288effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 12(a), (b) ofPub. L. 109–288, set out as a note under section 621 of this title.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–133effective Jan. 17, 2002, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 301 ofPub. L. 107–133, set out as a note under section 629 of this title.