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For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Grassley Advances Bill to Help Children Affected by Methamphetamine
“Methamphetamine addiction affects entire families, not just the person abusing the drug,” Grassley said. “It makes sense to treat the entire family, especially when the treatment can keep families together and minimize children’s exposure to foster care. Iowans and other Midwesterners have been very helpful in coming to
In April, Grassley convened a hearing in his Finance Committee, which he chairs, and heard testimony from Allison Bruno of
Today, the Finance Committee unanimously approved Grassley’s bipartisan bill, the Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006. The bill contains a series of measures to help states deal with the impact of the meth epidemic on an already overburdened child welfare system, including:
C Directing $40 million a year toward grants for regional partnerships. These partnerships will increase the well-being of, and improve permanent outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction. The grants will improve collaboration and coordination among providers of services for children and families. The federal Health and Human Services Secretary is directed to give consideration for receipt of these grants to rural areas that have a lack of capacity for access to comprehensive family treatment services. “By emphasizing comprehensive family treatment, we’re promoting a promising strategy for families to recover from meth addiction together,” Grassley said.
C Expanding the Mentoring of Children of Prisoners program, so that children in areas that have not been able to access these mentoring services may gain access to these important programs, and;
C Increasing and improving access for needed funding for Indian Tribes as well as increasing states’ accountability.
“I hope for full Senate approval of these improvements as soon as possible,” Grassley said. “I also look forward to continuing to work with