*****************

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS

The Committee recommends $2,752,697,000 be made available in fiscal year 2007 for payments to States for child support enforcement and family support programs. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $2,817,384,700 and the budget request includes $2,759,997,000 for this program. The Committee recommendation provides the full amount requested under current law, and an additional $300,000 for repatriation as proposed by the administration. The budget request includes a net increase of $7,300,000 based on proposed legislation.

These payments support the States' efforts to promote the self-sufficiency and economic security of low-income families. These funds also support efforts to locate non-custodial parents, determine paternity when necessary, and establish and enforce orders of support. The appropriation, when combined with the $1,200,000,000 in advance funding provided in last year's bill, an estimated $700,000,000 from offsetting collections, and an estimated carryover of $155,465,000, supports a program level of $4,115,462,000.

The Committee also has provided $1,000,000,000 in advance funding for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 for the child support enforcement program, the same as the budget request.

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Committee recommends $2,161,170,000 for fiscal year 2007 for LIHEAP. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $2,159,685,000 and the budget request includes $1,782,000,000 for this program. LIHEAP is made up of two components: the State grant program and a contingency fund. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (as amended by Public Law 109-204) provided an additional $500,000,000 for the State grant program, and $500,000,000 for the contingency fund for fiscal year 2006.

The Committee recommendation includes $1,980,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the State grant program. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $1,979,725,000 and the budget request includes $1,782,000,000 for this program. LIHEAP grants are awarded to States, territories, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to assist low-income households in meeting the costs of home energy. States receive great flexibility in how they provide assistance, including direct payments to individuals and vendors and direct provision of fuel. These resources are distributed by formula to these entities as defined by statute, based in part on each State’s share of home energy expenditures by low-income households.

The Committee recommends $181,170,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the contingency fund. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $179,960,000 and the budget request did not include any regular year funding for this program. The contingency fund may be used to provide assistance to one or more States adversely affected by extreme heat or cold, significant price increases, or other causes of energy-related emergencies.

The Committee intends that up to $27,225,000 of the amount recommended for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2007 be used for the leveraging incentive fund. The fund will provide a percentage match to States for private or non-Federal public resources allocated to low-income home energy benefits.

REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE

The Committee recommends $599,935,000 for fiscal year 2007 for refugee and entrant assistance. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $569,432,000 and the budget request includes $614,935,000 for this program.

The Refugee and Entrant Assistance Program is designed to assist States in their efforts to assimilate refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and adults and minors who are trafficking victims, into American society as quickly and effectively as possible. The program funds State-administered transitional and medical assistance, the voluntary agency matching grant program, programs for victims of trafficking and torture, employment and social services, targeted assistance, and preventive health. Based on an estimated refugee admission ceiling of 70,000, this appropriation enables States to provide at least 8 months of cash and medical assistance to eligible refugees and entrants, a variety of social and educational services, as well as foster care for refugee and entrant unaccompanied minors.

In order to carry out the refugee and entrant assistance program, the Committee recommends $282,333,000 for transitional and medical assistance including State administration and the voluntary agency program, $9,816,000 for victims of trafficking; $149,610,000 for social services; $4,748,000 for preventive health; and $49,590,000 for targeted assistance.

The Committee encourages the efforts of the Department to assist child trafficking victims from remaining trapped in life-threatening situations. However, there is concern that the victims may fear being interrogated by law enforcement authorities. The Committee supports efforts made within the jurisdiction of the Department, under the Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2000, to certify child victims of trafficking as eligible for emergency benefits or services, and encourages the Department to facilitate the provision of guardians ad litem for child trafficking victims to help ensure their access to these. The Committee encourages the Department to work with the Department of Justice and/or the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that needs of the victims are served in the best and most appropriate manner. Funds were not provided for a newly authorized trafficking program which would focus on domestic victims.

For unaccompanied children, pursuant to section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Committee recommends $95,022,000. Funds are provided for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien minors in the Office of Refugee Resettlement. In fiscal year 2007 there will be an estimated 11,500 placements for unaccompanied alien children apprehended in the United States by INS/Homeland Security agents, Border Patrol officers, or other law enforcement agencies. This would be an increase of 19.8 percent over fiscal year 2006 estimates. Therefore, additional funds have been provided for shelter needs, care, hiring of further field staff in areas of high apprehension, and to address the increased medical services and administrative costs associated with the sharp rise in UAC placements. These children are taken into care pending resolution of their claims for relief under U.S. immigration law and released to an adult family member or a responsible adult guardian. The Committee did not include additional funds for expanded background checks.

The Committee recognizes the legal representation crisis and need for guardians for unaccompanied children and is pleased with the progress ORR has made in implementing a pro bono representation program as well as a pilot program using child advocates for unaccompanied children. For this purpose, the Committee encourages ORR to continue successful pilot programs, and to develop programs on a national level including a national list of pro bono representatives available to unaccompanied children in Federal custody. However, the Committee cautions the Department to ensure that funding priority goes first and foremost to serving the primary mission of the program and that no unaccompanied alien child’s basic needs are unmet.

The Committee also recommends $9,816,000 to treat and assist victims of torture. These funds may also be used to provide training to healthcare providers to enable them to treat the physical and psychological effects of torture.

Section 412(a)(7) of title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the use of funds appropriated under this account to be used to carry out monitoring, evaluation, and data collection activities to determine the effectiveness of funded programs and to monitor the performance of States and other grantees.

CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

The Committee recommends $2,062,081,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the child care and development block grant. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $2,060,664,000 and the budget request includes $2,062,081,000 for this program.

The child care and development block grant supports grants to States to provide low-income families with financial assistance for child care; for improving the quality and availability of child care; and for establishing or expanding child development programs. The funds are used to both expand the services provided to individuals who need child care in order to work, or attend job training or education, and to allow States to continue funding the activities previously provided under the consolidated programs.

The Committee recommendation continues specific earmarks in appropriations language, also included in the budget request, that provide targeted resources to specific policy priorities including $18,777,370 for the purposes of supporting before and afterschool services, as well as resource and referral programs. This represents the Federal commitment to the activities previously funded under the dependent care block grant. The Committee expects that these funds will not supplant current funding dedicated to resource and referral and school age activities provided by the child care and development block grant. The Committee strongly encourages States to continue to address the matters of before and afterschool care and the establishment of resource and referral programs with the funds provided in this program.

The Committee recommendation includes an additional $267,785,718 for child care quality activities, and sets aside $98,208,000 specifically for an infant care quality initiative. These funds are recommended in addition to the 4 percent quality earmark established in the authorizing legislation. The Committee has provided these additional quality funds because of the considerable research that demonstrates the importance of serving children in high quality child care settings which include nurturing providers who are educated in child development and adequately compensated. While considerable progress has been made, the Committee believes States should continue to invest in education and training linked to compensation of the child care workforce in order to improve the overall quality of child care.

The Committee recommendation also provides $9,821,000 for child care research, demonstration and evaluation activities.

The Committee recommendation for resource and referral activities also includes $982,080 to continue support for the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies' information service, Child Care Aware, and the national toll-free information hotline which links families to local child care services and programs.

SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

¹Excludes $550,000,000 in emergency supplemental appropriations pursuant to Public Law 109-324.

The Committee recommends $1,700,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the social services block grant. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $1,700,000,000 and the budget request includes $1,700,000,000 for this program. The Committee rejects the administration’s proposed bill language to lower the authorized funding level stipulated in section 2003(c) of the Social Security Act to $1,200,000,000.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES PROGRAMS

¹Excludes $90,000,000 in emergency supplemental appropriations pursuant to Public Law 109-234.

The Committee recommends $8,856,185,000 for fiscal year 2007 for children and families services programs. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $8,841,756,000 and the budget request includes $8,238,602,000 for this program. In addition, $10,500,000 in transfers are available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act.

This appropriation provides funding for programs for children, youth, and families, the developmentally disabled, and Native Americans, as well as Federal administrative costs.

Head Start

The Committee recommends $6,788,571,000 for fiscal year 2007 for Head Start. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $6,784,862,000 and the budget request includes $6,785,771,000 for this program. The Committee recommendation includes $1,388,800,000 in advance funding that will become available on October 1, 2007.

Head Start provides comprehensive development services for low-income children and families, emphasizing cognitive and language development, socioemotional development, physical and mental health, and parent involvement to enable each child to develop and function at his or her highest potential. At least 10 percent of enrollment opportunities in each State are made available to children with disabilities.

The Committee understands the serious need for additional and expanded Head Start facilities among Native American populations and in rural areas. The Committee believes that the Department could help serve these needy communities by providing minor construction funding, as authorized, in remote Native American communities.

The Committee is concerned that the funds available pursuant to section 640(a)(2) might not be achieving their full potential to serve American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start. These funds are used for Indian Head Start programs; Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs and services for children with disabilities; funding programs in several Trust Territories; training and technical assistance activities; discretionary payments by the Secretary; and research, demonstration and evaluation activities. The Committee requests that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include in the annual congressional budget justification, detailed information on the proposed and actual use of these funds.

The Committee is aware that in May 2005, the Secretary made $35,000,000 in additional fiscal year 2005 funds available to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs and that these funds, which will be awarded on competitive basis, will allow for at least 4,000 additional children to access Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. The Committee is concerned that while $35,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 expansion funds were made available to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs to serve additional migrant children, those funds were not released until July 2006 despite the fact that funding applications were submitted in July 2005. The Committee is troubled by this delay.

The Committee requests that ACF brief the Committee, not later than 60 days after the enactment of this act, on plans for ensuring that a greater percentage of eligible migrant and seasonal children have access to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and for providing any future funds to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start grantees in a timely manner. The Committee continues to point to the 2001 study published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which documented that only 19 percent of eligible children were able to access Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Funding for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start as a percentage of the overall Head Start budget has not increased since this study was released in 2001. The Committee encourages ACF to consider the fiscal year 2005 funds part of the baseline to the extent that there is a demonstrated need.

The Head Start Bureau shall continue to provide the Committee with the number and cost of buses purchased, by region with Head Start in the annual congressional budget justification.

Consolidated Runaway and Homeless Youth Program

The Committee recommends $87,837,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the consolidated runaway and homeless youth program. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $87,777,000 and the budget request includes $87,837,000 for this program. This program was reauthorized under the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act of 2003. In this reauthorization a statutory formula was established to distribute funds between the Basic Center Program and the Transitional Living Program.

This program addresses the crisis needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families through support to local and State governments and private agencies. Basic centers and transitional living programs help address the needs of some of the estimated 1.3 to 2.8 million runaway and homeless youth, many of whom are running away from unsafe or unhealthy living environments. These programs have been proven effective at supporting positive youth development, securing stable and safe living arrangements and providing the skills required to engage in positive relationships with caring adults and contribute to society.

The Committee is discouraged by the administration’s proposed voucher system for pregnant and parenting youth. This use of funds is not specifically authorized, and there are no demonstrated cases of youth being refused services due to their condition. Rather than dividing funds for this important subpopulation of homeless youth, the Committee directs the Secretary to continue to monitor and ensure that current and future TLP grantees will continue to provide transitional living opportunities and support to pregnant and parenting homeless youth, as is their current practice. Committee continues to encourage the Secretary, acting through the network of federally-funded runaway and homeless youth training and technical assistance providers, to offer guidance to grantees and others on the programmatic modifications required to address the unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth and on the various sources of funding available for residential services to this population.

Runaway Youth Prevention Program

The Committee recommends $15,027,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the runaway youth prevention program. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $15,017,000 and the budget request includes $15,027,000 for this program. This is a discretionary grant program open to private nonprofit agencies for the provision of services to runaway, homeless, and street youth. Funds may be used for street-based outreach and education, including treatment, counseling, provision of information, and referrals for these youths, many of whom have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse. The goal of this program is to help young people leave the streets.

Child Abuse Programs

The Committee recommends $96,967,000 for fiscal year 2007 for child abuse programs. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $95,151,000 and the budget request includes $95,217,000 for this program. The recommendation includes $27,007,000 for State grants, $27,530,000 for discretionary activities, and $42,430,000 for community-based child abuse prevention.

These programs seek to improve and increase activities at all levels of government which identify, prevent, and treat child abuse and neglect through State grants, technical assistance, research, demonstration, and service improvement.

Within the funds provided for child abuse discretionary activities, the Committee includes funding for the following items:

Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, St. James, MO to expand services to children suffering from abuse and neglect	$500,000
Catholic Community Services of Juneau, AK to continue operations at its Family Resource Center for child abuse prevention and treatment	400,000
Family Communications, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, for child abuse prevention programs	100,000
Family Resource Center, St. Louis, Missouri for a child abuse recovery initiative	150,000
Northampton County, Easton, PA, for child abuse treatment programs	100,000
State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Office of Children’s Services, statewide, to continue its Healthy Families Alaska home visitation program	500,000

Abandoned Infants Assistance

The Committee recommends $11,835,000 for fiscal year 2007 for abandoned infants assistance. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $11,827,000 and the budget request includes $11,835,000 for this program.

This program provides grants to public and private non-profit agencies, State and county child welfare agencies, universities, and community-based organizations to develop, implement, and operate demonstration projects that will prevent the abandonment of infants and young children, especially those impacted by substance abuse and HIV and who are at-risk of being or are currently abandoned. By providing respite care for families and care givers and assisting abandoned infants and children to reside with their natural families or in foster care.

Child Welfare Services

The Committee recommends $286,753,000 for fiscal year 2007 for child welfare services. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $286,556,000 and the budget request includes $286,753,000 for this program.

This program helps State public welfare agencies improve their child welfare services with the goal of keeping families together. State services include: preventive intervention, so that, if possible, children will not have to be removed from their homes; reunification so that children can return home; and development of alternative placements like foster care or adoption if children cannot remain at home. These services are provided without regard to income.

Child Welfare Training

The Committee recommends $7,335,000 for fiscal year 2007 for child welfare training. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $7,330,000 and the budget request includes $7,335,000 for this program.

Under section 426, title IV-B of the Social Security Act, discretionary grants are awarded to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning to develop and improve education/training programs and resources for child welfare service providers. These grants upgrade the skills and qualifications of child welfare workers.

Adoption Opportunities

The Committee recommends $26,848,000 for fiscal year 2007 for adoption opportunities. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $26,830,000 and the budget request includes $26,848,000 for this program.

This program eliminates barriers to adoption and helps find permanent homes for children who would benefit by adoption, particularly children with special needs.

Adoption Incentives

The Committee recommends $29,654,000 for fiscal year 2007 for adoption incentives. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $17,808,000 and the budget request includes $29,654,000 for this program.

The purpose of this program is to provide incentive funds to States to encourage an increase in the number of adoptions of children from the public foster care system. These funds are used to pay States bonuses for increasing their number of adoptions. The appropriation allows incentive payments to be made for adoptions completed prior to September 30, 2007.

Adoption Awareness

The Committee recommends $12,674,000 for fiscal year 2007 for adoption awareness. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $12,665,000 and the budget request includes $12,674,000 for this program.

This program was authorized in the Children's Health Act of 2000. The program consists of two activities: the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program and the Special Needs Awareness Campaign. The Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program provides grants to support adoption organizations in the training of designated health staff, in eligible health centers that provide health services to pregnant women, to inform them about adoption and make referrals on request on an equal basis with all other courses of action. Within the Committee recommendation, $9,728,000 is available for this purpose.

The Special Needs Adoption Campaign supports grants to carry out a national campaign to inform the public about the adoption of children with special needs. The Committee recommendation includes $2,946,000 to continue this important activity.

Compassion Capital Fund

The Committee recommends $54,549,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the compassion capital fund. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $64,306,000 and the budget request includes $100,000,000 for this program.

The Committee expects funds made available through this program to supplement and not supplant private resources and continues to encourage the Secretary to require private resources to match grant funding provided to public/private partnerships.

The goal of this program is to help faith-based and community organizations maximize their social impact as they provide services to those most in need. To accomplish this goal the Compassion Capital Fund administers three discretionary grant programs: a demonstration program which provides funding to intermediary organizations to provide training and technical assistance in capacity building and to provide financial support; a program to fund capacity-building activities; and a capacity-building program for the Helping America’s Youth Imitative which focuses on connecting at-risk youth with family, school and their community, with specific emphasis on organizations that serve areas with significant gang activity.

Social Services Research

The Committee recommends $22,123,000 for fiscal year 2007 for social services research. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $11,864,000 and the budget request includes $6,000,000.

The Committee has funded $6,000,000 of this program through transfers available under section 241 of the Public Health Service Act. These funds support cutting-edge research and evaluation projects in areas of critical national interest. Research includes determining services that are more cost effective and alternative ways to increase the economic independence of American families.

The Committee notes ACF’s efforts to assist States with meeting the extensive recordkeeping, reporting and tracking requirements of the TANF program. Working through the State Information Technology Consortium, ACF has successfully provided States with the tools necessary to strengthen and improve the complex IT systems required to support TANF. The recently enacted TANF reauthorization, however, requires States to put in place new systems and processes to more closely monitor and verify work participation rates, track and verify hours of work, and determine who is a work-eligible individual. The Committee recommends that ACF continue this successful partnership, and has provided $2,000,000 to develop, in collaboration with the States, a performance measurement capability, along with the required new processes and technologies necessary for States to comply with the new TANF requirements. Similarly, while the Child Support Enforcement program continues to make gains in enforcing child support orders, child support collections reached $23,000,000,000 in 2005 while serving an estimated 16 million child support cases, the costs and complexities of tracking, locating and coordinating child support cases is imposing heavy burdens on State automation systems. Both the Government Accountability Office and the Office of the Inspector General have recommended that ACF provide more technical assistance to help States better administer and manage these systems. In addition, broader administration and reporting requirements contained in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 will place additional strain on the States’ ability to manage this program. ACF is currently working with the State Information Technology Consortium to expand data exchange capabilities between the courts and State child support enforcement agencies as well as increase collection efficiency in States and tribal organizations. The Committee recommends that collaborative efforts continue, and has provided $3,000,000 for this purpose.

The Committee is aware that interstate collection of child support is often difficult and notes that a disproportionate amount of the uncollected support dollars are associated with these cases. The Committee urges ACF to utilize its authority under section 1115 and section 452(j) of the Social Security Act to expand current demonstration projects involving the co-location of State staffs to address this issue.

Within the funds provided for child abuse discretionary activities, the Committee includes funding for the following items:

A+ For Abstinence, Waynesboro, PA for abstinence education and related services	$100,000
Alaska Children’s Services, in Anchorage Alaska, for a program to serve low income youth	250,000
Alaska Statewide Independent Living Council, Inc. to continue and expand its Personal Care Attendant Program and to expand outreach efforts to the disabled living in rural Alaska	300,000
Allegheny County of Human Services, Pittsburgh, PA, for anti-gang programs targeting at-risk youth	100,000
Anchorage’s Promise of Anchorage, AK to implement America’s Promise child mentoring and support program in Anchorage	100,000
Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA, for program development at the Molly Bish Center for the Protection of Children and the Elderly	100,000
Best Friends Foundation, Washington, DC, to expand a national network of school-based programs which reduce risk behavior and increase physical and emotional well-being of adolescents to Erie and Pittsburgh	200,000
Big Brothers/Big Sisters, statewide, in partnership with AK Dept. of Education, the Boys and Girls Club and Cook Inlet Tribal Council for a comprehensive mentoring program for at-risk children through Alaska schools and communities	300,000
Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, for the continued development and operation of the Children’s AIDS project in Mattapan, MA	210,000
Catholic Family Center, Rochester, NY, for the Kinship Caregiver Resource Network	250,000
Catholic Social Services, Wilkesbarre, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Child Care Resource and Referral Network, Tacoma, WA, for a child care quality initiative	750,000
Children’s Home Society of Idaho, for the Bridge—Homes for Children Project to place Idaho children in care in loving foster families	250,000
City of Chester, Bureau of Health, Chester, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Crozer Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Darkness to Light, Charleston, SC to develop an online training and certification program to prevent child sexual abuse	500,000
Dauphin County Social Services for Children & Youth, Harrisburg, PA to expand Family Group Conferencing program for children in Dauphin County	200,000
Esperanza USA, Philadelphia, PA to increase the social infrastructure in Pennsylvania’s Hispanic communities by awarding competitively bid sub-grants to Pennsylvania Hispanic faith- and community-based agencies for service delivery and capacity building	200,000
Fathers and Families Center, Indianapolis, IN, for supportive services for fathers	100,000
Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis, Missouri to provide noncustodial fathers with personal development, communication and relationship building skills	200,000
Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children, North Church, PA for programs to provide safe, secure housing for children through an emergency shelter for families, transitional housing, specialized foster care and adoption programs	200,000
George Washington Carver Community Center, Norristown, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Greater Calvary Community Development Corporation, Erie, PA to develop program to support children of families trying to reconnect after prison and/or addiction	100,000
Guidance Center, Ridgeway, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Heart Beat, Millerstown, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Hope Village for Children, Meridian, MS to expand the existing program that provides shelter and therapeutic group care for foster children	150,000
Horizons for Homeless Children, Boston, MA, for mentoring, educational, and social development programs for homeless youth	170,000
Hudson Perinatal Consortium, Jersey City, NJ, for a motherhood initiative in the Puerto Rican population, including prenatal care, support for healthy birth outcomes throughout pregnancy and for six weeks postpartum	100,000
Human Resources Center, Inc., Honesdale, PA and Friendship House, Scranton, PA to expand job training programs and expand mental/behavioral health services for underserved children and families	100,000
Keystone Central School District, Mill Hall, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Keystone Economic Development Corporation, Johnstown, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
La Comunidad Hispana, Kennett Square, PA for a gang-reduction program aimed at providing high-risk youth with academic, vocational and social skills	100,000
Lackawanna Trail School District, Factoryville, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	110,000
Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA for abstinence education and related services	110,000
My Choice Inc., Athens, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
National Center for Adoption Law and Policy (NCALP) at Capital University Law School, Columbus, OH, for the Ohio Adoption Preservation Initiative	255,000
National Fatherhood Initiative, Gaithersburg, MD to improve the well being of children by increasing the proportion who grow up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers	100,000
Neighborhood United Against Drugs, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	135,000
New Brighton School District, New Brighton, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Northeast Guidance Center, Detroit, MI, for the Family Life Center project	125,000
Nueva Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Partners for Healthier Tomorrows, Ephrata, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Potter County Education Council, Coudersport, PA to assist single parents, teen parents and homemakers in acquiring skills needed to enter the workforce	100,000
Preble Street Resource Center, Portland, ME to support and expand the Home for Good project to assist chronically homeless individuals achieve permanent housing and stability	200,000
Rape & Victim Assistance Center of Schuylkill County, Pottsville, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Real Alternatives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to expand crisis pregnancy and parenting support services in Pennsylvania	150,000
Real Commitment, Gettysburg, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
School District of Lancaster, Lancaster, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Shepherd’s Maternity House, Inc, Stroudsburg, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Southeast Alaska Independent Living, in South East Alaska, to continue programs to assist disabled Alaskans who live independently	200,000
Southwest Council of Governments, Silver City, NM, to develop a nontraditional child care program in Grant County	200,000
To Our Children’s Future with Health, Inc, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	110,000
Together as Adoptive Parents, Inc. (TAP), Harleysville, PA to provide support to adoptive, foster and kinship families	100,000
Tuscarora Intermediate Unit, McVeytown, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, Selinsgrove, PA to provide learning tools for families to achieve economic self-sufficiency	100,000
United Christian Ministries Inc., Osceola, PA to provide supportive services for homeless families	100,000
Urban Family Council, Philadelphia, PA for abstinence education and related services	360,000
Victim Resource Center, Franklin, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
Washington Hospital Teen Outreach, Washington, PA for abstinence education and related services	135,000
Washington Hospital, Washington, PA, for a mentoring program for at risk boys	100,000
Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA to fund economic education programs for women	100,000
Women’s Care Center, Erie County, Abstinence Advantage, Erie, PA for abstinence education and related services	135,000
York County Human Life Services, York, PA for abstinence education and related services	100,000
YWCA of Central New Jersey, for Services to Indigent Women and Families	200,000

Developmental Disabilities

The Committee recommends $172,623,000 for fiscal year 2007 for programs administered by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $170,718,000 and the budget request includes $170,835,000 for these programs. Within the funds provided, $156,903,000 is for carrying out the Developmental Disability Act, and $15,720,000 is for carrying out the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities supports community-based delivery of services which promote the rights of persons of all ages with developmental disabilities. Developmental disability is defined as severe, chronic disability attributed to mental or physical impairments manifested before age 22, which causes substantial limitations in major life activities. The ADD also administers monies for election assistance for individuals with disabilities. This program is for individuals with any type of disability.

Of the funds provided, the Committee recommends $71,771,000 for State councils. These councils assist each State in promoting the development of a comprehensive, statewide, consumer and family-centered system which provides a coordinated array of culturally competent services, and other assistance for individuals with development disabilities. State councils undertake a range of activities including demonstration of new approaches, program and policy analysis, interagency collaboration and coordination, outreach and training.

The Committee recommends $38,718,000 for protection and advocacy grants. This formula grant program provides funds to States to establish protection and advocacy systems to protect the legal and human rights of persons with developmental disabilities who are receiving treatment, services, or rehabilitation within the State.

The Committee recommends $15,720,000 for disabled voter services. Of these funds, $11,000,000 is to promote disabled voter access, and the remaining $4,720,000 is for disabled voters protection and advocacy systems. The election assistance for individuals with disabilities program was authorized in the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The program enables an applicant to establish, expand, and improve access to, and participation by, any individual with a disability in the election process.

The Committee recommends $11,414,000 for projects of national significance to assist persons with developmental disabilities. This program funds grants and contracts providing nationwide impact by developing new technologies and applying and demonstrating innovative methods to support the independence, productivity, and integration into the community of persons with developmental disabilities. The Committee recognizes the potential benefits that assistive technology can have for individuals with developmental disabilities. Of these funds, $5,000,000 is available to expand activities of the Family Support program. The Committee’s placement of funds for family support within the Projects of National Significance account does not provide ACF with discretion on this definition of family support as defined in title II of the Developmental Disability Act. The Committee makes a crucial distinction between support services designed for families of children with disabilities and support services designed for an individual with a disability. The Committee intends that these funds be used for the support and assistance of families of children with disabilities, in accordance with the statute.

The Committee recommends $35,000,000 for the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities [UCEDDs] which is a network of 64 centers that are interdisciplinary education, research and public service units of a university system or are public or nonprofit entities associated with universities. UCEDDs conduct research, develop evidence-based practices and teach thousands of parents, professionals, students and people with disabilities about critical disability areas such as early intervention, healthcare, community-based services, inclusive and meaningful education, transition from school to work, employment, housing, assistive technology, aging with a disability and transportation. The Centers serve as the major vehicle to translate disability-related research into community practice and service systems and to train the next cohort of future professionals who will provide services and supports to an increasingly diverse population of people with disabilities.

Native American Programs

The Committee recommends $44,332,000 for fiscal year 2007 for Native American programs. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $44,302,000 and the budget request includes $44,332,000 for this program.

The Administration for Native Americans [ANA] assists Indian tribes and Native American organizations in planning and implementing long-term strategies for social and economic development through the funding of direct grants for individual projects, training and technical assistance, and research and demonstration programs.

Community Services

The Committee recommends $694,648,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the community services programs. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $694,097,000 and the budget request includes $24,452,000 for this program.

Within the funds provided, the Committee recommends $630,425,000 for the community services block grant [CSBG]. These funds are used to make formula grants to States and Indian tribes to provide a wide range of services and activities to alleviate causes of poverty in communities and to assist low-income individuals in becoming self-sufficient.

The Committee continues to reject the administration’s recommendation to eliminate the community services block grant funding. Although a restrictive Committee allocation prevented CSBG funding from being increased, the Committee continues to recognize the importance of CSBG and the Community Action Agencies it funds in helping meet the extraordinary challenges facing low-income communities.

The Nation's Community Action Agency network relies on CSBG funding to help initiate and administer programs designed to alleviate poverty. The universal characteristic of these CSBG-funded programs is that they provide people with the resources and the tools to become self-sufficient.

In addition, the Committee continues to expect the Office of Community Services to inform the State CSBG grantees of any policy changes affecting carryover CSBG funds within a reasonable time after the beginning of the Federal fiscal year.

Several other discretionary programs are funded from this account. Funding for these programs is recommended at the following levels for fiscal year 2007: community economic development, $32,404,000; individual development accounts, $24,452,000; and rural community facilities, $7,367,000. The Committee did not provide funds for the national youth sports or community food and nutrition programs.

The Committee continues to support strongly the Community Economic Development program because of the substantial record of achievement that Community Development Corporations have complied in working in distressed urban and rural communities. The Committee, in particular, notes that Federal funds leverage substantial non-Federal resources in meeting the objectives of this program. Therefore, it is the Committee's intent that appropriated funds should be allocated to the maximum extent possible in the form of grants to qualified Community Development Corporations in order to maximize the leveraging power of the Federal investment and the number and amount of set-asides should be reduced to the most minimal levels. These grants are made to private, nonprofit community development corporations, which in turn provide technical and financial assistance to business and economic development projects that target job and business opportunities for low-income citizens. The Committee has included bill language clarifying that Federal funds made available through this program may be used for financing construction and rehabilitation, and loans or investments in private business enterprises owned by Community Development Corporations.

The Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals [JOLI] Program is authorized under the Family Support Act to target community development activities to create jobs for people on public assistance. This demonstration program provides grants on a competitive basis to nonprofit organizations to create new employment and business opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income individuals. Funding also supports technical and financial assistance for private employers that will result in the creation of full-time permanent jobs for eligible individuals. The Committee recognizes that continued funding of this program would provide opportunities for more low-income individuals. The Committee expects that experienced community development corporations be given appropriate consideration for grants under this program.

The Committee has included bill language allocating funding to the Office of Community Services for Rural Community Facilities Technical Assistance as authorized under section 680(3)(B) of the Community Services Block Grant Act. In providing this funding, the Committee expects that it be used solely for the purpose of improving water and wastewater facilities in poor, rural communities.

The Committee is concerned that many small and very small community water and wastewater treatment systems might be most vulnerable to terrorist attack, and yet least prepared to deal with the issue. The Committee urges OCS to continue to support RCAP Small Community Infrastructure Safety and Security Training and Technical Assistance project, which provides State, regional and national infrastructure safety and security training workshops and on-site technical assistance targeted to small and very small community water and wastewater treatment systems. The goal of the project is to improve the capacity of small systems to better prepare for emergencies, develop emergency preparedness training manuals for small water systems, identify appropriate technologies to secure such systems, and provide technical assistance to small communities struggling to deal with these issues.

Domestic Violence Hotline

The Committee recommends $2,970,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the national domestic violence hotline. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $2,968,000 and the budget request includes $2,970,000 for this program.

This is a cooperative agreement which funds the operation of a national, toll-free, 24-hours-a-day telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to victims of domestic violence.

Battered Women's Shelters

The Committee recommends $124,731,000 for fiscal year 2007 for battered women's shelters program. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $124,645,000 and the budget request includes $124,731,000 for this program.

This is a formula grant program to support community-based projects which operate shelters and provide related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their dependents. Emphasis is given to projects which provide counseling, advocacy, and self-help services to victims and their children.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners

The Committee recommends $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for mentoring children of prisoners. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $49,459,000 and the budget request includes $40,000,000 for this program.

The mentoring children of prisoners program was authorized in 2001 under section 439 of the Social Security Act. The purpose of this program is to help children while their parents are imprisoned and includes activities that keep children connected to a parent in prison in order to increase the chances that the family will come together successfully when the parent is released. As a group, children of prisoners are less likely than their peers to succeed in school and more likely to become engaged in delinquent behavior.

Independent Living Training Vouchers

The Committee recommends $46,157,000 for fiscal year 2007 for independent living training vouchers. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $46,125,000 and the budget request includes $46,157,000 for this program.

These funds will support vouchers of up to $5,000 for college tuition, or vocational training for individuals who age out of the foster care system so they can be better prepared to live independently and contribute productively to society. Studies have shown that 25,000 youths leave foster care each year at age 18 and just 50 percent will have graduated high school, 52 percent will be unemployed and 25 percent will be homeless for one or more nights.

Abstinence Education

The Committee recommends $113,400,000 for fiscal year 2007 for community-based abstinence education. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $113,325,000 and the budget request includes $141,165,000 for this program. Within the Committee recommendation, $108,900,000 is provided for community-based abstinence education, $4,500,000 is provided through an evaluation set-aside, as requested by the administration. In addition, $50,000,000 is available from pre-appropriated mandatory funds.

This program provides support for the development and implementation of abstinence education programs for adolescents, ages 12 through 18. These programs are unique in that their entire focus is to education young people and create an environment within communities that supports teen decisions to postpone sexual activity until marriage.

Of the funds provided up to $10,000,000 may be available for a national abstinence media campaign. The Committee understands that a portion of fiscal year 2007 funds will be used for evaluation purposes. The Committee intends that ACF use available funds to continue support for an independent group to conduct a thorough and rigorous evaluation of this campaign.

Faith-Based Center

The Committee recommends $1,386,000 for fiscal year 2007 for the operation of the Department’s Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $1,385,000 and the budget request includes $1,386,000 for this program.

Program Administration

The Committee recommends $186,265,000 for fiscal year 2007 for program administration. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $183,239,000 and the budget request includes $188,123,000 for this program.

The Committee continues its interest in the Department's Child and Family Services reviews. These reviews are an effective method for monitoring the progress States are making in assuring the safety, health, and permanency for children in child welfare and foster care as required in the Adoption and Safe Families Act. The Committee encourages the Department to make available sufficient resources to ensure full implementation of the new collaborative monitoring system. The Committee directs ACF to continue to provide information on the progress of the reviews in the annual congressional justification.

PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES

The Committee recommends $420,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for promoting safe and stable families. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $394,039,000 and the budget request includes $434,100,000 for this program.

Funding available provides grants to States in support of: (1) family preservation services; (2) time-limited family reunification services; (3) community-based family support services; and (4) adoption promotion and support services. The Committee notes that most of the Federal funding related to child welfare is provided for the removal and placement of children outside of their own homes. Funds available through the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program are focused on supporting those activities that can prevent family crises from emerging which might require the temporary or permanent removal of a child from his or her own home.

The Promoting Safe and Stable Families program is comprised of $345,000,000 in capped entitlement funds authorized by the Social Security Act and $75,000,000 in discretionary appropriations.

PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE

The Committee recommends $5,211,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 for payments to States for foster care and adoption assistance. The comparable funding level for fiscal year 2006 is $4,940,800,000 and the budget request includes $5,211,000,000 for this program. In addition, the Committee recommendation provides $1,810,000,000 for an advance appropriation for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008. The Committee recommendation provides the full amount requested under current law. The budget request includes a net increase of $32,000,000 based on proposed legislation for fiscal year 2007, and a net increase of $30,000,000 for the fiscal year 2008 advance appropriation.

The Foster Care Program provides Federal reimbursement to States for: Maintenance payments to families and institutions caring for eligible foster children, matched at the Federal medical assistance percentage [FMAP] rate for each State; and administration and training costs to pay for the efficient administration of the Foster Care Program, and for training of foster care workers and parents.

The Adoption Assistance Program provides funds to States for maintenance costs and the nonrecurring costs of adoption for children with special needs. The goal of this program is to facilitate the placement of hard-to-place children in permanent adoptive homes, and thus prevent long, inappropriate stays in foster care. As in the Foster Care Program, State administrative and training costs are reimbursed under this program.

*****************