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Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Public Law 112-34 · H.R. 2883 · 112th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Sep 30, 2011 · Social Welfare

Sponsor: Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY-4)

Cosponsors (16): Rep. Lloyd Doggett,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 395 yea, 25 nay395–25
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act - Title I: Extension of Child and Family Services Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends title IV part B (Child and Family Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to extend through FY2016 the authorization of appropriations for the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program.

Requires each state plan for oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement to include an outline of: (1) the monitoring and treatment of emotional trauma associated with a child's maltreatment and removal from home, and (2) protocols for the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medications.

Requires each state plan for child welfare services also to describe: (1) state activities to reduce the length of time children under age 5 are without a permanent family; (2) state activities to address the developmental needs of such children who receive Program benefits or services; and (3) the sources used to compile information on child maltreatment deaths which the state agency is required by federal law to report, as well as why the compilation does not include information on such deaths from specified state entities, if it does not, and how the state will include such information.

Revises requirements for child visitations by caseworkers. Replaces the current requirement that the Secretary establish an outline of the steps to be taken to ensure that at least 90% of the children in foster care under a state's responsibility are visited by their caseworkers on a monthly basis. Requires instead that each state take necessary steps to ensure that the total number of monthly caseworker visits to children in foster care under state responsibility during a fiscal year is at least 90% (raised to 95% for FY2015 and thereafter) of the total number of such visits that would occur during the fiscal year if each such child were so visited once every month while in such care.

(Sec. 102) Extends through FY2016 the Safe and Stable Families Program.

Requires a state Safe and Stable Families Program plan to describe how the state identifies which populations are at the greatest risk of maltreatment and how services are targeted to them.

Revises requirements for time-limited family reunification services provided to a child removed from the child's home and placed in a foster family home or a child care institution, and to the child's parents or primary caregiver, in order to facilitate the child's safe, appropriate, and timely reunification with the parents or caregiver. Requires such services to include: (1) peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups for parents and primary caregivers, and (2) services and activities designed to facilitate access to and visitation of children by parents and siblings.

Requires the annual compilation of state reports to include the individual state reports and tables that synthesize state information into national totals for each element required to be included in the reports, including planned and actual spending by service category for the program.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish the compilation on the HHS website in a location easily accessible by the public.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to report annually on: (1) alternative sources of federal funding being employed by states or other entities for the same purposes for which Child and Families Services funding is provided; and (2) the needs of eligible families, including underserved communities, the supports available for caseworkers, the length of the wait time for families to receive substance abuse and other preventive services, the number of families on waiting lists for such services, and the effect of the delay on reunification outcomes.

(Sec. 103) Extends through FY2016 specified reservations of funds for monthly caseworker visits and regional partnership grants.

Requires monthly caseworker visit grants to be used to improve the quality of monthly caseworker visits, with an emphasis on improving caseworker decision making on the safety, permanency, and well-being of foster children.

Revises requirements for grants to assist children affected by a parent's or caretaker's methamphetamine or other substance abuse to: (1) remove the specification of methamphetamine, and (2) apply the grant program generally to children affected by a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse. Authorizes the Secretary to renew a five-year grant for up to an additional two years.

Directs the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the grants awarded to regional partnerships.

(Sec. 104) Revises requirements for the court improvement program to require grants to the highest state courts to serve the purpose of increasing and improving engagement of the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption. Requires such a court to submit one application, rather than separate applications, for more than one grant.

Specifies mandatory allocations of funds for such grants.

(Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary, in order to improve data matching, to designate nonproprietary and interoperable standard data elements for any category of information required to be reported.

(Sec. 106) Requires state case review systems to assure that each child in foster care under state responsibility who has attained age 16 receives gratis: (1) a copy of any consumer report pertaining to the child each year until the child is discharged from care, and (2) assistance in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the report.

Title II: Child Welfare Demonstration Projects - (Sec. 201) Renews through FY2014 the authority of the Secretary to authorize states to conduct child welfare program demonstration projects likely to promote the objectives of part B or SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance).

Repeals the requirement for state project applications to consider certain types of proposals. Replaces such requirement with specified conditions for state eligibility to conduct a new demonstration project.

Authorizes a state to elect to establish a program to: (1) permit part E foster care maintenance payments to a long-term therapeutic family treatment center on behalf of a child residing in the center, or (2) identify and address domestic violence that endangers children and results in the placement of children in foster care.

Defines a long-term therapeutic family treatment center as a state-licensed or -certified program that: (1) enables parents and their children to live together in a safe environment for at least six months; and (2) provides substance abuse treatment services, children's early intervention services, family counseling, medical care, and related services.

Sets forth child welfare improvement policies, at least two of which a state must have implemented or planned to implement within a certain period of time.

Limits any child welfare demonstration project to five years, unless the Secretary determines that it should be continued.

Requires states authorized to conduct a demonstration project to obtain an evaluation of its effectiveness by an independent contractor.

Treats as a state any Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium operating a program under SSA title IV part E.

Title III: Budget Provisions - Sets forth budget provisions.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 112th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 395 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

395 yea25 nay13 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(184)

Republicans who voted yea(211)

  • Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
  • Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
  • Rep. Patrick MeehanR-PA-7
  • Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
  • Rep. Bob DoldR-IL-10
  • Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
  • Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
  • Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
  • Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
  • Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
  • Rep. Jon RunyanR-NJ-3
  • Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
  • Rep. Christopher GibsonR-NY-20
  • Rep. Michael GrimmR-NY-13
  • Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
  • Rep. Richard HannaR-NY-24
  • Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
  • Rep. Lou BarlettaR-PA-11
  • Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
  • Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
  • Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
  • Rep. David McKinleyR-WV-1
  • Rep. David RiveraR-FL-25
  • Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
  • Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
  • Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
  • Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
  • Rep. Steve StiversR-OH-15
  • Rep. Aaron SchockR-IL-18
  • Rep. Nan HayworthR-NY-19
  • Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
  • Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
  • Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
  • Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
  • Rep. Adam KinzingerR-IL-11
  • Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
  • Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-5
  • Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
  • Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
  • Rep. Mike KellyR-PA-3
  • Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
  • Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
  • Rep. Joseph HeckR-NV-3
  • Rep. Steve WomackR-AR-3
  • Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
  • Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
  • Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
  • Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
  • Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
  • Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
  • Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-50
  • Rep. Rick CrawfordR-AR-1
  • Rep. Steve AustriaR-OH-7
  • Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
  • Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
  • Rep. Rick BergR-ND
  • Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
  • Rep. Leonard LanceR-NJ-7
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
  • Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
  • Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
  • Rep. Tom ReedR-NY-29
  • Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3
  • Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
  • Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
  • Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
  • Rep. Martha RobyR-AL-2
  • Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
  • Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
  • Rep. Kristi NoemR-SD
  • Rep. Chip CravaackR-MN-8
  • Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
  • Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
  • Rep. Bobby SchillingR-IL-17
  • Rep. Tom MarinoR-PA-10
  • Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
  • Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
  • Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
  • Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2
  • Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerR-WA-3
  • Rep. James RenacciR-OH-16
  • Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
  • Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
  • Rep. Larry BucshonR-IN-8
  • Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
  • Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
  • Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
  • Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
  • Rep. Jeff DenhamR-CA-19
  • Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
  • Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
  • Rep. Scott TiptonR-CO-3
  • Rep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3
  • Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
  • Rep. Tim GriffinR-AR-2
  • Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
  • Rep. Bob GibbsR-OH-18
  • Rep. Frank GuintaR-NH-1
  • Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
  • Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
  • Rep. Scott RigellR-VA-2
  • Rep. Mark AmodeiR-NV-2
  • Rep. Allen WestR-FL-22
  • Rep. Bill CassidyR-LA-6
  • Rep. Renee EllmersR-NC-2
  • Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
  • Rep. Steven PalazzoR-MS-4
  • Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-9
  • Rep. Bill JohnsonR-OH-6
  • Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
  • Rep. Daniel WebsterR-FL-8
  • Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
  • Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
  • Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
  • Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
  • Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
  • Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
  • Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
  • Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
  • Rep. Randy HultgrenR-IL-14
  • Rep. Alan NunneleeR-MS-1
  • Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6
  • Rep. Chuck FleischmannR-TN-3
  • Rep. Sean DuffyR-WI-7
  • Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
  • Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
  • Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
  • Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
  • Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
  • Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
  • Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
  • Rep. Pete OlsonR-TX-22
  • Rep. Paul GosarR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Scott DesJarlaisR-TN-4
  • Rep. Cory GardnerR-CO-4
  • Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. Vicky HartzlerR-MO-4
  • Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
  • Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
  • Rep. Morgan GriffithR-VA-9
  • Rep. Richard NugentR-FL-5
  • Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
  • Rep. Stephen FincherR-TN-8
  • Rep. Thomas RooneyR-FL-16
  • Rep. Blake FarentholdR-TX-27
  • Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
  • Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
  • Rep. Andy HarrisR-MD-1
  • Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
  • Rep. James LankfordR-OK-5
  • Rep. Todd YoungR-IN-9
  • Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
  • Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
  • Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
  • Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
  • Rep. Lynn JenkinsR-KS-2
  • Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
  • Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
  • Rep. Quico CansecoR-TX-23
  • Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
  • Rep. Mo BrooksR-AL-5
  • Rep. Robert HurtR-VA-5
  • Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
  • Rep. Ann Marie BuerkleR-NY-25
  • Rep. Diane BlackR-TN-6
  • Rep. Sandy AdamsR-FL-24
  • Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
  • Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
  • Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
  • Rep. Steve SoutherlandR-FL-2
  • Rep. Kevin YoderR-KS-3
  • Rep. Dan BenishekR-MI-1
  • Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
  • Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
  • Rep. Reid RibbleR-WI-8
  • Rep. Dennis RossR-FL-12
  • Rep. Bill FloresR-TX-17
  • Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
  • Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
  • Rep. Jeff LandryR-LA-3
  • Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
  • Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
  • Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
  • Rep. Billy LongR-MO-7
  • Rep. John FlemingR-LA-4
  • Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
  • Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
  • Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
  • Rep. Todd RokitaR-IN-4
  • Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
  • Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
  • Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
  • Rep. David SchweikertR-AZ-5
  • Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
  • Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
  • Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
  • Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
  • Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
  • Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
  • Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
  • Rep. Rob WoodallR-GA-7
  • Rep. Mike PompeoR-KS-4
  • Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
  • Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
  • Rep. Ben QuayleR-AZ-3
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 716 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

5 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • H.R. 2790Related bill

    Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act

  • H.R. 3339Related bill

    Standard DATA Act

  • S. 1013Related bill

    State Child Welfare Innovation Act

  • S. 1234Related bill

    Partners for Stable Families and Foster Youth Affected by Methamphetamine or Other Substance Abuse Act

  • S. 1542Related bill

    Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.

  1. Sep 30, 2011Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 112-34.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Sep 27, 2011FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 23, 2011FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  5. Sep 22, 2011FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Sep 21, 2011FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 25 (Roll no. 720).House roll call 720
  8. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  9. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  10. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2883.
  11. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  12. FloorFloor · Mr. Davis (KY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  13. Sep 19, 2011CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 138.
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Committee on The Budget discharged.
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 112-210, Part I.
  16. Sep 12, 2011CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1602-1603)
  18. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

No amendments to this bill are on record.

Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.