§2.Caregiver skills training pilot program
This section establishes the Caregiver Skills Training Pilot Program, under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration, awards grants to eligible entities to provide evidence-based caregiver skills training at no cost to family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays. The training covers communication skills, social engagement, daily living skills, caregiver responses to challenging behaviors, and coping strategies for caregivers, for purposes of improving child and caregiver well-being and child inclusion in family and community life. (As background, such children may qualify for early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides developmental services to infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays.)
Grant recipients must (1) submit applications describing prior experience, proposed activities, and achievement of program purposes, along with coordination plans involving early intervention providers, Medicaid, Head Start, schools, and payors, plus plans for expansion, sustainability, and a local stakeholder implementation committee; (2) prioritize culturally and linguistically appropriate services for diverse populations; and (3) use funds to supplement, not supplant, Medicaid, IDEA, or related services.
Requirements include awarding grants to at least 25 eligible entities in at least 15 states, with each grant totaling at least $500,000 over 5 years; establishing local stakeholder committees including family caregivers, pediatric and early intervention providers, educators, community representatives, and officials; and Secretary assistance with implementation, outreach to medically underserved communities, sustainability planning, and annual evaluations.