 |
 |
PLEASE CHECK OUT NUMBER 4 OF THIS SUBPART1-----just me, Marjorie No ©-US Govt. PART D--NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM `Subpart 1--State Grant Program `SEC. 341. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. `(a) IN GENERAL- The Assistant Secretary shall award grants to States with State plans approved under section 307, to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out State programs and enable eligible area agencies on aging to provide multifaceted systems of support services for family caregivers and other caregivers who are informal providers of in-home services and community care for older individuals. `(b) FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES- In providing services under this part, an area agency on aging shall provide support services, including providing-- `(1) information to eligible caregivers about available services; `(2) assistance to eligible caregivers in gaining access to the services; `(3) individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to eligible caregivers to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles; `(4) respite care to enable eligible caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities; and `(5) supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by eligible caregivers. `(c) ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITY- `(1) ELIGIBILITY- In order for a caregiver of an older individual to be eligible to receive services provided by a State program under this part, the State shall-- `(A) find that the caregiver is a caregiver as described in subsection (a); and `(B) determine that the older individual meets the condition specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of (B) of section 102(28). `(2) PRIORITY- In providing the services, the State shall give priority for services to older individuals with greatest social need and greatest economic need, and older individuals providing care and supports to persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities (as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6001) (referred to in this part as `developmental disabilities')) consistent with the requirements of section 305(a)(2)(E), and their caregivers. `(d) COORDINATION WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS- In carrying out this part, each area agency on aging shall coordinate the activities of the agency with the activities of other community agencies and voluntary organizations providing the types of services described in subsection (b). `(e) QUALITY STANDARDS AND MECHANISMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY- `(1) QUALITY STANDARDS AND MECHANISMS- The State shall establish standards and mechanisms designed to assure the quality of services provided with assistance made available under this part. `(2) DATA AND RECORDS- The State shall collect data and maintain records relating to the State program in a standardized format specified by the Assistant Secretary. The State shall furnish the records to the Assistant Secretary, at such time as the Assistant Secretary may require, in order to enable the Assistant Secretary to monitor State program administration and compliance, and to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the State programs. `(3) REPORTS- The State shall prepare and submit to the Assistant Secretary reports on the data and records required under paragraph (2), including information on the services funded under this part, and standards and mechanisms by which the quality of the services shall be assured. `(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- `(1) IN GENERAL- A State shall use the portion of the State allotment under section 304 that is from amounts appropriated under section 303(d) to carry out the State program under this part. `(2) USE OF FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF AREA PLANS- Amounts made available to a State to carry out the State program under this part may be used, in addition to amounts available in accordance with section 303(c)(1), for costs of administration of area plans. `(3) FEDERAL SHARE- `(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 304(d)(1)(D), the Federal share of the cost of carrying out a State program under this part shall be 75 percent. `(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share of the costs shall be provided from State and local sources. `SEC. 342. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT. `Funds made available under this part shall supplement, and not supplant, any Federal, State, or local funds expended by a State or unit of general purpose local government (including an area agency on aging) to provide services described in section 341(b).