119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9796
This bill reestablishes the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families, which provides support to families where grandparents or other relatives are raising children instead of parents. The bill appropriates $10 million for fiscal year 2027, with funding remaining available through September 30, 2031, to be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. The Center will provide training, technical assistance, and resources to community organizations and government programs that serve these families, with a focus on families where the primary caregiver is age 55 or older or where children have disabilities. The Center's activities include developing evidence-based practices, promoting service coordination across systems, facilitating information-sharing among states and tribal organizations, and helping organizations tailor services to meet the specific needs of grandfamilies and kinship families. The grant or contract to operate the Center must go to a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in grandfamily issues and a history of working with diverse organizations, including tribal entities.