Bill Summary
The Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2020 is a law that establishes a grant program for family community organizations that provide support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families. This law, also known as the "Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2020," amends the Public Health Service Act to include a new section specifically focused on providing support services for families affected by substance use disorder. The law defines key terms, such as "family community organization" and "family support services," and outlines the use of funds for these grants, including connecting families with evidence-based support programs and reducing stigma associated with substance use disorder. The law also requires data reporting and program oversight to ensure compliance with grant requirements. The bill authorizes $5,000,000 to be appropriated for each fiscal year from 2021 to 2025 to carry out this law.
Possible Impacts
1. It could provide funding for nonprofit organizations to provide support for families and loved ones of individuals struggling with substance use disorder.
2. It could require grantees to report data on their programs and activities, as well as health outcomes of the individuals they serve, to ensure compliance with the grant requirements.
3. It could lead to the development and expansion of family support services, such as education and training, to reduce the stigma associated with addiction and help families navigate the treatment and recovery systems.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5572 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5572
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 19, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish a grant program for family community organizations that
provide support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder
and their families.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Family Support Services for
Addiction Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 553. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `family community organization' means an
independent nonprofit organization that--
``(A) mobilizes resources within and outside of the
community of families with individuals living with
addiction, to provide a support network, education, and
evidence-informed tools for families and loved ones of
individuals struggling with substance use disorders;
and
``(B) is governed by experts in the field of
addiction, which may include--
``(i) experts in evidence-informed
interventions for family members;
``(ii) experts in the impact of addiction
on family systems;
``(iii) families who have experience with
substance use disorders and addiction; and
``(iv) other experts in the field of
addiction; and
``(2) the term `family support services' means resources or
programs that support families that include an individual with
substance use disorder.
``(b) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to
family community organizations to enable such organizations to develop,
expand, and enhance evidence-informed family support services.
``(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the costs of a program
funded by a grant under this section may not exceed 85 percent.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under subsection (b)--
``(1) shall be used to develop, expand, and enhance
community and statewide evidence-informed family support
services; and
``(2) may be used to--
``(A) build connections between family support
networks, including providing technical assistance
between family community organizations and peer support
networks, and with other family support services,
focused on enhancing knowledge of evidence-informed
interventions for family members and loved ones of
individuals living with substance use disorders and
reducing harm by educating service providers on current
evidence regarding addiction and the family,
including--
``(i) behavioral health providers,
including such providers focused specifically
on family and couples therapy in the context of
addiction;
``(ii) primary care providers;
``(iii) providers of foster care services
or support services for grandparents,
guardians, and other extended family impacted
by addiction; and
``(iv) other family support services that
connect to community resources for individuals
with substance use disorders, including non-
clinical community services;
``(B) reduce stigma associated with the family of
individuals with substance use disorders by improving
knowledge about addiction and its treatment, providing
compassionate support, and dispelling myths that
perpetuate such stigma;
``(C) conduct outreach on issues relating to
substance use disorders and family support, which may
include education, training, and resources with respect
to--
``(i) building a resilience- and strengths-
based approach to prevention of, and living
with, addiction in the family;
``(ii) identifying the signs of substance
use disorder;
``(iii) adopting an approach that minimizes
harm to all family members; and
``(iv) families of individuals with a
substance use disorder, including with respect
to--
``(I) navigating the treatment and
recovery systems;
``(II) paying for addiction
treatment;
``(III) education about substance
use disorder; and
``(IV) avoiding predatory treatment
programs; and
``(D) connect families to evidence-informed peer
support programs.
``(e) Data Reporting and Program Oversight.--With respect to a
grant awarded under subsection (a), not later than 90 days after the
end of the first year of the grant period, and annually thereafter for
the duration of the grant period, the entity shall submit data, as
appropriate and to the extent practicable, to the Secretary regarding--
``(1) the programs and activities funded by the grant;
``(2) health outcomes of the population of individuals with
a substance use disorder who received services through programs
supported by the grant, as evaluated by an independent program
evaluator through the use of outcomes measures, as determined
by the Secretary; and
``(3) any other information that the secretary may require
for the purpose of ensuring that the grant recipient is
complying with all the requirements of the grant.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2021 through 2025.''.
Passed the House of Representatives October 1, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.