Major Federal Legislation Index and Search

Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003
P.L. 108-36

Overview

S. 342
Enacted June 25, 2003
Purpose: To amend and improve the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), the Adoption Opportunities Act, the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act, and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act

Major Provisions of the Act

  • Reauthorized CAPTA through fiscal year 2008
  • Authorized an expanded interdisciplinary and longitudinal research program and provided for an opportunity for public comment on research priorities
  • Emphasized enhanced linkages between child protective services (CPS) agencies and public health, mental health, and developmental disabilities agencies
  • Mandated changes to State plan eligibility requirements for the CAPTA State grant, including the following:
    • Policies and procedures to address the needs of infants born and identified as being affected by prenatal drug exposure
    • Provisions and procedures requiring that a CPS representative advise an individual at the initial contact of complaints and allegations made against him or her
    • Provisions addressing the training of CPS workers regarding their legal duties to protect the legal rights and safety of children and families
    • Provisions to require a State to disclose confidential information to any Federal, State, or local government entity with a need for such information
    • Provisions and procedures for referral of a child under age 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
  • Directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the implementation of programs to increase the number of older children in foster care placed in adoptive families, including a grants program to eliminate barriers to placing children for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries
  • Amended the Abandoned Infants Assistance grants program to prohibit the award of a grant unless the applicant agrees to give priority to the following infants and young children:
    • Those who are infected with or exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus or have a life-threatening illness
    • Those who have been perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug