Sponsors (39)
Introduced June 23, 2025 by Dave Min · Last progress June 23, 2025
This bill funds no‑cost, evidence-based caregiver training to improve outcomes for young children with developmental disabilities and support caregiver well‑being, but concentrates funding in larger, experienced providers and increases federal spending while adding administrative and eligibility hurdles that may limit access in underserved areas.
Families of children ages 0–9 with autism or developmental disabilities gain access to no-cost, evidence-based caregiver training designed to improve child communication, social engagement, and daily living skills.
Family caregivers receive training in coping and self-care, which can reduce caregiver stress and improve overall family well‑being.
The program provides predictable federal funding ($10M/year FY2026–2030), creating stable support for expanding caregiver training services over multiple years.
Smaller or newer community providers without the required 3 years' experience may be excluded from funding, reducing access in areas that lack established providers and limiting local options.
The program increases federal spending by about $10 million per year (plus at least $12.5M in guaranteed multi‑year grants), which is a taxpayer cost and may require tradeoffs in the federal budget.
Minimum grant size (at least $500,000 over 5 years) may concentrate funds at larger organizations and reduce opportunities for numerous smaller community programs to receive support.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HRSA to award pilot grants for evidence-based, no-cost caregiver skills training for families of children with autism or other developmental disabilities/delays.
Authorizes a new HHS/HRSA pilot grant program to fund evidence-based caregiver skills training for family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays. Grants must be awarded to at least 25 entities across at least 15 states, provide no-cost training to families, and include requirements for cultural and linguistic appropriateness, local stakeholder input, and coordination with community providers, schools, Medicaid, Head Start, and insurance payors. The program emphasizes caregiver well-being, child learning and development (communication, social engagement, daily living, behavior, and caregiver coping/self-care), and plans for program expansion and sustainability; each grant must provide at least $500,000 over a five-year period, though the legislation does not appropriate overall funding or set start dates.