S.Amdt. 4517

SA 4517, submitted by Mr. Lujan, aims to add a Caregiver Skills Training Pilot Program to bill S. 1383.

The purpose of this amendment is to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to eligible entities. These grants will fund evidence-based training for family caregivers of children (ages 0 to 9) with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, or developmental delays.

The program aims to:

• Improve the well-being of these children and their caregivers.
• Teach caregivers intervention strategies to help children be more included in community and family life.

Key details of the proposed program include:

• Grant Requirements: The Secretary must award grants to at least 25 eligible entities across at least 15 States, with each grant being at least $500,000 over 5 years.
• Use of Funds: Training must be provided at no cost to participants and cover areas such as communication skills, social engagement, daily living skills, and caregiver self-care.
• Accountability: Eligible entities must create a stakeholder implementation committee with local community members. The Secretary is also required to perform annual evaluations and submit initial and final reports to Congress.
• Funding: The amendment authorizes $10,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.