Education and professional development for care providers regarding patient care for families pursuing adoption, including prospective birth mothers and potential adoptive families

(a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administration for Children and Families, directly or through grants or contracts in accordance with subsection (b), shall— (1) provide to care providers at hospitals and birthing centers education and professional development regarding patient care for families pursuing adoption, including prospective birth mothers and potential adoptive families; and (2) provide consultation services to hospitals and birthing centers employing care providers on standardized policies, guidelines, and procedures regarding such education and professional development for such care providers. (b) Grants or contracts If the Secretary chooses to provide education, professional development, or consultation services under subsection (a) through the award of a grant or contract, the following provisions shall apply: (1) Eligibility To be eligible for such an award, an entity— (A) shall— (i) be a health care-based, nonprofit education organization that focuses on adoption; (ii) partner with healthcare professionals, hospitals, birthing centers, and community organizations to implement patient-centered care models; (iii) emphasize holistic parenting support in the perinatal setting; and (iv) have demonstrated experience providing non-directive education to healthcare professionals supporting expectant parents considering adoption, parenting, and kinship care; (B) shall not— (i) be or represent a child-placing agency; (ii) provide or refer for abortions; or (iii) hold any other vested interest in a particular pregnancy outcome. (2) Application To seek such an award, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (3) Period The period of such an award shall not exceed 3 fiscal years. (4) Reports As a condition on receipt of such an award, an eligible entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary each fiscal year a report on the activities carried out through the award. Each such report shall include such information as the Secretary determines is necessary to provide an accurate description of such activities. (5) Supplement not supplant Activities carried out using funds made available through such an award shall supplement, and not supplant, activities carried out using other funds made available from the Federal Government or other sources. (c) Technical assistance; coordination The Secretary shall— (1) provide technical assistance to eligible entities regarding activities carried out through an award under this section; and (2) as appropriate, coordinate the provision of education, professional development, and consultation services under subsection (a) with other adoption-related research, professional development, services, and assistance activities carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services. (d) Evaluation (1) In general The Secretary shall evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the activities carried out (directly or through grants or contracts) under this section, including by calculating— (A) the number of hospitals and birthing centers that implement adoption-sensitive programming and education and professional development as a result of the activities under this section; and (B) the number of care providers who receive adoption education or professional development as a result of the activities under this section. (2) Report to Congress Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the evaluation under paragraph (1) and submit to the Congress a report that contains the results of such evaluation, including the calculations under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1).