Secretarial responsibilities

(a) Annual report to Congress on hidden foster care arrangement practices The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Congress based on the most recent State reports submitted under section 3. Each annual report shall include the following: (1) The total number of children for whom a hidden foster care arrangement ended during the fiscal year reported on, and of that number— (A) how many of the hidden foster care arrangements ended without the child entering the formal foster care system; and (B) how many of the hidden foster care arrangements ended through the placement of the child into the formal foster care system. (2) The total number of each category or type of allegation raised in a case which resulted in a separation of a child from their parents by a hidden foster care arrangement. (3) To the extent data is available, the number of caregivers in a hidden foster care arrangement who received additional services, including referrals to kinship navigator programs, prevention services programs funded under part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq., 671 et seq.), services provided by an entity or organization other than a CPS agency, or legal counsel. (4) The number of States that submit a report under section 3 for the fiscal year involved and a summary of such reports that includes a summary of the ways in which States address hidden foster care arrangements within the most recent State plan reports submitted part B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq., 671 et seq.). (b) Implementation (1) Consistent data The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, the data and information required to be reported under section 3— (A) is collected and reported in a reliable and standardized manner by all States; (B) provides a comprehensive, national picture of the practice of hidden foster care arrangements; and (C) draws upon and does not duplicate other required child welfare data collection and reporting regarding children for, or on whose behalf, prevention services are offered, including under section 471(e)(5)(B)(x) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(e)(5)(B)(x)), section 479 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 679), and subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 103(c)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and 106(d) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5103(c)(1), 5106a(d)). (2) Guidance; technical assistance The Secretary may use funds made available to carry out part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) to issue guidance or provide technical assistance to States with respect to the data and information required to be reported under section 3. (3) Publication and manner of submission The Secretary— (A) may include the report required by subsection (a) in the annual compilation of State reports required to be submitted to Congress under section 479A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679b); and (B) shall make each report submitted to Congress in accordance with subsection (a) publicly available.