Evaluations and reports; technical assistance

(a) Reporting requirements by grant recipients (1) In general An eligible entity receiving a grant under this title shall cooperate with the Secretary and annually provide a report to the Secretary that includes any relevant data requested by the Secretary in a manner specified by the Secretary. (2) Contents The data requested by the Secretary for an annual report may include any of the following (as determined relevant by the Secretary with respect to the category of the grant and each project supported through the grant): (A) The number of individuals and the demographics categories served by each project supported by the grant, including— (i) the number of individuals recruited through each such project to be employed as a direct care professional; (ii) the number of individuals who through each such project attained employment as a direct care professional; and (iii) the number of individuals who enrolled in each such project and withdrew or were terminated from that project without completing training or attaining employment as a direct care professional. (B) The number of family caregivers participating in an education or training program through each project supported by the grant. (C) The number of project participants who through each such project participated in and completed— (i) work-based learning; (ii) on-the-job training; (iii) an apprenticeship program; or (iv) a professional development or mentoring program. (D) (i) Other services, benefits, or supports (other than the services, benefits, or supports described in subparagraph (C)) provided through each such project to assist in the recruitment, retention, or advancement of direct care professionals (including through education or training for such professionals or individuals seeking to become such professionals); (ii) the number of individuals who accessed such services, benefits, or supports; and (iii) the impact of such services, benefits, or supports. (E) The crude separation and vacancy rates of direct care professionals, and such rates for those professionals who are managers or supervisors, in the geographic area for a number of years before the grant was awarded, as the number of years is determined by the Secretary, and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period. (F) How each project supported by the grant assessed satisfaction with respect to— (i) project participants assisted by the project; (ii) individuals receiving services delivered by project participants, including satisfaction regarding— (I) any impact on the health or health outcomes of such individuals; and (II) any impact on the ability of individuals to transition to or remain in the community in an environment that has the qualities established in section 441.301(c)(4) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and (iii) employers of such project participants. (G) The performance of the eligible entity with respect to the indicators of performance on unsubsidized employment, median earnings, credential attainment, measurable skill gains, and employer satisfaction. (H) Any other information with respect to outcomes of the project as determined by the Secretary. (b) Annual report to Congress by Secretary Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this title, and each year thereafter until all projects supported through a grant under this title are completed, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress an annual report on the progress of each project supported through a grant under this title and the activities of the technical assistance center established under section 302. (c) GAO report Not later than 1 year after the date on which all projects supported through a grant under this title are completed, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report including— (1) an assessment of how the technical assistance center established under section 302 and the projects supported through a grant under this title assisted in the creation, recruitment, training and education, retention, and advancement of the direct care workforce or in providing support for family caregivers; and (2) recommendations for such legislative or administrative actions needed for improving the assistance described in paragraph (1), as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. (d) Independent evaluations Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent entity to provide independent evaluations of activities supported by grants under this title and activities of the technical assistance center established under section 302.