What This Bill Does
This bill creates a federal grant program to help organizations provide mentoring services to pregnant women and mothers of young children. The mentors will help mothers improve their health, manage money better, learn parenting skills and connect with community resources and support.
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Who It Affects
- Pregnant women and mothers with children under age 6
- Local governments, Indian Tribes and nonprofit organizations that want to run mentoring programs
- The federal agency that manages Social Security
- Religious organizations that provide mentoring services
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Key Provisions
- The federal government will award grants to eligible organizations to run community mentoring programs (Sec. 514(a))
- Organizations must use volunteer community mentors and cannot duplicate existing services in the area (Sec. 514(b))
- Programs must include one-on-one mentoring relationships, assess each mother's individual needs, train mentors and connect mothers to community resources (Sec. 514(c)(1))
- Organizations must set measurable goals for 3 and 5 years and report progress to the federal government (Sec. 514(c)(2)(A) and (c)(2)(B)(i))
- Programs must prioritize serving low-income mothers, pregnant women under 21, mothers at high risk of health problems, mothers with substance abuse history or domestic abuse history, mothers with children with developmental disabilities, and mothers living in qualified opportunity zones (Sec. 514(d))
- Mentors cannot refer or counsel mothers to have abortions (Sec. 514(b)(7))
- Organizations that perform abortions, refer for abortions, or counsel in favor of abortions cannot receive grants (Sec. 514(k)(4))
- Religious organizations can apply for and receive funding and keep their existing religious exemptions under civil rights law (Sec. 514(i))
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What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the Social Security Act will be amended to add a new section creating a grant program for community-based maternal mentoring. Organizations in communities across the country will be able to apply for federal funding to hire and train volunteer mentors. These mentors will work with pregnant women and mothers to improve health outcomes, financial skills and access to community services. The federal government will require grantees to measure their success and show improvement in specific areas over 3 and 5 years.
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Important Definitions
- **Community-based mentoring relationship**: A relationship with one or more mentors who regularly meet with a mother to help her address barriers to care, health and economic problems by providing support and connecting her to community resources. The mentor should understand the barriers and lived experience of that community when possible. (Sec. 514(k)(1))
- **Eligible mother**: A woman who is pregnant or a woman who is the primary caregiver for a child under age 6. (Sec. 514(k)(3))
- **Eligible entity**: A local government, Indian Tribe, Tribal Organization, Urban Indian Organization or nonprofit organization (including religious organizations) that has experience serving eligible mothers. (Sec. 514(k)(2))
- **Prohibited entity**: An organization that performs, induces, refers for or counsels in favor of abortions or provides money to other organizations that conduct these activities. (Sec. 514(k)(4))
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Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 48
To amend title V of the Social Security Act to establish a grant program
for community-based maternal mentoring programs.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY 24 (legislative day, JANUARY 3), 2023
Mr. RUBIO introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title V of the Social Security Act to establish
a grant program for community-based maternal men-
toring programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Mentors
4
for Moms Act’’.
5
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MATERNAL MEN-
6
TORING PROGRAMS.
7
Title V of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701
8
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
9
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‘‘SEC. 514. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MATERNAL
1
MENTORING PROGRAMS.
2
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any other pay-
3
ments made under this title to a State, the Secretary shall
4
make grants to eligible entities to conduct demonstration
5
projects for, and enable such entities to deliver services
6
under, community-based mentoring programs that satisfy
7
the requirements of subsection (c) to eligible mothers in
8
order to promote improvements in maternal and child well-
9
being, financial stewardship, child development, parenting,
10
and access to social services and other community re-
11
sources.
12
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—The Secretary may not award
13
funds made available under this subsection on a non-
14
competitive basis, and may not provide any such funds to
15
an entity for the purpose of carrying out a community-
16
based mentoring program unless the entity has submitted
17
an application to the Secretary that includes—
18
‘‘(1) a description of how the programs or ac-
19
tivities proposed in the application will improve ma-
20
ternal mental and physical health outcomes in a
21
service area identified by the entity, substantially in-
22
crease the number of eligible mothers in a service
23
area with access to a community-based mentoring
24
relationship, utilize community volunteer mentors,
25
and supplement, including by avoiding duplication
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with, existing social services and community re-
1
sources;
2
‘‘(2) a description of how the program will part-
3
ner with other community institutions, including pri-
4
vate institutions, in identifying eligible mothers in
5
need of a mentor and, as applicable, creating sup-
6
port communities among eligible mothers;
7
‘‘(3) a description of the populations to be
8
served by the entity, including specific information
9
on how the entity will serve eligible mothers who be-
10
long to high-risk populations as identified in sub-
11
section (d);
12
‘‘(4) a description of the maternal and child
13
health indicators, financial well-being, and other
14
needs of populations to be served by the entity as
15
described in paragraph (3), including, to the extent
16
practicable, the prevalence of mentoring opportuni-
17
ties for such populations;
18
‘‘(5) the quantifiable benchmarks that will be
19
used to measure program success;
20
‘‘(6) a commitment by the entity to consult
21
with experts with a demonstrated history of men-
22
toring and case management success in achieving
23
the outcomes described in subsection (c)(2)(A) in de-
24
veloping the programs and activities;
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‘‘(7) a commitment by the entity to ensure
1
mentors to not refer or counsel in favor of abortions;
2
and
3
‘‘(8) such other application information as the
4
Secretary may deem necessary, with the goal of
5
minimizing the application burden on small non-
6
governmental organizations that would otherwise
7
qualify for the grant.
8
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—
9
‘‘(1) CORE COMPONENTS.—A community ma-
10
ternal mentoring program conducted with a grant
11
made under this section shall include the following
12
core components:
13
‘‘(A) Provision of community-based men-
14
toring relationships for eligible mothers, which
15
may include dedicated individual mentors and
16
networks of peer and community support
17
groups.
18
‘‘(B) An individualized needs assessment
19
for each eligible mother participating in the
20
program, to be administered at the outset of
21
the program.
22
‘‘(C) Recruitment and utilization of com-
23
munity-based, volunteer mentors.
24
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‘‘(D) Provision of training to participating
1
mentors to equip them with mentoring best
2
practices and knowledge of public and private
3
resources available to eligible mothers (includ-
4
ing public social services).
5
‘‘(2) MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN BENCH-
6
MARK AREAS.—
7
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The eligible entity
8
shall establish, subject to the approval of the
9
Secretary, quantifiable, measurable 3- and 5-
10
year benchmarks demonstrating the program
11
results in improvements for eligible mothers
12
participating in the program in the following
13
areas:
14
‘‘(i) The number of eligible mothers in
15
the eligible entity’s service area with access
16
to a community-based mentoring relation-
17
ship.
18
‘‘(ii) Improved maternal and child
19
health, including mental and behavioral
20
health.
21
‘‘(iii) Improved financial literacy.
22
‘‘(iv) Improved family economic self-
23
sufficiency.
24
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‘‘(v) Improved coordination and refer-
1
rals for other community resources and
2
supports, including public and private re-
3
sources.
4
‘‘(B)
DEMONSTRATION
OF
IMPROVE-
5
MENT.—
6
‘‘(i) REPORT TO THE SECRETARY.—
7
Not later than 30 days after the end of the
8
third year in which the eligible entity con-
9
ducts the program, the entity shall submit
10
to the Secretary a report describing the
11
program’s results in the areas specified in
12
subparagraph (A).
13
‘‘(ii) IMPROVEMENT PLAN.—If the re-
14
port submitted to the Secretary fails to
15
demonstrate improvements in at least 3 of
16
the areas outlined in subparagraph (A),
17
the eligible entity shall develop and imple-
18
ment a plan to improve outcomes in each
19
of the areas specified in subparagraph (A),
20
subject to approval by the Secretary.
21
‘‘(iii) NO IMPROVEMENT OR FAILURE
22
TO SUBMIT REPORT.—If, 1 year after an
23
eligible entity submits an improvement
24
plan under clause (ii), the Secretary deter-
25
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mines that the entity has failed to dem-
1
onstrate any improvement in the areas
2
specified in subparagraph (A), or if the
3
Secretary determines that an eligible entity
4
has failed to submit the report required
5
under clause (i), and has not agreed to a
6
reasonable timeline to submit such report
7
under such conditions as may be deter-
8
mined by the Secretary, the Secretary shall
9
terminate the entity’s grant and may re-
10
allocate any unpaid grant funds toward fu-
11
ture grants provided under this section.
12
‘‘(3) IMPROVEMENTS
IN
PARTICIPANT
OUT-
13
COMES.—
14
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The program is de-
15
signed, with respect to an eligible mother par-
16
ticipating in the program, to result in the par-
17
ticipant outcomes described in subparagraph
18
(B) that are relevant to the mother (as deter-
19
mined pursuant to an individualized needs as-
20
sessment administered to the mother).
21
‘‘(B) PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES.—The par-
22
ticipant outcomes described in this subpara-
23
graph are the following:
24
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‘‘(i) Improvements in prenatal and
1
maternal health, including mental and be-
2
havioral health and improved pregnancy
3
outcomes.
4
‘‘(ii) Improvements in child health
5
and development, including the prevention
6
of child injuries and maltreatment.
7
‘‘(iii) Higher levels of engagement be-
8
tween mothers, children, and their health
9
providers.
10
‘‘(iv) Reductions in mothers’ stress
11
and anxiety.
12
‘‘(v) Improvements in parenting skills.
13
‘‘(vi) Improvement in financial literacy
14
skills.
15
‘‘(vii) Improvements in child’s school
16
readiness and academic achievement.
17
‘‘(viii) Improvements in family eco-
18
nomic self-sufficiency.
19
‘‘(ix) Improvements in the coordina-
20
tion of referrals for, and the provision of,
21
other community resources, including pri-
22
vate and public resources, and supports for
23
eligible families.
24
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‘‘(d) PRIORITIZATION.—An eligible entity receiving a
1
grant under this section shall identify and prioritize high-
2
risk populations in provision of services, including—
3
‘‘(1) low-income eligible mothers;
4
‘‘(2) eligible mothers who are pregnant women
5
who have not attained the age of 21;
6
‘‘(3) eligible mothers from populations with a
7
high risk of maternal morbidity;
8
‘‘(4) eligible mothers with a history of sub-
9
stance abuse or victims of domestic abuse;
10
‘‘(5) eligible mothers with children with develop-
11
mental disabilities; and
12
‘‘(6) eligible mothers residing in a qualified op-
13
portunity zone, as designated under section 1400Z–
14
1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
15
‘‘(e) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—Funds provided to
16
an eligible entity under a grant awarded under subsection
17
(a) shall supplement, and not supplant, funds from other
18
sources for maternal mentorship or case management
19
services.
20
‘‘(f) EVALUATION.—
21
‘‘(1) ONGOING RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.—
22
The Secretary shall engage in ongoing research and
23
evaluation activities in order to increase knowledge
24
about the implementation and effectiveness of com-
25
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munity maternal mentoring programs. The Sec-
1
retary may carry out such activities directly, or
2
through grants, cooperative agreements, or con-
3
tracts, and shall submit a report to Congress not
4
less than annually on the research and evaluation
5
steps being taken to measure the impact and effec-
6
tiveness of programs funded under this section, as
7
well as any interim outcomes that may be available.
8
‘‘(2) REPORT REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 3
9
years after the date of enactment of this section, the
10
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the
11
effectiveness of programs funded with grants under
12
subsection (a) in producing the outcomes described
13
in subsection (c)(3)(B), and shall include in such re-
14
port recommendations for improving program design
15
and implementation.
16
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall
17
provide an eligible entity required to develop and imple-
18
ment an improvement plan under subsection (c)(2)(B)
19
with technical assistance to develop and implement the
20
plan. The Secretary may provide the technical assistance
21
directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agree-
22
ments.
23
‘‘(h) NO FUNDS
TO PROHIBITED ENTITIES.—No
24
prohibited entity shall be eligible to receive a grant under
25
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subsection (a), or any other funds made available by this
1
section.
2
‘‘(i) PROTECTIONS FOR PARTICIPATING RELIGIOUS
3
ORGANIZATIONS.—A religious organization shall be eligi-
4
ble to apply for and receive funding for a program under
5
this section on the same basis as a non-religious organiza-
6
tion, and a religious organization’s exemptions, in title VII
7
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (including exemption from
8
prohibitions in employment discrimination in section
9
702(a) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e–1(a))), title VIII of
10
the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX of the Educational
11
Amendments of 1987, the Americans with Disabilities Act,
12
the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Religious
13
Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or any other
14
provision in law providing an exemption for a religious or-
15
ganization, shall not be waived by its participation in, or
16
receipt of funds from, a grant provided by this section.
17
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
18
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of carrying
19
out this section, there are authorized to be appro-
20
priated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
21
through 2026.
22
‘‘(2) RESERVATIONS.—Of the amounts appro-
23
priated under this subsection for a fiscal year, the
24
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Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for purposes of car-
1
rying out subsections (f) and (g).
2
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY.—Funds made available to
3
an eligible entity under this section shall remain
4
available for expenditure by the eligible entity
5
through the end of the third fiscal year following the
6
fiscal year in which the funds are awarded to the en-
7
tity.
8
‘‘(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
9
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY-BASED
MENTORING
RELA-
10
TIONSHIP.—The term ‘community-based mentoring
11
relationship’ means a relationship with a dedicated
12
mentor and, as applicable, group of mentors or peer
13
support group, who meet regularly with an eligible
14
mother and help that mother address barriers to
15
care, mental, behavioral, and physical well-being,
16
and economic mobility by providing support services
17
and linkages to community resources. A community-
18
based mentoring relationship should, to the extent
19
practicable, have an understanding of the barriers
20
and lived experience of that community, which may
21
include shared lived experience.
22
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
23
tity’ means a local government,
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]