(a) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention, intervention and services delivery program The Secretary shall establish a comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect prevention, intervention and services delivery program that shall include
(1) an education and public awareness program to support, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of
(A) educational programs targeting medical schools, social and other supportive services, educators and counselors and other service providers in all phases of childhood development, and other relevant service providers, concerning the prevention, identification, and provision of services for children, adolescents and adults with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect;
(B) strategies to educate
school-age children, including pregnant and high risk youth, concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect;
(C) public and community awareness programs concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect; and
(D) strategies to coordinate information and services across affected community agencies, including agencies providing social services such as foster care, adoption, and social work, medical and mental health services, and agencies involved in education, vocational training and civil and criminal justice;
(2) a prevention and diagnosis program to support clinical studies, demonstrations and other research as appropriate to
(A) develop appropriate medical diagnostic methods for identifying Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect; and
(B) develop effective prevention services and interventions for pregnant, alcohol-dependent women; and
(3) an applied research program concerning intervention and prevention to support and conduct service demonstration projects, clinical studies and other research models providing advocacy, educational and vocational training, counseling, medical and mental health, and other supportive services, as well as models that integrate and coordinate such services, that are aimed at the unique challenges facing individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effect and their families.
(b) Grants and technical assistance The Secretary may award grants, cooperative agreements and contracts and provide technical assistance to eligible entities described in section
280f–1 of this title to carry out subsection (a) of this section.
(d) National Task Force
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish a task force to be known as the National Task Force on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect (referred to in this subsection as the Task Force) to foster coordination among all governmental agencies, academic bodies and community groups that conduct or support Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect research, programs, and surveillance, and otherwise meet the general needs of populations actually or potentially impacted by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect.
(2) Membership The Task Force established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
(A) be chaired by an individual to be appointed by the Secretary and staffed by the Administration; and
(B) include the Chairperson of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome of the Department of Health and Human Services, individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect, and representatives from advocacy and research organizations such as the Research Society on Alcoholism, the FAS Family Resource Institute, the National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the Arc, the academic community, and Federal, State and local government agencies and offices.
(3) Functions The Task Force shall
(A) advise Federal, State and local programs and research concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect, including programs and research concerning education and public awareness for relevant service providers,
school-age children, women at-risk, and the general public, medical diagnosis, interventions for women at-risk of giving birth to children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect, and beneficial services for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effect and their families;
(B) coordinate its efforts with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
(C) report on a biennial basis to the Secretary and relevant committees of Congress on the current and planned activities of the participating agencies.
(4) Time for appointment
The members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Secretary not later than 6 months after November 13, 1998.
