CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010: Federal Child Abuse Grants Extended Through 2015
The CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 is federal law, approved December 20, 2010, as Public Law 111-320. It reauthorized CAPTA's main programs through fiscal year 2015 and added state-plan items, including policies that encourage family involvement in decisions about children who experienced abuse or neglect and collaboration with domestic violence and substance abuse agencies.
This bill is law. It was approved December 20, 2010, as Public Law 111-320 Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
The short answer
The CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 renewed the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and three related laws Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010). According to the Congressional Research Service, it reauthorized CAPTA's main program and its community-based prevention grants through fiscal year 2015 Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries. It also added items a state's CAPTA grant plan must include, such as policies that encourage families to take part in decisions about their children Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
Congress.gov lists the bill's final action as "Became Public Law No: 111-320" Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries.
What it changes
Funding authorized through 2015. The CRS summary says the Act reauthorized CAPTA's general program Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries, CAPTA's community-based grants for preventing child abuse and neglect Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries, and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries, each through FY2015.
New items in state plans. The Act amended section 106 of CAPTA, the section on grants to states Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010). A state's plan must now include:
- policies "encouraging the appropriate involvement of families in decisionmaking pertaining to children who experienced child abuse or neglect" Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010);
- policies promoting collaboration among CPS, domestic violence agencies, substance abuse treatment agencies, and others in investigations, interventions, and services Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010);
- policies on the use of "differential response," where it applies Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010); and
- technology systems that track reports of abuse and neglect "from intake through final disposition" Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
The Act did not define "differential response." It did direct the national clearinghouse to share best practices about it Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
Training and youth. Training for a child's guardian ad litem (a person appointed to represent the child's interests) must include early childhood, child, and adolescent development Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010). States must also assure that CAPTA programs and training address the needs of unaccompanied homeless youth Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
Domestic violence. The Act authorized grants for collaboration between child protective services and domestic violence service providers Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries. Those grants include improving safety for the nonabusing parent and the children Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries.
Studies. HHS had to study how immunity laws help or hinder people who make good faith reports Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries. It also had to study how well citizen review panels examine state and local child protection agencies Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries.
How it relates to Texas
Texas law names DFPS as the state agency that cooperates with the federal government on programs under CAPTA Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002. DFPS must cooperate "to the extent necessary to qualify for federal assistance in the delivery of services" Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002. For the Texas rules that govern a CPS investigation, see The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302).
Which laws it affects
- Section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, at 42 U.S.C. 5106a Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010), and other CAPTA sections such as the national clearinghouse provisions Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
- The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, and the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010).
- In Texas, Human Resources Code §40.002 Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002.
Related
- Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA, 1974): The Federal Law Behind Child Abuse Reporting
- Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003: CAPTA's Rule That CPS Tell You the Allegations
- S. 4179, AI/AN CAPTA: Child Abuse Prevention Funding for Tribes (Pending, 119th Congress)
- The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)
- Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS) in Texas: What Families Should Know
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Sources
- Congress.gov bill status for S. 3817 (111th Congress), including CRS summaries checked 2026-10-02
- Public Law 111-320, 124 Stat. 3459 (2010) checked 2026-10-02
- Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002 checked 2026-10-02
Every legal statement on this page was checked word for word against the official sources above on 2026-10-02. Not yet reviewed by an attorney. Legal information, not legal advice.