This bill, known as the Autism Family Caregivers Act of 2025, establishes the Caregiver Skills Training Pilot Program under the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program authorizes grants to eligible entities to provide evidence-based caregiver skills training to family caregivers of children aged 0 to 9 with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities or delays. The primary goals are to improve the well-being of these children and their caregivers, teach intervention strategies, and promote greater inclusion in family and community life. To support this initiative, $10,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Grant recipients must use funds to provide this training at no cost to participants, covering areas such as communication skills, social engagement, daily living skills, challenging behavior strategies, and caregiver coping. Eligible entities applying for grants must demonstrate experience, propose activities, and plan for coordination with various community organizations, state programs like Medicaid and Head Start, schools, and healthcare payors. The Secretary will award grants to at least 25 entities across a minimum of 15 states, with each grant totaling not less than $500,000 over a five-year period, prioritizing entities that can deliver culturally competent and linguistically appropriate information to diverse family caregivers.

Grant recipients are also required to establish a local stakeholder implementation committee to ensure training is accessible and culturally appropriate, comprising family caregivers, pediatric providers, educators, and local officials. The Secretary is tasked with assisting grantees, conducting annual evaluations of the program's effectiveness, and convening meetings to discuss best practices. Initial and final reports will be submitted to Congress, detailing implementation, effectiveness, and recommendations for program expansion.