Public Law 100-505, Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988, 18 October 1988

This Act does the following, among other things, with respect to foster care and residential care of infants and young children abandoned in hospitals. It authorizes the US Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for demonstration projects to: 1) prevent the abandonment of infants and young children; 2) identify and address the needs of abandoned infants and young children, particularly those with AIDS; 3) assist them, particularly those with AIDS, to reside with their natural families or in foster families, as appropriate; 4) recruit, train, and retain foster families; 5) carry out residential care programs; 6) carry out respite care programs for families and foster families of infants and children with AIDS; and 7) recruit and train health and social services personnel to work with such families and residential programs. It also directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine an estimate of: 1) the number of infants and young children abandoned in hospitals in the United States and the number of such infants who have AIDS and 2) the annual costs incurred by Federal, State, and local governments in providing housing and care for such infants and young children. It directs the Secretary, within 12 months after enactment of this Act, to complete such study and report the findings to the Congress. It directs the Secretary to conduct a study to determine the most effective methods for responding to the needs of abandoned infants and young children and it directs the Secretary, by April 1, 1991, to complete such study and report the findings to the Congress.