Child Welfare: Federal Program Requirements for States

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States have primary responsibility for administering child welfare funds. However, the federal
government provides substantial child welfare funding that is contingent on states meeting certain
program requirements. The greatest part of federal assistance dedicated to child welfare is
included in Title IV-B and Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. Programs authorized under these
parts of the law provide funds for a range of child welfare services, from family support and
preservation to foster care, adoption support and independent living. State compliance with the
plan requirements of Title IV-E and Title IV-B is determined primarily via the Child and Family
Services Review, (which is authorized by Section 1123A of the Social Security Act). Separately,
under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), states receive funds to improve
their child protective service systems; to develop and support community-based programs that
support and strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect; and to improve the handling,
investigation, and prosecution of child maltreatment cases.
The 109^th Congress saw the enactment of six bills that amended federal child welfare policies in
Title IV-B or Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. S. 1894 (P.L. 109-113) and S. 1932 (P.L. 109-
171) changed program eligibility rules for the federal Title IV-E foster care and adoption
assistance programs. Each of the remaining bills added to or otherwise amended the Title IV-B or
Title IV-E state plan requirements. Under the Title IV-B programs, states are now required (or
will be on a specified effective date) to (1) develop standards for the frequency and content of
caseworker visits to children in foster care; (2) limit total funds spent for administrative purposes
to no more than 10% of the program spending; (3) describe how they consult with medical
professionals to assess the health and well-being of foster children and determine their
appropriate treatment; (4) have procedures in place to respond to a disaster and to maintain child
welfare services at such a time; and (5) to report on the actual use of federal funds received under
Title IV-B (S. 3525, P.L. 109-288). Changes made to the Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption
Assistance programs require all states to (1) establish procedures for the “orderly and timely
interstate placement of children,” including compliance with specific time frames for conducting
home studies requested prior to an interstate placement and for making a decision about the
placement (H.R. 5403, P.L. 109-239); (2) comply with expanded federal procedures to check the
criminal records of prospective foster or adoptive parents (as well as primarily civil child abuse
and neglect registries) before approving placement of any foster child in a home (H.R. 4472, P.L.
109-248); and (3) have procedures for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of all
children in foster care (H.R. 6111, P.L. 109-432).
This report summarizes changes made in the 109^th Congress and then categorizes and describes
state program requirements (and related definitions) linked to dedicated federal child welfare
funds. As a whole, these program requirements constitute federal child welfare policy, and are the
fundamental basis on which state conformity with federal law is based. This report will be
updated as significant program requirement changes are enacted.

Federal Child Welfare Funding.................................................................................................1
State Plan Requirements............................................................................................................1 ^th
Changes Enacted by the 109 Congress.............................................................................1
How the Tables in this Report Are Organized...........................................................................5
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Programs..............................................................7
Basic State Grants...............................................................................................................7
Children’s Justice Act Grants............................................................................................10
Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.......................11
Social Security Act Programs..................................................................................................15
Child Welfare Services......................................................................................................15
Promoting Safe and Stable Families.................................................................................17
Foster Care and Adoption Assistance................................................................................19
Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and Education and Training Vouchers.........22
Important Definitions........................................................................................................24
Table 1. Basic State Grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(CAPTA) ........................................................................................................................ .............. 7
Table 2. Children’s Justice Act Grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Act (CAPTA)..............................................................................................................................10
Table 3. Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, under
CAPTA .......................................................................................................................... ............. 12
Table 4. Child Welfare Services, Title IV-B, Subpart 1 of the Social Security Act.......................15
Table 5. Promoting Safe and Stable Families, Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social Security
Act .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Table 6. Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act..................19
Table 7. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and Education and
Training Vouchers, under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.................................................22
Table 8. Important Definitions in the Social Security Act.............................................................24
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................28

hild welfare programs are intended to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to protect and
improve the lives of children who have experienced maltreatment. As the U.S.
Constitution has been interpreted, states exercise the greatest responsibility for C

administering these services. At the same time, the federal government plays a significant role in
shaping these services by providing funding for services and by linking those federal funds to
certain requirements.
For FY2007, Congress provided more than $7.6 billion in funding dedicated to child welfare
purposes and the bulk of this federal child welfare funding (98% or $6.5 billion of the funds made
available for FY2007) was provided for state child welfare agencies. These funds are distributed
based on the amount of eligible foster care or adoption assistance claims submitted by states
(under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act), or via statutory formula for child welfare-related
activities, including screening and investigation of child abuse and neglect reports; family
support, preservation, and reunification services; adoption promotion and support services; and
independent living services and other support for current and former foster care youths. (A
portion of the funds are also made available to the highest court in each state to fund
improvements in the handling of child welfare-related court proceedings.) Child welfare funds
distributed to all states are administered by the Children’s Bureau, within the Administration for ¹
Children and Families (ACF) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In addition to providing non-federal matching funds, states must meet a set of program
requirements in order to receive these federal child welfare dollars. Viewed together, these
statutory program requirements comprise federal child welfare policy, and are the fundamental
basis on which state compliance with federal child welfare requirements rests. State compliance
with the majority of these requirements is checked as part of the Child and Family Services
Review (CFSR), which was designed by HHS to meet the conformity review requirements
mandated by Congress in 1994 (P.L. 103-432, as enacted at Section 1123A of the Social Security ²
Act).

The 109^th Congress enacted six bills that amended federal child welfare policies included in Title ³
IV-B or Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. Most of these included changes to state plan

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requirements. The amendments made by these bills are briefly discussed below. (The bills are
listed in order of their enactment.)
As enacted, this bill (S. 1894, P.L. 109-113) permits states to claim Title IV-E foster care support
on behalf of otherwise eligible foster children whose foster care maintenance payments are
provided to foster parents or institutional foster care providers via a for-profit foster care
placement agency. Prior law stipulated that if a state sought to claim federal Title IV-E support on
behalf of a foster child, the child’s maintenance payments could only be made by a public or non-
profit agency.
This omnibus budget reconciliation measure (S. 1932, P.L. 109-171) includes changes intended to
clarify which children are eligible for federal foster care and adoption assistance support. It also
places certain limitations on the ability of states to make claims for federal reimbursement of the
costs of administering the foster care program (including limits on the length of time a child may
be considered a “candidate” for foster care and new rules or restrictions on administrative claims
related to foster children placed in unlicensed relative homes or other settings that are “ineligible”
under Title IV-E). Separately, the legislation raised the mandatory funding authorization for the
Promoting Safe and Stable Families program (Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social Security Act),
and authorized two new grants intended to improve court handling of child welfare proceedings ⁴
and appropriated $100 million ($20 million in each of FY2006-FY2010) for those grants.
This bill (H.R. 5403, P.L. 109-239) amended Title IV-B and Title IV-E to encourage the expedited
placement of foster children into safe and permanent homes across state lines. The law establishes
a federal 60-day deadline for completing an interstate home study (necessary to determine the
suitability and safety of the home) and a 14-day deadline for a state that requests this interstate
home study to act on the information in the study. (For any home study begun before October 1,
2008, states may have up to 75 days to complete the study if they can document certain
circumstances beyond their control that prevented a study’s completion in 60 days.) The new law
also authorizes $10 million in each of FY2007-FY2010, for incentive payments (valued at $1,500
each) to states for every interstate home study that is completed in 30 days. (As of August 2007,
no funds have yet been appropriated for these payments.)
Further, the law prohibits states from restricting the ability of a state agency to contract with a
private agency to conduct interstate home studies, and for children who will not be reunited with
their parents, it encourages (or in some cases requires) identification and consideration of both in-

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state and out-of-state placement options as part of currently required case review and planning
activities for children in foster care. Separately, the bill requires courts (as a condition of
receiving certain funding intended to improve their handling of child welfare proceedings) to
notify any foster parent, pre-adoptive parent, or relative caregiver of a foster child of any
proceedings to be held regarding the child, and emphasizes the right of these individuals to be
heard at permanency planning proceedings. Finally, it would require that youth leaving foster care
custody because they have reached the age of majority must be given a free copy of their health ⁵
and education record.
This omnibus bill (H.R. 4472, P.L. 109-248) establishes additional federal requirements related to
criminal background checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents and also requires states to
check child abuse and neglect registries for information about prospective foster or adoptive ⁶
parents. The criminal records checks must include a check of national crime databases (i.e., an
FBI check), and must be done before the placement of any foster child can be finally approved
with prospective foster or adoptive parents. Under prior law, the kind of criminal record check
(for example, state vs. FBI vs. local) was not specified, and the federal requirement for these
checks extended only to children for whom a state intended to make federal Title IV-E foster care
or adoption assistance claims. As was true with prior law, if a criminal record check reveals
certain felony convictions of a prospective foster or adoptive parent, a state may not claim Title
IV-E foster care or adoption assistance for a foster child placed in his or her home. However, this
does not prohibit the state from placing a foster child in this same home if the state does not make ⁷
Title IV-E claims on the child’s behalf.
For most states, these criminal record check requirements became effective with the first day of
FY2007. However, prior law allowed states to “opt out” of the federal criminal records check
procedures, and P.L. 109-248 permits those “opt out states” to have until the first day of FY2009
to come into compliance with the new requirements. As of July 2006, HHS reported that there
were eight opt-out states: Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, California, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, ⁸
and Arizona.
Many child abuse and neglect cases are not the subject of criminal court proceedings, and
information on these cases does not appear in a criminal records check. As of the first day of

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FY2007, P.L. 109-248 requires all states to check any child abuse and neglect registry they
maintain for information about a prospective foster or adoptive parent (and any adult living in
their household). The check must be made before approving placement of a foster child in the
home (and without regard to whether the state plans to claim Title IV-E support for the child).
States must also request (and all states must comply with) information from any other state’s
child abuse and neglect registry where the prospective foster or adoptive parent, or other adult,
has lived in the past five years. There are no federal stipulations about how states must use the
information from these registries.
Finally, P.L. 109-248 requires HHS, in consultation with the Justice Department, to create a
national registry of substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect. Information in this national
registry is to be accessible only to public entities (or agencies of those public entities) that needs
the information “to carry out its responsibilities under law to protect children from child abuse
and neglect.” Separately, the law requires HHS to “conduct a study on the feasibility of
establishing data collection standards for a national child abuse and neglect registry” and to make
recommendations and findings on the costs and benefits of such data collection standards; data
collection standards currently employed by states, tribes or other political subdivisions; and data ⁹
collection standards that should be considered to establish a model of promising practices. The
law authorized $500,000 in appropriations to carry out the study. (As of August 2007, no funds
have been specifically appropriated for this purpose.) A report of this study is to be submitted to ¹⁰
Congress by the end of July 2007.
This bill (S. 3525, P.L. 109-288) extends, through FY2011, annual funding authorization of $545
million for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (Title IV-B, Subpart 2). For each of
FY2006-FY2011 it provides that no less than $40 million of those funds are to be used for two
purposes: to support monthly caseworker visits and to improve outcomes for children affected by
methamphetamine or other substance abuse. Further the new law requires states to report on their
actual use of funds under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, increases the funding set-aside
from the Safe and Stable Families program for tribal child and family services, and allows access
to these funds for more tribes.
Separately, the bill amended the Child Welfare Services program (Title IV-B, Subpart 1 of the
Social Security Act) to re-organize and update its provisions and to limit funding authorization for
the program to FY2007-FY2011. Beginning with FY2008 the law limits the use of program funds
for administrative purposes and also provides new restriction on the amount of these program
funds that states may use for foster care maintenance payments, adoption assistance payments, or
child care. Among several new state plan requirements for this program, P.L. 109-288 requires
states to establish standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits of children in

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^(DHS^).^Ho^w^e^ver,^{as th}^{e sa}^{me sec}^tioⁿ^of^the^la^w^r^e^quir^e^s^H^H^S^to^m^a^k^e^the^s^t^udy^a^{nd r}^e^la^te^{d r}^e^c^o^m^m^e^nda^tio^ns^{, t}^h^is
^referen^{ce t}^o^DHS^ap^p^{ears t}^o^b^e^a^d^r^af^tⁱⁿ^{g erro}^r.

foster care (providing that within a specified time frame 90% of children in foster care must be
visited at least monthly and that most of these visits must occur in the place where the child
lives). Additionally states are required to have procedures to respond to and maintain child
welfare services in the wake of a disaster and must also describe in their state plan how they
consult with medical professionals to assess the health of and provide medical treatment to
children in foster care.
P.L. 109-288 also extended the authorization for five years (FY2007-FY2011) of the Mentoring
Children of Prisoners program and includes authority for a project to demonstrate the
effectiveness of vouchers as a method of delivering these services. Further it extends for the same
five years grants to eligible state highest courts to assess and improve their handling of child ¹¹
welfare proceedings (under the Court Improvement Program).
This omnibus (H.R. 6111, P.L. 109-432) makes several changes related to new provisions enacted
in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) and which are related to foster care and
Medicaid. Section 6036 of P.L. 109-171 generally prohibited a state from receiving federal
Medicaid reimbursement for individuals who do not provide satisfactory documentary evidence
of citizenship or nationality. Section 405(c) of P.L. 109-432 specifically exempts foster children
(both Title IV-E eligible and those who are not eligible) from the Medicaid documentation
requirement. This change is made effective as if it was included in the Deficit Reduction Act (P.L.

109-171) which was enacted in February 2006.

P.L. 109-432 also amended Title IV-E to require states to have in effect procedures for verifying
the citizenship or immigration status of each child in foster care (whether or not the state claims ¹²
Title IV-E support for the child). Finally, P.L. 109-432 also amended Section 1123A of the
Social Security Act to specifically require that state compliance with this new federal requirement
be checked as part of periodic conformity reviews (e.g. the Child and Family Services Review).
These changes are to be effective as of June 20, 2007 (6 months after the enactment of P.L. 109-

432).

State plan requirements generally apply to the state, or the state administering/supervising agency,
and usually are contained in the statute as a list of items that must be included in the state’s
program plan. The plan requirements vary a great deal in their scope and kind and are difficult to
categorize consistently. In this report they are grouped within a specific program (or section of the
law) and by a rough kind/subject division. This division is somewhat arbitrary and not a part of
federal statute. However, it is used in this report as a way to group basic concerns of federal child
welfare policy and to better understand what is required of states. The kind/subject divisions used
are:

¹¹^For^m^o^r^e^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion a}^b^o^u^{t t}^h^e^c^h^aⁿ^g^e^s^m^a^de^by^P^.^L^.¹⁰^9-²^{88 s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³³³⁵⁴^,^T^h^e^Pr^om^otin^{g Safe}^an^d
^Sta^b^le^Fami^lie^{s Pro}^g^{ram: Re}^a^u^th^orizati^on^{in t}^h^e¹⁰⁹^th^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^{, b}^y^E^m^ilie^Stoltz^f^u^s.
¹²^T^h^e^la^w^doe^{s not spe}^cⁱ^fy^w^h^a^t^sta^t^e^s^m^u^{st do w}^{ith t}^h^{is i}ⁿ^f^o^rm^a^tio^{n. Cur}^r^eⁿ^{t la}^w^pro^h^ibi^t^{s sta}^t^e^s^f^r^om^c^l^aⁱ^mⁱ^ng^T^itle
^IV^{-E s}^u^p^port^f^o^{r c}^e^r^ta^{in n}^on-c^itiz^eⁿ^c^h^ild^re^{n. T}^h^e^a^r^eⁿ^o^pr^ohi^biti^oⁿ^s^oⁿ^s^t^a^t^e^s^s^e^rv^ing^non-cⁱ^tⁱ^z^eⁿ^c^h^ildre^{n w}^{ith s}^t^a^t^e
^dolla^r^s^.^For^m^o^r^e^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion s}^e^e^Se^c^tion^7.^{1 a}ⁿ^{d Se}^c^tioⁿ^8.4B^of^t^h^e^C^h^il^{d W}^e^lf^a^r^e^P^o^lic^y^Ma^nua^{l .}^A^v^a^ila^ble^onliⁿ^e
^a^t^http^://w^w^w^.^a^cf^.hhs^.g^ov^/j2e^e^/^pr^og^ram^s^/^c^b/^law^s^_polic^ie^s^/^law^s^/^c^w^p^m^/^inde^x^.^js^p^.

• Planning Services: Administration, Organization and Coordination—
requirements that direct how the state must administer, coordinate, or organize
the program (e.g., what state agency must administer the program, and with what
other programs it must be coordinated).
• Data Collection and Reporting—requirements specifying the nature of data to be
collected and/or reported to the federal government, and those related to
cooperation with program evaluations or audits.
• Ensuring Safe and Appropriate Placement Options—requirements designed to
ensure diversity of prospective foster and adoptive parents, prohibit
discrimination in placements, allow for cross-jurisdictional placements and
otherwise serve to ensure safe and appropriate placements for children.
• Child Protections, Services, and Programs to Be Provided—requirements that
specify treatment of each child, and services and programs to be provided.
This report lists state eligibility requirements for federally funded child welfare programs within
these kind/subject divisions. Three of these programs are authorized under the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA): Basic State Grants, Community-Based Grants for the
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Children’s Justice Act Grants. The remaining
programs are a part of the Social Security Act: Child Welfare Services, the Promoting Safe and
Stable Families Program, Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, the John Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program, and Education and Training Vouchers (for youth who age out of or are
expected to age out of foster care).
Some of the state plan elements are simply given in the statute as requirements for the state to
meet (e.g., describe services to be offered); others ask that the state assure or provide the
Governor’s certification that it is meeting a certain requirement (e.g., federal funds are not used to
supplant existing non-federal funds for services with purpose similar to the federal program). This
report does not distinguish between these different forms of requirement.
Federal funds for child welfare programs under the Social Security Act and for CAPTA’s Basic
State Grants and Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect are
administered by the Children’s Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). The Children’s Bureau at HHS also awards CAPTA’s Children Justice Act grants but does
so in consultation with the Department of Justice.
Tables 1, 2, and 3 list elements required of states seeking Basic State Grants, Children’s Justice
Act Grants, or Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect under
CAPTA. Tables 4, 5, 6, and 7 contain state plan requirements for child welfare programs
authorized under the Social Security Act.
Finally, Table 8 contains definitions critical to understanding state plan requirements for child
welfare programs under the Social Security Act. For instance, a state is required to have a “case
plan” for each child and to operate a “case review system.” These and other related terms are
given detailed definition in the law. Terms appearing in boldface in Tables 4, 5, 6 and 7 are
defined by the statute and the term, and its definition, are included in Table 8.
The information included in this report is intended as an accessible reference guide to state
requirements, rather than a legal interpretation of those requirements. Requirements are believed ^th
to be current through changes made by the 109 Congress.

Table 1 lists state plan requirements to receive CAPTA’s Basic State Grants. Section 106 of
CAPTA provides grants to states for improvements to public child protective services. Funding is
authorized on a discretionary basis. No matching funds are required. FY2007 funding: $27
million.
Table 1. Basic State Grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
(CAPTA)
^{Kind of Plan}^{CAPTA Basic State Grant R}^{equirements (Section 10}⁶⁾^a
^Requirement
^Plann^ing^—^Every^{5 year}^{s, pre}^{pare a}^{nd su}^b^{mit to the Health a}^{nd Huma}^{n Ser}^{vices (HHS) secretary}^{a plan}
^serv^ices^:^{specifying area}^{s of child protectiv}^{e services syste}^{m to be addres}^se^{d with grant mon}^ey,
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^{including an outline of activities the state inte}^{nds to do to improve its system of c}^hild^b
^organ^iza^tio^n,^{protective services.}
^and^{—Describe services to}^{be p}^{rovided to individuals}^{, families or com}^{munities to prev}^{ent c}^hild
^coordi^nat^ion^{abuse a}^{nd neglect.}^c
^{—Coordinate this plan, to maximum e}^xtent^{possible, with the c}^h^{ild welfare programs fu}^nded
^{under Title IV-B of the Social Sec}^{urity Act.}
^{—Assure t}^{hat c}^{hild welfare progr}^{ams and p}^{rojects related to child maltreatment}^{but f}^unded
^{under Title IV-B of the Social Sec}^{urity Act, comply with t}^{he state}^{plan re}^quireme^{nts of t}^his
^program.
^{—Describe training}^{provided for individuals required to report s}^u^s^{pected cases of}^{child abuse}
^{and neglect and t}^{raining p}^{rovided to sup}^{port direct line and s}^uper^v^{isory person}^{nel in report}
^{taking, screening, decision making}^{, and referral for in}^{vestigating sus}^{pected instan}^{ces of c}^hild
^{abuse a}^{nd neglect.}
^{—Establish at least}^{3 citizen revie}^{w panels (or at least}^{1 if the}^state^{receives the}^minimum
^{allotment of $17}^5,00^{0 u}^{nder CA}^{PTA’s community-based grant) t}^o^{examine state a}^{nd local}
^{child protective services}^policies^{and practices a}^{nd to evaluate w}^h^{ether t}^{he state a}^{nd local}
^{agencies effectively}^{provide those}^{services. The review}^{panel m}^ust^prepa^{re an}^an^nual
^summary^{of its activities and mus}^{t make recomme}^{ndations for imp}^{rovements of t}^{he state a}^nd^d
^{local child protection services systems.}
^{—Within 6 mont}^{hs of rec}^{eiving the citizen review pa}^{nel report}^th^{e app}^{ropriate state age}^ncy
^{must p}^{rovide a written res}^ponse^{describing whet}^{her or}^{how the}^st^{ate will incorporate the}
^{recommendations for imp}^rovem^ents.
^{—Maintain a state law or statewi}^{de program t}^hat
^•^{grants immu}^{nity from}^prosec^{ution (unde}^{r state a}^{nd local laws and regulations) for}
^{individuals making good faith reports of sus}^{pected or know}^{n child maltreatment;}
^•^requires^and^{has p}^{rocedures to}^p^{romptly ex}^pu^{nge any}^p^{ublic reco}^{rds in cases of}^{false or}
^uns^ubsta^{ntiated abus}^{e (State child protective agencies, however,}^{may keep}^{records of}
^uns^ubsta^{ntiated cases to assist in}^futu^{re risk a}^{nd safety ass}^essme^nt.);
^•^{provides procedur}^{es for individuals to appeal official findings of ch}^{ild maltreatment;}
^•^{provides for cooperation of state}^{law enforceme}^{nt officials, courts and ap}^{propriate state}
^huma^{n services}^{agencies in t}^{he in}^{vestigation, assessment, prosec}^{ution and treatme}^{nt of}
^{child maltreatment;}
^•^requires^{a re}^prese^{ntative of child protective services}^{to promptly}^{advise an individual of}

^{Kind of Plan}^{CAPTA Basic State Grant R}^{equirements (Section 10}⁶⁾^a
^Requirement
^{child maltreatment allegations made against him or he}^r;
^•^{provides for the t}^{raining of c}^{hild protective services worke}^{rs rega}^{rding their legal duties}
^{(in order to protect the}^{rights a}ⁿ^d^{safety of children a}^{nd families);}
^•^{provides for improving t}^{he traini}^{ng, retention a}^{nd su}^{pervision of c}^aseworkers.
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^{—To maximum exte}^{nt feasi}^{ble, provide (to HHS), an annual re}^por^{t including state data for}
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{the year t}^{hat s}^{hows the time it t}^{ook to (1) begin initial investigati}^{on of each cas}^{e of re}^ported
^{child maltreatment; (2) to provide services to families where}^{maltreatment is alleged; and (3)}
^{the n}^umbe^{r of}
^•^{children reported as}^maltreated;
^•^{child maltreatment re}^{ports that}^a^{re su}^{bstantiated, un}^su^bstantiated^{or found false;}
^•^{children who were}^{the s}^{ubject of}^{a sub}^{stantiated, uns}^ub^stantiated^{or false report w}^ho
^{did and did not receive services u}^{nder CAPTA (or a related state}^{program), and those}
^{who were re}^{moved from their}^fa^{milies (by case disposition);}
^•^{families that received prev}^entive^services;
^•^{deaths in the}^{state due}^{to child maltreatment, and, of these deat}^{hs, those that we}^{re in}
^{foster care;}
^•^{child protective services worker}^s^responsible^{for intake and}^scree^{ning of re}^{ports filed;}
^•^{child protective services worker}^s^responsible^{for intake, assessme}^{nt and inve}^{stigation of}
^{child maltreatment re}^{ports relative to the n}^u^m^{ber of r}^{eports inv}^e^stigated;
^•^{children reu}^{nited with families or receiving family pres}^{ervation ser}^{vices that (within}⁵
^{years) are s}^{ubject of c}^{hild maltreatment re}^{port (including those w}^{ho die from this}
^{maltreatment);}
^•^{children who had a}^court-ap^{pointed represe}^{ntative and t}^{he ave}^rag^{e num}^{ber of}^court
^{contacts betwe}^{en t}^{he c}^{hild and the re}^prese^ntative;
^•^{children u}^{nder the}^{care of t}^{he sta}^{te child protection system w}^{ho a}^{re trans}^{ferred into t}^he
^{custody of the stat}^{e juvenile justi}^{ce system.}
^{—Each y}^{ear p}^{rovide to HHS the}^{annual r}^{eport containi}^{ng the}^sum^{mary of activities of citizen}
^{review panels.}
^{—Provide notice to the HHS sec}^{retary of a}^{ny su}^bsta^{ntive cha}^nges^{and any}^{significant cha}^nges
^{to how funds}^{provided are being}^used;
^{—Submit an a}ⁿⁿ^{ual report desc}^{ribing how f}^unds^{provided under}^{CAPTA were used, alone or}^e
^{in combination with other}^{federal funds, to improve c}^{hild protective services syste}^ms.
^Child^—^{Maintain a state law or statewi}^{de program t}^hat
^protec^tio^ns,^•^{provides for (1) re}^{porting of kno}^{wn and s}^uspe^{cted instanc}^{es of c}^h^{ild maltreatment; (2)}
^serv^{ices a}^nd^{immediate screening, risk and sa}^f^{ety assessme}^{nt and}^prompt^inves^{tigation of such}
^{programs to be}^{reports; (3) triage}^procedure^{s for}^{a child who is found not at}^risk^{of imminent ha}^{rm to}
^provided^{be refe}^{rred to a comm}^{unity orga}^{nization for voluntary p}^reventive^{services, if}
^approp^{riate; and (4) p}^rocedures^f^{or immediate steps to be take}^{n t}^o^ensure^{the sa}^{fety of}
^{a maltreated child(ren) (and any}^{other child in same ca}^{re who ma}^{y be in da}^{nger of a}^buse
^{or neglect) and for}^{placement of}^{child(ren) in a safe e}^nvironment;
^•^requires^health^care^{providers in}^{volved in the delivery or care of}^{an infant}^{who is (born}
^{and) identified as affected by illegal substan}^{ce ab}^{use or withdra}^{wal symptoms}^resulting
^{from pre}^{natal drug e}^xpos^{ure to}^{notify child protective services a}ⁿ^d^{that provides for t}^he^f
^{development of a plan}^{of safe ca}^r^e^{for suc}^{h an}^infant;
^•^preser^{ves confidentiality of all records (to protect the}^{rights of th}^{e child and the c}^hild’s

^{Kind of Plan}^{CAPTA Basic State Grant R}^{equirements (Section 10}⁶⁾^a
^Requirement
^parent^{s or gua}^{rdians) by limiting access to those re}^{ports a}^{nd reco}^{rds to individuals or}
^{entities (specified in the stat}^ute)^{who are the}^su^{bject of the}^repor^{t, need the information}
^{to carry out t}^{heir duty to}^protec^{t children from maltreat}^{ment, or}^{to carry out a}^nother
^{legitimate state purpose;}
^•^requires^{disclosure of confidentia}^{l information to any federal, state}^{, or local g}^overnment
^{agent (or their age}^{nts) that}^needs^{the information to car}^{ry out its l}^{egal responsibility to}
^{protect children}^{from maltreatm}^ent;
^•^{allows public disclosure of information about cases of c}^{hild maltreatment that}^res^{ult in}
^{death or place t}^{he child in seriou}^{s or critical condition (as certifie}^{d by a p}^hysician);
^•^{in each case}^{of child maltreatmen}^{t involving judicial proceedings, a}^{ppoints a g}^{uardian ad}
^{litem and/or court-appointed sp}^e^{cial advocate, (who has received approp}^{riate training to}
^{the task a}^{nd ) who will represe}^nt^{the c}^{hild and make recomme}^{ndations concerning t}^he
^{best intere}^{sts of the}^child;
^•^{provides procedur}^{es to assu}^{re th}^{at the state does}^{not req}^{uire re}^u^{nification of a child}
^{with a pare}^{nt w}^{ho has committe}^{d murder or volu}^{ntary ma}^nslaug^h^{ter of anothe}^{r child of}
^{the pa}^rent;^{has aided, abetted, attempted, conspired or solicited to}^{commit such a}
^{murder or}^manslaug^{hter; or}^has^{committed a felony assault that}^r^{esults in serious}^bodily
^{injury to the c}^{hild or another c}^{hild of the par}^ent;^g
^•^{assures t}^{hat if}^parent^{is convicted of one of the listed felonies, this constitutes grou}^nds
^{for termination of pa}^{rental rights}^{(although state ca}^{n contin}^{ue to}^{make case-by-case}
^{determinations of whet}^{her to ter}^{minate pare}^{ntal rights);}
^•^{provides procedur}^{es to ex}^{pedite termination of pare}^{ntal rights in t}^{he case of a}ⁿ
^{abandoned infa}^{nt (as determined}^{by state law).}
^•^{provides for refe}^{rral of any}^{child maltreatment victim u}^{nder t}^{he ag}^{e of 3 for ea}^rly
^{intervention se}^{rvices fu}^{nded u}ⁿ^d^{er part C}^{of the}^{Individuals with}^Disabilit^{ies Education}
^Act;
^•^{no later than}^Ju^ne^{25, 2}⁰⁰^{6, req}^{uires criminal backg}^{round c}^hecks^f^{or prospective}^foster
^{and adoptive pare}^{nts and oth}^{er a}^{dult relatives and non-relatives re}^{siding in the}
^household.
^—Assure^procedur^{es are in}^place^{to respond to re}^{ports of medica}^{l neglect (including}
^{coordination and consultation by}^{and with designated individuals within app}^{ropriate health}
^{care facilities; prompt notification by th}^{ese individuals of cases of s}^uspected^{medical neglect}
^{and authority to}^purs^{ue a}^{ny n}^ece^{ssary legal remedy to pr}^event^{withholding of medical}
^treatment^{from disabled infants}^{with life-threatening conditions).}
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service}^base^{d on statutory lang}^uage.
^a.^{References to se}^{ctions or titles in this ta}^{ble refer}^{to the Child Ab}^{use Preve}^{ntion and Treatme}^{nt A}^ct.
^b.^{Since the mid-19}^{90s, H}^{HS has r}^e^{quired states to s}^{ubmit a}^5-year^{Child and Family Services Plan incorporating}
^assura^{nces a}^{nd information from}^{a num}^{ber of}^{child welfare progra}^{ms; states m}^{ust also sub}^{mit ann}^u^{al progress}
^{reports. The}^primary^pur^{pose of}^{the plan is to}^{help states in}^tegrat^{e their services,}^{however, individ}^{ual program}
^requirem^{ents a}^{re retained a}^{nd se}^{parate accou}^{nting of f}^unds^must^{be maintained. Cur}^rently^progra^{ms req}^{uired to}
^{be included in this}^{plan are}^{this p}^{rogram (under}^{CAPTA), Child}^{Welfare Services and Promoting}^{Safe Stable}
^{Families programs (under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act), and the Chafee}^{Foster Care I}^ndepe^ndence
^{Program and Edu}^{cation and Train}^{ing Vouchers (}^{under Title IV-E of}^{the Social Security Act). The most recent}^5-
^{year plan wa}^{s due f}^{rom states}^Jun^{e 30, 2}⁰⁰⁴^{(for FYs 2}⁰⁰^5-2⁰⁰^9).
^c.^{Section 111 of CAPTA defines “}^c^{hild abuse and}^{neglect” (sometimes called child maltreatment) as “at a}
^{minimum, any r}^{ecent a}^{ct or failur}^{e to act on the}^{part of a}^pare^{nt o}^r^{caretaker, w}^{hich re}^{sults in deat}^{h, serious}
^{physical or emotional harm, sex}^u^{al abuse or e}^{xploitation, or an act or failure to act whic}^{h pr}^esents^{an imminent}
^{risk of serious ha}^rm.”

^d.^Each^{panel m}^{ust: be com}^{posed of volunteers w}^{ho are}^{broadly repr}^{esentative of the}^commu^{nity (some of whom}
^{have ex}^perien^{ce in c}^{hild abuse}^pr^{evention and treat}^{ment); meet at}^{least once every}^{3 mont}^hs;^{be gr}^{anted access}
^{to necessary i}^{nformation; keep}^c^{ase-specific information confident}^{ial (and other information unless}^{authorized by}
^{state law); all}^{ow for public comm}^{ent as}^{part of asse}^{ssing state a}^nd^{local child protective services; and to annually}
^prepa^{re and ma}^{ke available to th}^{e pu}^{blic and the stat}^{e a re}^{port su}^{mmarizing panel activities and containing}
^{recommendations for imp}^rovem^{ents to the}^{state child protection}^{system. (The review}^{panel may}^r^equest^staff
^{assistance to fulfill its duties).}
^e.^{This require}^{ment is included in S}^{ection 10}^8.
^f.^{The statute}^furt^her^{provides that}^{this notification “shall not be co}^nstru^{ed to establish a definition u}^{nder Federal}
^{law of what constitutes}^{child abu}^{se; or req}^{uire p}^{rosecution for a}ⁿ^y^{illegal act}^ion.”
^g.^{Section 111 of CAPTA defines “s}^{erious bodily injury” as “bodily injury which}^{involves su}^{bstantial ris}^{k of death,}
^extreme^ph^{ysical pain, protracted}^{and obvious disfigureme}^{nt, or pr}^{otracted loss or impairment of th}^{e fun}^{ction of}
^{a bodily member, organ or me}^nta^{l faculty.”}
Table 2 lists requirements related to Children’s Justice Act Grants. The program authority for
these grants is included in Section 107 of CAPTA, however funding for the grants is made ¹³
available via a set-aside from the Crime Victims’ Fund. Grants are made to help states (and
tribes) improve the handling, investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases—
particularly those involving child sexual abuse and exploitation—and to improve the handling of
cases of suspected child maltreatment related deaths, and, finally, (as added by P.L. 108-36) to
improve handling of those cases involving children with disabilities or serious health-related
problems who are victims of child maltreatment. No matching funds required. FY2007 funding: ¹⁴
$20 million.
Table 2. Children’s Justice Act Grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (CAPTA)
^{Kind of Plan}^{Children’s Justice Act Grant}^a
^Requirement^{Requirements (CAPTA, Section 107)}
^Plann^ing^{—Meet re}^quireme^{nts to rec}^{eive CAPTA’s Basic State Grants. (Se}^e^{Table 1}^.)
^servi^ces:^{—Have a m}^ulti-discipl^{inary task f}^{orce on children’s justice compo}^{sed of professionals with}
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^experie^{nce relating to the}^crimin^{al justice system and issu}^{es of c}^{hild maltreatment tha}^t
^organ^iza^tio^ns^{includes rep}^{resentatives of law e}^nforceme^{nt, child protective serv}^{ice agencies and pa}^rents
^and^{groups, as well as, judges and att}^{orneys (involved in criminal and c}^{ivil chil}^{d maltreatment cases}
^coordi^nat^ion^{and including defender}^{s and}^pros^{ecutors), child advocates (includi}^{ng attorneys, a}^{nd whe}^re
^{applicable, court ap}^{pointed speci}^{al advocates), health and mental}^{health p}^{rofessionals,}
^{individuals experienced in workin}^{g with children with disabilities, a}^{nd pare}^nts.
^—Every^{3 year}^{s the}^{state task}^{force (described above) m}^{ust comp}^r^{ehensively review a}^nd
^{evaluate state investigative, administrative, and civil and criminal ju}^{dicial handling of child}
^{maltreatment case}^s—partic^{ularly those dealing with child sexual a}^{buse a}^{nd ex}^ploitation,

¹³^T^h^e^C^r^im^e^Vic^tim^s^’^Fund^doe^sⁿ^o^{t r}^ecei^ve^m^oⁿ^e^y^o^u^t^o^f^gen^e^ral^reven^u^e^{s b}^u^tⁱⁿ^st^eadⁱ^s^sup^p^o^r^t^e^d^b^y^co^l^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^o^f
^fⁱ^ne^s^a^{nd f}^e^e^s^c^h^a^r^g^e^{d to in}^divⁱ^d^u^a^ls^c^onv^ic^te^{d of}^f^e^de^r^a^{l c}^rⁱ^m^e^s^.^The^a^m^{ount s}^e^t-^a^s^ide^f^o^r^C^h^il^dr^eⁿ^’^s^J^u^s^tic^e^A^c^t
^G^r^aⁿ^ts^is^ba^s^e^{d on t}^h^e^le^v^e^{l of}^f^unds^c^o^l^l^e^c^t^e^d^by^the^Crim^e^Vⁱ^c^tim^s^’^Fun^d^b^u^{t m}^a^y^{not be}^le^s^s^t^h^aⁿ^$^{10 m}^illioⁿ^or
^m^o^re^thaⁿ^$2^{0 m}^illion^.^(Se^e^Se^c^tⁱ^on¹⁴^04A^of^the^Vⁱ^c^tim^{s of}^Cri^m^e^Ac^{t of}¹⁹⁸^{4, a}^s^a^m^e^nde^d.)
¹⁴^O^f^this^f^unding^a^m^ount,^the^Vⁱ^c^tⁱ^m^s^of^Cri^m^e^A^c^t^f^u^rthe^{r s}^tip^ula^t^e^s^tha^t¹⁵^%^($^{3 m}^{illion) m}^u^s^t^be^m^a^de^a^v^a^ila^ble^to
^tribe^s^f^o^{r som}^e^of^the^s^e^sa^m^e^purpose^s^{, a}ⁿ^{d (a}^{s a}^m^e^nde^{d by}^P^.^L^.¹^09-¹⁶^{2) a}ⁿ^a^d^diti^ona^l^5%^($^{1 m}^{illion) m}^a^y^a^l^{so be}
^dis^t^rⁱ^b^u^te^d^{to t}^r^ibe^s^f^o^r^r^e^la^te^{d p}^u^r^pos^e^s^{. Se}^e^Se^c^tioⁿ¹⁴⁰²⁽^d)⁽²⁾^aⁿ^{d 1}⁴⁰²⁽^g⁾^of^the^Vic^tim^s^of^C^rⁱ^m^e^A^c^{t (}^a^s^am^e^nde^d
^by^P^.^L^.¹⁰^9-¹⁶²⁾^.

^{Kind of Plan}^{Children’s Justice Act Grant}
^Requirement^{Requirements (CAPTA, Section 107)}^a
^suspec^{ted child maltreatment}^{related fatalities and those potentially involving more than}^one
^{jurisdiction (e.g}^{., federal-state, sta}^{te-tribal, or interstate).}
^{—Based on the review (descri}^be^{d above) the state tas}^{k force m}^u^s^t^{make recomme}^ndations
^{intended to reduce additional trauma to the}^{child victim and victim’s family, and to ensure}
^{procedural fairn}^{ess to the}^accus^e^d^{in all aspects of the s}^{tate’s hand}^{ling of child maltreatment}
^{cases; suggest}^ex^{perimental, model and demonstration program}^{s t}^o^{test new ap}^proac^{hes to}
^{promote prom}^{pt, fair and s}^ucces^{sful resolution of child maltreatm}^{ent cases; a}^{nd suggest}
^{reform of state laws, ordinances,}^{regulations, protocols and proce}^{dures to p}^{rotect children}
^{from abu}^{se and e}^nsu^{re fair}^{ness t}^o^{all affected persons.}
^{—Adopt recommendations of th}^{e state task force}^{(unless g}^ranted^{an exe}^{mption b}^y^the^HHS
^secretary^beca^{use th}^{e state}^{has a}^{dopted an alternative plan}^{to achi}^{eve the sa}^{me p}^u^r^{poses or}
^{is making sub}^{stantial progress}^{toward adopting task force}^recom^{mendations or compara}^ble
^{alternative.)}
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^{—Meet re}^quireme^{nts to rec}^{eive CAPTA’s Basic State Grants. (Se}^e^{Table 1}^.)
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{—Annually ap}^{ply for gra}^{nts giving}^{information and ass}^uran^{ces cons}^{idered necessary}^{by t}^he
^{HHS secretar}^y.
^{—Make re}^{ports as H}^{HS secreta}^r^y^{may reasona}^{bly re}^{quire a}^{nd maintain and}^{provide access to}
^{records relating to the gra}^nt.
^{—Annually s}^{ubmit to the}^{HHS se}^{cretary a}^{report on}^{the way}^assis^{tance received}^{under t}^his
^{program was}^spe^{nt th}^{roughout t}^{he state.}
^Child^{—Meet re}^quireme^{nts to rec}^{eive CAPTA’s Basic State Grants. (Se}^e^{Table 1}^.)
^protec^tio^ns,
^servi^{ces a}^nd
^{programs to be}
^provided
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service (CRS) based on statu}^{tory language.}
^a.^{References to se}^{ctions or titles in this ta}^{ble refer}^{to the Child Ab}^{use Preve}^{ntion and Treatme}^{nt A}^ct.
Table 3 shows requirements related to CAPTA’s Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of
Child Abuse and Neglect. Title II of CAPTA authorizes grants (1) to support community-based
efforts aimed at the prevention of child abuse and neglect, including support of networks of
coordinated resources and activities that strengthen and support families; and (2) to foster an
understanding and knowledge of diverse populations to be effective in preventing and treating
child abuse and neglect. States must designate a lead entity to administer this money (which may
or may not be a public agency) by making grants to community-based programs. Funding is
authorized on a discretionary basis and a state must match at least 20% of the federal allotment
under this program with non-federal dollars. The size of a state’s program allotment is
determined, in part, by the amount of non-federal funds obtained (leveraged) for these purposes
by the lead entity. FY2007 funding: $42 million.

Table 3. Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect,
under CAPTA
^{Kind of Plan}^a^{Community-Based Grants f}^o^r^{the Prevention of}^b
^Requirement^{Child Abuse a}^{nd Neglect ( C}^{APTA, Title II)}
^Plann^ing^{—Designate a pu}^{blic or private}ⁿ^{onprofit lead entity to administer funds.}^c
^Serv^ices^:^{—Assure t}^{hat th}^{e lead entity p}^{rovides or is responsible for}^providing
^adminis^tra^ti^on,
^organ^iza^tio^n,^•^{community-based a}^{nd pre}^vention^{-focused programs}^{and activities designed to}
^and^strengt^{hen a}^{nd su}^pport^{families to prevent}^{child abuse}^{and n}^{eglect (through}^networks
^coordi^nat^ion^{where a}^ppro^priate);
^{Section 202}^•^{direction through a}ⁿ^{interdisciplinary, collaborative and pu}^{blic-private stru}^cture^that^has
^Eligibility^;^{balanced re}^prese^{ntation (including member}^{s of the}^{private a}^{nd p}^u^{blic sector, parents,}
^{Section 205}^parent^{s with disabilities, and service providers from t}^he^pu^{blic and}^{private non}^profit^sectors);
^Application
^{Section 206}^•^{direction and oversight thro}^{ugh i}^{dentified goals and objectives, cle}^{ar lines of}^{communication and accou}^{ntability, the provision of leveraged or c}^{ombined fu}^{nding from}
^{Local Program}^{federal, state and private so}^urces,^{centralized assessment}^{and pla}ⁿⁿ^{ing activities, training}
^Requirements
^{and tech}^{nical assistance, and re}^p^{orting and evaluation fu}^nctions.
^{—Assure t}^{hat th}^{e lead entity will}^{integrate its efforts}^{with individuals and organizations}
^experie^{nced in working in}^part^ne^{rship with}^{families with children}^{with disabilit}^{ies, parents}
^{with disabilit}^{ies, and with the c}^{hild maltreatment p}^reve^{ntion activities of the state a}^{nd will}
^{demonstrate a fina}^{ncial commitment to those activities.}
^{—Assure t}^{hat, with regard to t}^h^e^{community-based a}^{nd p}^reventio^{n-focused p}^{rograms t}^hat
^{are su}^{pported, the lead e}^ntity
^•^{has a demonst}^{rated commitment}^{to parent}^{participation in t}^{heir development,}
^{operation, and oversight;}
^•^{has a demonst}^{rated ability to wo}^{rk with state a}^{nd commu}^nity-bas^{ed public agen}^{cies and}
^{private non-}^{profits to develop a c}^ontinuum^{of pre}^{ventive, family-centered,}
^comprehe^{nsive ser}^{vices for c}^{hildren a}^{nd families;}
^•^{has the}^{capacity to p}^{rovide opera}^{tional support (fina}^{ncial and prog}^{rammatic) and}
^{training and tec}^{hnical assistance;}
^{—Submit to HHS an a}^{pplication f}^{or this grant t}^{hat includes}
^•^{a description of the designated le}^{ad entity;}
^•^{a description of how the}^fu^nded^{programs a}^{nd activities will}^{operate and how family}
^{resource a}^{nd su}^pport^{services wi}^{ll be integrated into a continu}^um^{of family-centered,}
^{holistic, preventive services for}^c^{hildren and families;}
^•^{a description of the inv}^{entory of}^curre^{nt comm}^{unity-based a}^{nd pr}^{evention-focused}
^{programs a}^{nd activities to preven}^{t child abuse a}^{nd neglect, and oth}^{er family resourc}^es
^{operating in th}^{e state, and a desc}^{ription of unmet}^needs;
^•^{a budget ve}^{rifying that}^{the stat}^e^{will spend in non-federal dollars an amount}^eq^{ual to at}
^{least 20% of t}^{he f}^{ederal dollars t}^o^support^{the developme}^{nt, oper}^{ation, and expan}^sion
^{of these comm}^{unity-based a}^{nd pr}^{evention focused}^{program a}^{nd ac}^{tivities designed to}
^strengt^{hen a}^{nd su}^pport^{families to prevent}^{child abuse}^{and n}^eglect;
^•^assura^{nce that}^{federal f}^{unds re}^{ceived will supplement, not s}^u^p^plant^{, other non-federal}
^{funds designated}^{for the}^start-u^{p, maintenan}^{ce, expa}^{nsion, and red}^{esign of these}
^{programs a}^{nd activities;}
^•^assura^{nce that}^the^{state has}^{the c}^{apacity to ens}^{ure t}^{he mea}^{ningful i}^{nvolvement of}
^parent^s;
^•^{a description of the c}^{riteria that t}^{he lead entity will use to develop, or select and f}^und

^{Kind of Plan}^{Community-Based Grants f}^o^r^{the Prevention of}
^Requirement^a^{Child Abuse a}^{nd Neglect ( C}^{APTA, Title II)}^b
^{community-based a}^{nd pre}^vention^{focused p}^{rograms and a}^ctivities;
^•^{a description of the out}^reach^{activities that the lead entity (and t}^h^e^{programs a}^nd
^{activities it supports) will underta}^{ke to maximize the pa}^{rticipation of racial and ethnic}
^{minorities, children and adults with disabilities, homeless famil}^{ies and those at risk of}
^{homelessness, and me}^mbe^{rs of other}^under-ser^{ved or u}^nder-rep^r^{esented grou}^ps;
^•^{a plan p}^{roviding for operational support, trai}^{ning and tec}^{hnical assi}^{stance to commu}^nity-
^{based program}^{s and activities to develop, operate, expand or e}ⁿ^h^{ance the}^m;
^•^{a description of how the}^{activities of the state’s lead entity a}^{nd th}^{ose of the network}
^{and its membe}^{rs (whe}^{re ap}^propr^{iate) wil}^{l be evaluated;}
^•^{a description of how the}^{lead ent}^{ity will adv}^{ocate changes in}^state^{policies, practices,}
^procedures^{and reg}^{ulations to improve the}^{delivery of community-}^{based and}
^preve^{ntion-focused progra}^{ms an}^{d activities;}
^{—In awarding local grants, the}^{lead entity must give}^{priority to eff}^{ective community-based}
^{programs se}^{rving low income communities and t}^{hose serving}^you^{ng par}^{ents or}^pare^{nts with}
^{young c}^{hildren. Local programs t}^{hat receive gra}^{nt mon}^{ey u}^{nder t}^h^{is program are}^req^{uired to}
^•^{assess commu}^{nity assets a}^{nd nee}^{ds through}^{a plan}^ning^{process t}^h^a^t^{involves parent}^{s and}
^{local public agencies, local nonpr}^{ofit organizati}^{ons and private}^sec^{tor repres}^entatives
^•^{develop a strategy to provide, thr}^{ough p}^{ublic-private}^partne^rship^{s, a continuu}^{m of}
^preve^{ntive, family-centered servi}^{ces to children and}^{families (especially to young parents}
^{and pare}^{nts with}^{young c}^hildren);
^•^{develop leadership roles for the}^meaningf^{ul involvement of pa}^rent^{s in the developme}^nt,
^{operation, evaluation, and oversight of the}^programs^{and se}^rvices;
^•^{provide leadership in mobilizing l}^{ocal public and p}^{rivate resour}^ces^{to support}^the
^{provision of needed family resou}^{rce and s}^u^p^{port p}^{rogram service}^s;
^•^{participate with othe}^{r commu}^{nity-based and p}^reve^{ntion-focused}^{programs a}^{nd activities}
^{designed to strengthe}^{n a}^{nd su}^pp^{ort families and to prevent}^{child abuse a}^{nd neglect in}
^{the development, operation a}^nd^expa^{nsion of networks}^where^ap^propriate.
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^{—Supply re}^{ports to H}^{HS at the t}^{ime and including information re}^q^{uested, and make r}^eports
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{to the HHS sec}^{retary t}^{hat m}^ust
^{Section 205(1}²⁾^•^{demonstrate the}^{effective develo}^{pment, operation, and e}^xpa^nsion^{of a community-}
^Application^{based and}^preve^{ntion-focused, pr}^{ograms and activities that meet t}^{he re}^quireme^{nts of}
^{Section 207}^{this title;}
^Performance^•^sup^{ply an inve}^{ntory a}^{nd descripti}^{on of the se}^{rvices p}^{rovided to families by local}
^Measures^{programs t}^{hat meet identified community}^{needs (including the}^stat^{utorily defined “core”}
^{and “optional” services);}
^•^{demonstrate that}^{they will have a}^{ddressed unmet}^{needs identified}^{by the}^req^uired
^{inventory a}^{nd description of cu}^rr^{ent services;}
^•^{describe the}^nu^mber^{of families served (including families with children with disabilities}
^{and pare}^{nts with disabilities);}
^•^{describe the i}^{nvolvement of famil}^{ies represe}^{nting diverse g}^roups^{in the design,}
^{operation, and evaluation of the s}^{tatewide network of family resou}^{rce and s}^u^p^port
^{programs, and in t}^{he design, oper}^{ation and evaluation of communit}^{y-based and}
^preve^{ntion-focused progra}^{ms an}^{d activities that strengt}^{hen a}^{nd su}^{pport fa}^{milies to}
^preve^{nt child abu}^{se and}^neglect;
^•^{demonstrate a hig}^{h level of satisfaction among families who have}^u^{sed the s}^u^p^ported
^services;

^{Kind of Plan}^{Community-Based Grants f}^o^r^{the Prevention of}
^Requirement^a^{Child Abuse a}^{nd Neglect ( C}^{APTA, Title II)}^b
^•^{demonstrate the}^{use of i}^nnovativ^{e funding}^mecha^{nisms, at the}^stat^{e or community level,}
^{that blend f}^{ederal, state, local and}^{private f}^unds
^•^{demonstrate the}^{use of i}^nnovativ^{e and interdisciplinary ser}^{vice delivery mecha}^{nisms for}
^{the development, operation, ex}^p^{ansion and en}^han^cement^{of com}^{munity-based a}^nd
^preve^{ntion-focused progra}^{ms an}^{d activities designed to strengthe}^{n and s}^u^p^{port families}
^{to prevent}^{child abuse}^and^neglect;
^•^{describe the}^{results of a}^peer^rev^{iew process condu}^{cted u}^{nder the}^{state program;}
^•^{demonstrate an im}^plementation^{plan to ens}^{ure t}^{he contin}^{ued leadership of}^pare^{nts in}
^{the ongoing plan}^{ning, implementa}^{tion, and evaluation of communit}^{y-based and}
^preve^{ntion-focused progra}^{ms an}^{d activities}
^Child^{—Local programs that}^{receive gr}^{ant money}^under^{this p}^{rogram ar}^{e to provide core family}
^protec^tio^ns,^{resource a}^{nd su}^pport^{services s}^u^{ch as}
^serv^ices^{, and}^•^parent^{education, mut}^{ual sup}^port^{, self help and leadershi}^{p services;}
^{programs to be}
^provided^•^{outreach s}^ervices;
^{Section 206(a)(3)}^•^{community and}^{social service ref}^errals;
^{Local Program}
^Requirements^•^follow^{-up services;}
^•^{voluntary home}^visiting;
^•^{all forms of respite care (to th}^{e e}^xtent^{practicable).}
^{—Local programs that}^{receive gr}^{ant money}^under^{this p}^{rogram m}^{ust also use f}^{unds to}
^{provide access to optional servic}^{es (directly or by contract}^{s, pu}^rc^{hase of ser}^{vice or}
^{interagency ag}^reeme^{nt). Optional services include}
^•^{child care, early childhood develo}^{pment a}^{nd interve}^{ntion ser}^vices;
^•^{self sufficiency}^{and life managem}^e^{nt skills training;}
^•^{peer cou}^nseling
^{and refer}^{rals to}
^•^{counseling for adoption services}^{(for individuals interested in adopting a child or}
^{relinquishing t}^{heir c}^{hild for adoption);}
^•^{services and s}^u^p^{ports to meet t}^h^e^{additional needs of families w}^{ith disabled children or}
^{children with sp}^{ecial needs;}
^•^{services p}^{roviding job readiness skills;}
^•^{education services (su}^{ch as}^tutori^{ng, literacy training, and G}^{ED pro}^grams);
^•^{early developmental scree}^{ning of}^children.
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by t}^he^{Congressional Research Service (}^{CRS) based on statutory lang}^uage.
^a.^{References to se}^{ctions or titles in this ta}^{ble refer}^{to the Child Ab}^{use Preve}^{ntion and Treatme}^{nt A}^{ct (CAPTA).}
^{P.L. 108-3}^{6 re}^{named this gra}^nt^pr^{ogram and made certain}^{other c}^h^anges.
^b.^{The Community-Based Gra}^{nts fo}^{r the Prev}^{ention of Child Abus}^e^{and Neglect , which}^are^{under Ti}^{tle II of}
^{CAPTA, includes requirement}^{s t}^o^{be met b}^y^{a state (some of w}^{hich include a}^ppare^{nt or e}^{xplicit re}^{sponsibilities}
^{of the state-designated lead entit}^{y) and req}^uireme^{nts to be}^{met b}^y^{local programs. Not all of these req}^uirements
^{are included in the}^{statute’s state}^{plan (or ap}^{plication) section. Accordingly, this table includes req}^uirements
^{given unde}^{r multiple sections of}^{CAPTA’s T}^{itle II:}^Eligibi^lity^(Secti^oⁿ²^02),^Application^{(Section 20}^5),^{Local Program}
^Requirements^{(Section 206), and}^P^{erformance Measures}^{(Section 207}^{). Except w}^here^otherwise^{noted, the}
^requirem^{ents a}^{pply to t}^{he state.}

^c.^{The lead entity may be}^{a tr}^{ust f}^u^{nd advisory board that is directe}^{d by an int}^{erdisciplinary, pu}^blic-private
^struct^{ure, includes comm}^unity^pa^{rticipants, and was esta}^{blished u}ⁿ^{der an earlier ver}^{sion of this law}^{(to leverage}
^{federal, state and private}^fu^{nds for a broad ra}^{nge of c}^{hild abuse an}^{d neglect prev}^{ention activities an}^{d family}
^{resources). Wher}^{e more t}^{han on}^{e of these t}^rust^fu^{nd advisory boards exist, only one may}^{be designated as the}
^{lead entity and full consideration of capacity and e}^xpe^{rtise of all groups seeking to}^{be na}^{med the lea}^{d entity must}
^{be made.}
Table 4 lists requirements related to funding of Child Welfare Services authorized under Title IV-
B, Subpart 1 of the Social Security Act. The program provides matching grants to states (75%
federal share) for (as amended by P.L. 109-288) five broad purposes: (1) to protect and promote
the welfare of all children; (2) to prevent the neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children; (3) to
support at-risk families through services which allow children, where appropriate to remain safely
with their families or return to their families in a timely manner; (4) to promote safety,
permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and (5) to provide
training, professional development and support to ensure a well-qualified child welfare
workforce. Funds are authorized on a discretionary basis (through FY2011) at $325 million
annually. FY2007 funding: $287 million.
Table 4. Child Welfare Services, Title IV-B, Subpart 1 of the Social Security Act
^{(Terms that appear in}^bold^fa^ce^{are defined or}^descr^ibed,^a^s^{shown in}^{Table 8}^{. Text in}^it^alics^{was a}^dde^d
^{or amended}^{by P}^.^{L. 109-239 o}^r^{P.L. 109-288.)}
^{Kind of Plan}^{Child Welfare Services Requirements (Section 42}²⁾^a
^Requirement
^Plann^ing^{—Provide that the individual or agency t}^{hat administers or s}^upe^{rvises the stat}^{e Social}
^serv^ices^:^{Services Block Grant (Title XX) will a}^{lso administer child welfare services (limited exceptions}
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^{based on str}^uct^{ure of state}^social^{services as of Decem}^ber^{4, 1}⁹⁷⁴⁾^.^b
^organ^iza^tio^n,^{—Make a single state or local agency res}^{ponsible for t}^{he se}^rvices.^b
^and
^coordi^nat^ion^{—Coordinate services offered to children u}^{nder t}^{his plan with}^ser^{vices and aid provided}
^{under t}^{he Social Services Block}^{Grant (SSBG, Title XX),}^{Temporary Assistance to}^Needy
^{Families (}^{TANF, Tit}^{le IV-A)}^{, Pro}^{moting Safe and Stable Families (}^PSSF^{, Tit}^{le IV-B,}^Subpart^2),
^{foster care maint}^ena^{nce and ado}^{ption assistance, foster ca}^{re inde}^penden^{ce (Title IV-E) and}^c
^{other related state}^programs.
^{—Describe the}^services^{and activities}^{the s}^{tate will fund u}^{nder t}^{his program}^{and how thos}^e
^{services and activities will achieve its}^purposes^.
^{—Describe step}^{s taken}^{to provide child welfare services}^statewide^{, and to expa}^{nd and}
^strengt^hen^exi^sting^{services, and d}^evelop^{and implement service}^{s to i}^{mprove child outco}^mes^.
^{—Describe child welfare staff}^{development and t}^{raining plans.}
^{—Use facilities and experience}^{of voluntary age}^{ncies to develop se}^{rvices for children.}
^{—Describe activities undertake}^{n, including provision of adoption and post-adoption services,}
^{for children adopted from othe}^r^countries.
^{—After cons}^{ulting with tribal org}^{anizations in the state, describe}^s^{pecific measu}^{res take}^{n to}
^{comply with the}^{Indian Child Welfare Act.}
^—^{Not l}^{ater than the October 1, 2007, assure that no more than 10%}^{of funds used for this program}
^{are spent for administrative purposes.}^d

^{Kind of Plan}^{Child Welfare Services Requirements (Section 42}²⁾^a
^Requirement
^—^{Describe how the state con}^sults^{with and involves physicians (or othe}^{r medical professionals) in}
^asses^{sing the health and well-being of children in foster care and in dete}^{rmining appropriate medical}
^{treatment for them.}
^—^{Not later than September 29, 2007, have in place procedures for how state child welfare}
^{programs (including this program, the Promoting Safe and Stable Famili}^{es program, and the Foster}
^{Care, Adoption Assistance and the Chafee Foster Care Independence pr}^{ograms) will respond to}^a
^{disaster. The procedures are to be i}ⁿ^{accordance with criteri}^{a established by HHS a}^{nd those criteria}
^{should include how a state would (1) identify, locate and continue services for children under the ca}^re
^{or supervision of the state and who}^{are displaced or adversely affected}^{by a disaster; (2) respond}
^{appropriately to new child welfare c}^{ases in areas adversely affected by a disaster and provide services}
^{in those case}^{s; (3) remain in c}^omm^{unication with caseworkers and oth}^{er essential child welfare}
^{personnel displaced because}^{of a disaster; (4) preserve e}^{ssential program records; and (5) co}^ordinate
^{services and share information with other states.}
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^{—Collect and report information on children adopted from oth}^er^{countries w}^{ho later enter}
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{into state custody beca}^{use of disr}^{uption or dissolution of the adop}^{tion placement, including}
^{the n}^umbe^{r of c}^{hildren, the agen}^{cies who handled the}^placement^{or adoption, plans for the}
^{child, and reasons for disru}^{ption or dissolution.}
^—Furnish^{reports, containing}^inf^{ormation reque}^{sted and pa}^{rticipate in evaluations as re}^quired
^{by the}^{HHS sec}^retary.
^Polic^{ies a}^nd^—^{Contain assurances that the state will}^{use cross-jurisdictional resources (}^{including through}
^procedure^{s to}^{contracts for the purchase of service}^s^{) and}^{will eliminate legal barriers}^t^o^all^{ow timely adoptive or}
^ensu^re^perma^nent^placements^{for waitin}^{g children.}
^placemen^t^{—Provide for “dil}^{igent recruitme}^{nt” of foster a}^{nd adoptive families that re}^{flect racial and}
^option^s^{ethnic diversity of children in}^the^{state who ne}^{ed foster or adopti}^{ve homes.}
^—^{Have in effect}^polic^{ies and administrative and judicial procedures}^{for children w}^{ho are}
^{abandoned at or soon afte}^{r birt}^h^{(including policies and procedure}^{s providing for legal}
^represe^{ntation) that allow swift decisions about pe}^rmane^{nt placem}^{ent of aba}^{ndoned infant}^s.
^Child^{—Operate a}^{case review system}^{for each}^{child receiving state-s}^uper^{vised foster care (to}
^protec^tio^ns,^{satisfaction of HHS secreta}^ry).
^serv^{ices a}^nd^{—Operate a}^service^{program (to}^{satisfaction of HHS secreta}^{ry) to help c}^{hildren retu}^{rn to}
^{programs to be}^{their families (if safe and ap}^propri^{ate) or be placed for adoption (or legal guardianship) or, if}
^provided^{these options are}^{n’t ap}^propriate,^{in another}^planned^perma^nen^{t livi}^{ng arra}^ngeme^nt,^{which may}
^{include a residential education progr}^am^.
^—Operate^pre-placeme^nt^preveⁿ^{tive services (to satisfaction of H}^{HS secretary) designed to}
^{help children at}^{risk of foster ca}^r^e^placement^{remain sa}^{fely with th}^{eir families.}
^{—Operate a}^{statewide information system (to satisfaction of HHS}^{secretary) t}^{hat allows easy}
^{determination of status, demogra}^{phic c}^{haracteristics, location, and goals for the placeme}^{nt of}
^{every c}^{hild who is (or was during}^{last 12 mont}^{hs) in stat}^e-supe^rvis^{ed foster care.}
^—^{No later than October 1, 2007, describe state standards for content and freque}^{ncy of caseworker}
^{visits to children in foster care, which at a minimum ensure that each c}^{hild is visited on a monthly}
^{basis and that the visits are well-planned and focus on case planning and service delivery to ensure}
^{the safety, permanence, and well-being of the children.}
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service (CRS) based on statu}^{tory language.}
^Note:^P^{.L. 109-2}^{88 deleted in f}^{ull two state plan re}^quireme^{nts a}ⁿ^d^{a part of a t}^{hird, as part of w}^h^a^t^{H.Rept. 10}^9-
⁵⁵⁵^describes^{generally as “}^updat^{es” to the p}^{rogram. The deleted provisions related to use of volun}^{teers and}
^para-profes^{sionals in the administ}^{ration of this program, adhe}^renc^{e to certain child day care sta}^nda^{rds, and a}
^requirem^{ent t}^{hat states (as}^{of Ju}ⁿ^e¹⁹^{80) to ha}^{ve conduct}^{ed an inv}^{entory of all children in foster}^ca^{re for at least}
^{6 month}^s.
^a.^{Unless otherwise noted all refere}^{nces to titles or sections in t}^{his table refer to t}^{he Social Security Act.}

^b.^{Slightly d}^ifferent^{provisions for G}^{uam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and the}^Northerⁿ^{Mariana Islands.}
^c.^{Since the mid-19}^{90s, H}^{HS has r}^e^{quired states to s}^{ubmit a}^5-year^{Child and Family Services Plan incorporating}
^assura^{nces a}^{nd information from}^{a num}^{ber of}^{child welfare progra}^{ms; states m}^{ust also sub}^{mit ann}^u^{al progress}
^{reports. The}^primary^pur^{pose of}^{the plan is to}^{help states in}^tegrat^{e their services,}^{however, individ}^{ual program}
^requirem^{ents a}^{re retained a}^{nd se}^{parate accou}^{nting of f}^unds^must^{be maintained. In addition to this}^program,
^{other child welfare p}^{rograms re}^q^{uired to be included in t}^{his plan a}^{re CAPTA’s basic state grant}^{s, th}^{e Promoting}
^{Safe Stable Families Program (under Title IV-B of the Social}^{Security Act), and the Cha}^{fee Foster Ca}^re
^Indepe^{ndence Program}^and^Educ^{ation and Training Vouchers}^(und^{er Title IV-E of the Social Security Act).}
^d.^{For pur}^{poses of this}^{program onl}^{y, Section 422(c) (as added by P.L}^{. 109-2}^{88) defi}^{nes administrative}^{costs that}
^{are related to administering the}^p^{rogram u}^{nder Sub}^part^{1 of t}^{he S}^{ocial Security Act and which ar}^{e f}^{or the}
^follow^{ing pur}^{poses: “procu}^remen^{t, payroll management, pe}^rsonnel^fun^{ctions (other tha}^{n t}^{he portion of the}
^{salaries of super}^{visors attributa}^{ble to time spent directly s}^upe^{rvising the}^{provision of services}^{by ca}^seworkers),
^{management, mainte}^nan^{ce and o}^{peration of spa}^{ce and}^propert^{y, data processing a}^{nd comp}^{uter se}^r^vices,
^{accounting, b}^{udgeting, auditing, and travel ex}^pens^{es (exce}^{pt t}^{hose related to the provision of servic}^{es by}
^{caseworkers or t}^{he oversight of}^{the p}^{rograms f}^{unded u}^{nder t}^{his s}^ubpa^rt).”
Table 5 lists requirements for funding under Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social Security Act, the
Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program. The program authorizes matching grants to states
(75% federal share) for four kinds of services: family preservation, family support, time-limited
family reunification, and adoption promotion and support. The statute also provides that certain
amounts of the funds provided for this program are to be set aside each year to support tribal child
and family services, grants to highest state courts to assess and improve their handling of child
welfare proceedings, and funds for research, evaluation and technical assistance related to the
service or activities funded by the program. In addition, P.L. 109-288 stipulates that for each of
six years (FY2006-FY2011) $40 million of the funds are to be reserved for formula grants to
states to support monthly caseworker visits of children in foster care and to provide discretionary
grants to eligible applicants (regional partnerships, which much include the state child welfare
agency) to respond to child welfare issues raised by parental/caretaker abuse of
methamphetamine (or other substances). Program funds are authorized both on a discretionary
basis (up to $200 million annually) and as a capped entitlement ($345 million annually) through
FY2011. FY2007 funding: $434 million.
Table 5. Promoting Safe and Stable Families, Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social
Security Act
⁽^{Text in}^italics^{was a}^dde^{d or}^a^m^{ended by}^{P.L. 109-288.)}
^{Kind of Plan}^{Promoting Safe a}^{nd Stable Families Requirements}^a
^Requirement^{(Section 432)}
^Plann^ing^—^{Provide that the state age}^ncy^r^{esponsible for administering C}^{hild Welfare Services (Title}
^serv^ices^:^{IV-B, Subpart 1) will be res}^ponsib^{le for administering this p}^rogram.
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^{—To extent feasible, coordinate services p}^{rovided under this}^plan^{with services or}^bene^fits
^organ^iza^tio^n,^{offered to same pop}^{ulations und}^{er other f}^{ederal or federally assisted programs.}^b
^and
^coordi^nat^ion^{—Provide for administrative methods, as HHS secreta}^{ry finds}^nec^{essary, that allow proper}
^{and efficient operation of t}^he^plan.
^{—Assure t}^{hat th}^{ese f}^{unds will not sup}^{plant federal or}^non-federal^funds^{for existing se}^rvices
^{and activities that promote th}^{e sa}^{me pu}^{rposes as}^{this p}^rogram.
^{—Spend no more t}^han¹⁰^{% of p}^r^{ogram funds}^{on administrative co}^sts.^c
^{—In designing}^{program, cons}^{ult with app}^{ropriate p}^{ublic and}^nonp^{rofit private agencies a}^nd

^{Kind of Plan}^{Promoting Safe a}^{nd Stable Families Requirements}
^Requirement^(Section⁴³²⁾^a
^community-^{based orga}^{nizations with expe}^{rience in administe}^ring^{service program}^{s for}
^{children and families.}
^{—Set forth goals to be accomplis}^{hed by e}^{nd of plan’s fift}^{h fiscal ye}^ar.
^{—Update goals periodical}^{ly to set goals to be accomplished by t}^h^e^{end of each}^succ^eeding
^{fifth fiscal year a}^{nd indicate meth}^{ods used to measure}^progres^{s toward accomplishing goals.}
^{—Conduct interim review of}^pro^{gress toward meeting goals at th}^{e end of each}^{of the}^{first 4}
^{fiscal years covered b}^y^{a set of go}^{als and, if necessary, re}^{vise goals to reflect cha}^nged
^circumstan^ces.
^{—At end of the last}^{fiscal year co}^{vered by a}^5-year^{plan, review}^pr^{ogress and develop, in}
^{consultation with ap}^propriate^pu^{blic and nonp}^{rofit private age}^{ncies and commu}^nity-based
^{organizations, a statement of goals intended to be ac}^{complished by}^{the end of t}^{he fift}^h
^{succeeding fiscal year.}
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^{—Annually describe}^{for eac}^{h of t}^{he four}^{service ar}^{eas the:}^num^be^{r of service}^{programs to}^be
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{available in next fiscal year,}^popul^{ations to be served, and geogra}^p^{hic areas w}^{here se}^{rvices will}
^{be available. The ann}^{ual services}^{report m}^{ust b}^e^sent^{to HHS be}^{fore the}^{fiscal year begin}^{s and}
^{no later than}^Ju^ne^{30 (e.g. FY200}^{8 re}^{port must}^{be s}^u^b^{mitted by J}^u^{ne 3}^{0, 20}^{07). The}^report
^{must b}^e^{made available to the p}^u^blic.
^—^{No later than June 30 of}^{each year (beginning wit}^{h June 30, 2007), send to HHS a completed}
^{summary form (the CFS 101, parts 1 and 2, or any success}^{or form) that shows, for the upc}^oming
^{fiscal year, planned child an}^{d family}^{services expenditures by the child welfare agency.}
^{—No later than June 30 of each year (beginning wit}^{h June 30, 2007), f}^{or the most}^{recent preceding}
^{year in which actua}^{l expenditures ar}^{e com}^{plete, s}^{end to HHS a complet}^{ed summary form (the CFS}
^{101, parts 1 and 2, or any success}^o^r^{form) that shows for that year the state agency’s actual}
^{expenditures under the Chil}^{d Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and}^{Stable Families programs}
^{(and other programs at state option}^{) and that also reports the number of children and f}^{amilies and}
^{the geographic areas served by the state agencies.}
^—^{At the end of t}^{he last fiscal yea}^{r of a 5-year}^{plan mak}^{e a final rev}^{iew of progress toward}
^{achieving goals and pre}^{pare a}^rep^{ort to be sent}^{to HHS (and also made available to the}
^public).
^{—When a}^{nd as the}^{HHS sec}^reta^{ry req}^{uires, fu}^rnish^re^{ports whic}^{h demonstrate}^{that t}^hese
^{funds a}^{re not}^{be us}^{ed to sup}^plant^{other federal or}^{non-federal fu}ⁿ^{ding for existing services}
^{and activities that promote th}^{e sa}^{me pu}^{rposes as}^{this p}^rogram.
^{—As may be}^req^{uired by}^the^HH^{S secretary, fu}^rnish^report^{s with}^reque^{sted information and}
^{participate in evaluations.}
^Child^{—Spend at least 9}^{0% of}^program^{funds o}ⁿ^{services a}^{nd dedicate a}^{“significant” portion of this}
^protec^tio^ns,^{money to each of t}^he^{program se}^{rvice areas (i.e., family preservation, family support, time-}
^serv^{ices a}^nd^{limited reunification and adoption promotion and su}^pport.)^Note:^{HHS policy elsewhere}
^{programs to be}^{defines “significant” as}^{no less tha}^{n 2}^0%.
^provided^{—Assure t}^{hat safet}^{y of children s}^{erved is the}^paramou^{nt conce}^{rn i}ⁿ^{administering and}
^{conducting ser}^{vices u}^{nder this}^pr^ogram.
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service}^base^{d on statutory lang}^uage.
^a.^{Unless otherwise noted all refere}^{nces to titles or sections in t}^{his table refer to t}^{he Social Security Act.}
^b.^{Since the mid-19}^{90s, H}^{HS has r}^e^{quired states to s}^{ubmit a}^5-year^{Child and Family Services Plan incorporating}
^assura^{nces a}^{nd information from}^{a num}^{ber of}^{child welfare progra}^{ms; states m}^{ust also sub}^{mit ann}^u^{al progress}
^{reports. The}^primary^pur^{pose of}^{the plan is to}^{help states in}^tegrat^{e their services,}^{however, individ}^{ual program}
^requirem^{ents a}^{re retained a}^{nd se}^{parate accou}^{nting of f}^unds^must^{be maintained. In addition to this}^program,
^{child welfare programs}^req^{uired t}^o^{be included in this}^{plan are CA}^{PTA’s basic state grants, Child Welfare}
^{Services (under Title IV-B of the}^Social^{Security Act) and the C}^haf^{ee Foster Care I}^ndepende^{nce Pr}^{ogram and}
^{Education and Training Vouc}^hers^{(under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The c}^urre^nt^5-year^{plan was due}

^{from states J}^une³^{0, 20}^{04 (for FY}^{s 20}^05-²⁰^{09). For more informati}^{on see the}^{program i}^nstr^{uction ACYF-CB-}^PI-
^04-0^{1, issued Feb. 2,}²⁰^04.
^c.^{The statute does}^{not define “adm}^{inistrative cost” for this p}^{rogram. However, in reg}^{ulation (45 C.F.R.}
¹³⁵^7.3^{2(h)(2)) these a}^{re defined}^{as “auxiliary fu}^{nctions” that}^{are al}^{locable to the Promoting Safe and Stable}
^{Families program, “necessary to s}^{ustain the}^{direct effort in}^{volved i}ⁿ^{administering” th}^{e state}^{plan u}ⁿ^{der the}
^{program a}^{nd “centralized in the g}^{rantee depa}^rtmen^{t” or some oth}^{er departme}^{nt or age}^{ncy a}^{nd “m}^{ay include b}^ut
^{are not limited to the follow}^{ing: procure}^{ment, pa}^{yroll, personnel f}^{unctions, manage}^{ment, mainte}^na^{nce and}
^{operation of space a}^{nd p}^roperty,^{data processing a}^{nd compute}^{r se}^{rvices, accounting, b}^{udgeting and}^auditing.”
Table 6 lists requirements under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act related to foster care
maintenance payments and adoption assistance. These programs are authorized as open-ended
entitlements; states may seek reimbursement for a specified percentage of the foster care
maintenance payments, adoption assistance costs, and eligible administrative, training, and data
collection costs for all eligible children. FY2007 appropriations: $6.5 billion (of which $4.5 ¹⁵
billion is for foster care and $2.0 billion is for adoption assistance).
Table 6. Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
⁽^{Terms that appear in}^bold^fa^ce^{are defined or}^descr^{ibed a}^s^{shown in}^{Table 8}^{. Text in}^it^alics^{was a}^dde^d
^{or amended}^{by P}^.^{L. 109-239,}^{P.L. 109-248 or P.L. 109-43}²⁾
^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care and}^Ado^{ption A}^ssistance^a
^Requirement^{Requirements (Section 471)}
^Plann^ing^—^{Provide that the agen}^{cy res}^pon^{sible for administering (or su}^perv^{ising administration of)}
^serv^ices^:^{foster ca}^{re maintenance pay}^ments^and^{adoption assistanc}^e^{is the same agen}^cy
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^{responsible for administeri}^{ng Chi}^{ld Welfare Services (Title IV}^{-B, S}^ubpa^{rt 1).}
^organ^iza^tio^n,^{—Make this}^program^{plan effe}^{ctive in all politica}^{l subdivisions of the state a}^{nd, if administered}
^and^{by the}^{m, mandatory for t}^hem.
^coordi^nat^ion
^{—Coordinate loca}^{l foster care a}^{nd adoption programs aided u}^{nder Title IV-E with state and}
^{local programs aided under TAN}^{F (Title IV}^{-A), Chi}^{ld Welfare Services and Promoting Safe}
^{and Stable Families (T}^{itle IV-B}^{), t}^{he Social Services Block Grant (Title XX)}^{, and under a}^ny
^{other ap}^propriate^{provision of fe}^{deral law.}
^{—Establish a}^{nd maintain pe}^rsonⁿ^{el standards on a me}^{rit basis, as}^{determined neces}^sary^by
^{HHS secretar}^{y for ef}^{ficient and}^p^{roper operation of t}^he^program.^{(However, HHS secreta}^ry
^{does not have aut}^{hority over sel}^{ection, tenure or com}^pensation^{of any em}^ployee.)
^{—Where ap}^prop^{riate, take steps}^{to receive any c}^{hild sup}^{port pay}^{ment made on}^{behalf of}
^{each c}^{hild receiving foster care m}^aintenance^payme^nts^{under Title}^{IV-E. (This includes}
^{cooperating with state age}^{ncies a}^{dministering TANF (Title IV-A) a}^{nd Child Support}
^Enforce^{ment (Title IV-D)).}
^—^{Have in effect procedures to verif}^{y the citizenship or immigration stat}^{us of any child in foster care}
^{(whether or not the child is receiving assistance under Title IV-E).}
^{—Provide a fair hearing be}^{fore st}^{ate agency}^{for any individual who}^{se ben}^{efits claim is denied}
^{or not acted on with rea}^sonable^prompt^ness.

¹⁵^Becau^{se f}^unding^f^o^r^the^s^e^pr^og^r^a^m^s^is^a^u^thor^iz^e^d^oⁿ^aⁿ^ope^n-^e^nde^{d ba}^sⁱ^s^,^t^h^e^a^p^pr^o^p^rⁱ^a^t^e^d^a^m^{ount r}^e^pr^e^s^eⁿ^ts^aⁿ
^e^s^timate^o^f^f^e^d^e^ral^co^st^rat^h^{er t}^h^an^t^h^{e act}^u^a^l^co^st^.^Iⁿ^t^h^{e m}^o^st^receⁿ^t^y^ear^f^o^{r w}^hⁱ^c^h^exp^eⁿ^dⁱ^t^u^re^d^a^t^a^{are avai}^l^a^b^l^e
^(FY20^06),^sta^t^e^s^c^l^aⁱ^m^e^{d f}^e^de^ra^l^re^im^burse^m^e^{nt of}^$4.⁴^billi^on^un^de^{r the}^f^o^ste^r^c^a^r^e^prog^ra^m^a^{nd $}¹^.8^bill^io^{n u}^nde^r^the
^a^dopt^io^{n a}^s^sⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^c^e^pr^og^r^a^m^.

^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care and}^Ado^{ption A}^ssistance
^Requirement^{Requirements (Section 471)}^a
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^—^{Make re}^{ports containing t}^{he in}^{formation and in the}^{form t}^{hat th}^{e HHS secreta}^{ry re}^quires^b
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{and comply with ef}^{forts to assu}^re^correctnes^{s of the}^reports.
^{—Monitor and do periodic evaluations of activities carried out un}^{der Title IV-E.}
^{—At least every 3}^{years, ar}^range^{independent a}^{udits of the}^progra^{ms assisted unde}^{r Title IV-}
^{B and Title IV-E.}
^Polic^{ies a}^nd^—^{Designate state or other a}^utho^{rity(ies) to establish and maintain}^{standards for}^{foster family}
^procedure^{s to}^{homes and c}^{hild care institutions. The standards}^{must (}^{1) be}^{reasonably in accord with}
^ensu^re^{recommended standa}^{rds of ap}^pr^{opriate national organizations; (2) include standards r}^elated
^placemen^t^{to admission polic}^{ies, safety, sanitation, and protection of civil rights; and (3) be a}^{pplied by}
^option^s^{the state to an}^{y foster}^{family home or child care institution rec}^{eiving fu}^{nds u}^{nder Title IV-B}
^{or Title IV-E.}
^—Periodica^{lly review standards f}^{or foster care}^{family homes and c}^{hild care institutions to}
^ensu^{re they}^{are still appro}^priate.
^—Periodica^{lly review amounts pa}^{id for foster care mainte}^nanc^{e or}^{adoption assistance to}
^ensu^{re they}^{are still appro}^priate.
^{—Provide that any state or oth}^er^{agency t}^{hat receives}^{federal fu}^nd^{s and is involved in}
^{adoption or foster care}^placemen^{ts may not}^{use th}^{e race, color or national origin of the adult}
^{or child involved as a basis to (1) deny any}^perso^{n the o}^pport^unity^{to become an adoptive}
^{parent; or (}^{2) delay or deny t}^he^{placement of a}^{child for adoption or into foster care.}
^{—Consider giving prefere}^{nce to}^{an adult relative over a no}^{n-related caregiver whe}ⁿ
^{determining placeme}^{nt for a c}^{hild, if the relative caregiver meet}^{s all relevant state c}^hild
^{protection standards.}
^{—May not den}^{y or delay child’s adoption placement wh}^{en a}ⁿ^ap^pr^{oved family is available}
^{outside of the jurisdiction respon}^{sible for handling the}^placeme^{nt. And must g}^rant^{fair heari}^ng
^{to individual who al}^{leges the stat}^{e, in violat}^{ion of this require}^ment^{, denied or did not act}
^{promptly on a}^placement.
^—^{Have procedures for the orderly}^{and timely interstate placement of c}^{hildren that p}^{rovide that no}
^{later than 60 da}^{ys after receipt fro}^{m another state of a request to c}^oⁿ^{duct a home study to a}^sse^ss
^{the safety and suitability of a child’s placement in the home}^{, the state wi}^{ll conduct and complete the}
^{study and send a report to the requesting state addressing the extent to}^{which placement in the}
^{home would me}^{et the child’s needs}^.^(Completion^{of any required t}^rainin^{g program by prospective}
^{foster or adoptive parent does not n}^{eed to be co}^{mpleted within the 60}^{day time frame and for a}
^{limited time—any study begun no later than September 30, 2008—the}^{state may have up to 75}
^{days to co}^{mplete the ho}^me^{study if it can document certain circumstances beyond its c}^{ontrol that}
^{delayed completion of the}^{study.) A}^{state that requests such a ho}^{me stu}^{dy must respond to}^the
^{report content within 14 days of receiving the report. States are not permitted to imp}^ose^any
^{restriction on the ability of the state child welfare agency to contract wit}^{h a private agency to conduct}
^{such home}^studies.
^Child^—Provide^{foster care maintenance payments}^and^a^{doption assistance}^{(in accordance}
^protec^tio^ns,^{with Sections 47}^{2 and}⁴⁷^{3, resp}^e^ctively).
^serv^{ices a}^nd^{—Develop a}^{case plan}^{for ea}^ch^{child receiving}^{foster ca}^{re mai}^{ntenance payments}
^{programs to be}^{under t}^{he state}^{plan a}^{nd have a}^c^{ase review system}^{in place for}^{each s}^{uch c}^hild.
^provided
^{Note: “Reasonable}^{—Limit use or disclosure of infor}^{mation concerning i}^{ndividuals assisted under t}^{his plan}^to^{certain spe}^{cified pur}^{poses. (See Section 47}^1(a)(8).)
^{efforts” are}
^{described in this}^—Exce^{pt in s}^{pecified circumsta}^nc^{es, make}^reasona^{ble efforts}^,^to^preve^{nt ne}^{ed for a c}^hild’s
^{section. See also}^{removal from home or to make i}^t^{possible for a c}^{hild to safely return}^home.
^{Table 8.}^{—In determining}^reason^{able eff}^orts^{needed to p}^{reserve or}^reuⁿ^{ify a family, make child’s}
^{health and sa}^{fety of}^paramou^{nt c}^oncern.
^—^{Reasonable effo}^rts^{to place}^{a child for adoption or with a legal guardian may be}^{made at}

^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care and}^Ado^{ption A}^ssistance
^Requirement^{Requirements (Section 471)}^a
^{the same time as}^reason^{able eff}^orts^{to reu}^{nify or p}^reserve^family.
^{—If continui}^{ng family pre}^{servation or re}^{unification efforts is incon}^{sistent with c}^hild’s
^{permanency pla}ⁿ^{, then}^reaso^{nable efforts}^m^ust^{be made to}^{place the c}^{hild in a timely}
^manne^{r and to finalize perma}^nent^{placement of t}^{he c}^hild.
^—^{Reasonable effo}^rts^{to prese}^{rve or re}^{unite a family are}^{not re}^{quired if a cou}^{rt has}
^{involuntarily terminated the}^pare^{ntal rights of th}^{e child’s parent}^{to a sibling of the c}^{hild or}
^{determined that t}^{he c}^{hild’s paren}^{t has (1) s}^{ubjected t}^{he child to aggravated circumsta}^nces,
^{(which may include a}^bandonme^nt^{, torture, chronic a}^{buse, se}^{xual a}^{buse, or othe}^r
^circumstan^{ces as defined in}^state^{law); (2) committed murder or v}^{oluntary man}^slaughte^{r of}
^{another c}^{hild of the pare}^{nt; (3) ai}^{ded, abetted, attempted, conspir}^{ed or solicited t}^o^commit
^{such a}^mu^{rder or volunta}^{ry ma}^ns^{laughter; or (4) committed a felony assa}^{ult that re}^{sults in}
^{serious bodily injury to the c}^{hild or another c}^{hild of the par}^ent.
^{—Court must}^separat^{ely determine that}^reasona^{ble efforts}^{to r}^{eunify or}^prese^{rve a fa}^mily
^{are not re}^{quired. If t}^{his determin}^{ation is made, then a pe}^rmane^ncy^{hearing m}^ust^{be h}^eld
^{within 30 day}^{s and}^reas^{onable efforts}^s^{hall be made to place th}^{e child in a timely manner}
^{and to finalize a permane}^{nt place}^ment.
^{—Establish s}^{pecific goals for each}^{fiscal year regarding t}^{he ma}^ximu^{m num}^ber^{of children w}^ho^th
^{at any time du}^{ring that}^{year will be in their}²⁵^month^{(or greater)}^{of foster care a}^nd
^{describe step}^{s that will be take}ⁿ^{to achieve this goal.}
^{—Report (and provide any in}^for^{mation on situation it may have)}^{known or s}^uspect^ed
^{instances of}^phy^{sical or mental injury, sex}^{ual ab}^{use or e}^xploitation,^{or negligent treatme}^{nt or}
^{maltreatment of a c}^{hild who is receiving aid under Title IV-B or Tit}^{le IV-E. Make report to a}ⁿ
^approp^{riate agency}^{or official.}
^{—Before final app}^{roval for place}^{ment of}^any^{foster c}^{hild conduct}^{criminal records check}^{s of}
^{prospective foste}^{r and adoptive}^p^arents,^{including finger-print b}^{ased checks of national crime}
^{information databases (FBI checks)}^{. If criminal record c}^{heck re}^{veals a felony conviction of the}
^{prospective foste}^{r or adoptive pa}^{rent for}^{child abuse or}^{neglect, a}^{buse of}^{spouse, a c}^rime
^{against children (including c}^{hild pornography), or for a}^{crime involving violence (including}
^{rape, sex}^{ual assault, or homicide but}^{not including other}^ph^{ysical assault or batter}^{y), or if it}
^{shows a felony conviction for}^phy^{sical assault, battery, or a drug-re}^{lated offense that was}
^{committed with the past}^{5 yea}^rs,^{then t}^{he state}^{may not a}^{pprove t}^{he p}^{rospective foster}^or
^{adoptive parent’s}^{home for the}^pl^{acement of a}^{foster c}^{hild on whose behalf t}^{he state}^intends
^{to claim federal reimburseme}^nt^u^{nder Title IV-E .}^{These provisions a}^{re applicable to all states,}
^{except that any state which chose (}^{via letter to HHS or state legislation) to exe}^{mpt itself from federal}
^{criminal record check requi}^{rements before October 1, 2005, may continue to opt}^{out of these}
^{requirements until October 1, 2008}^{(when the opt out provisi}^{on is fully}^eliminated).
^—^{Before final approval for placement of any foster child, check any chil}^{d abuse and neglect registry}
^{maintained by the state for informat}^{ion on prosp}^{ective foster and adopti}^{ve parents (as well as any}
^{adult living in the home of such a prospective}^{parent) and request any other state where prospective}
^{foster or adoptive parent (or co-resi}^{ding adult) has lived in the past 5 years to check that child abuse}
^{and neglect registry as well. Comply with other states’ requests to}^see^{child abuse and neglect registry}
^{information and have in place safeg}^{uards to prevent unauthori}^{zed disclosure of child abuse and}
^{neglect registry information and to prevent use of information disclosed}^{under this plan requi}^rement
^{for a purpose other than conducting background checks related to foster or adoptive placements.}
^{(Effective October 1, 2006.)}
^—^{Develop and implement sta}^{ndards to ensu}^{re c}^{hildren in foster c}^{are placeme}^{nts with}^pu^blic
^{or private agen}^{cies receive q}^{uality services t}^{hat p}^{rotect safety a}ⁿ^d^{health of c}^hildren.
^{—Adequately p}^repare^the^prosp^{ective foster care}^pare^{nts with a}^p^{propriate k}^{nowledge and}
^{skills to meet child’s needs before a child is placed in state-sup}^ervi^{sed foster care.}
^{(Preparation will continue, as nec}^{essary, after}^{placement of}^{the c}^hild.)
^{—Provide health insura}^{nce cover}^{age for any c}^{hild with special me}^{dical assistance needs who}
^{can not}^{be placed for adoption w}^{ithout this health}^be^{nefit and w}^h^o^{is the su}^{bject of a non-}

^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care and}^Ado^{ption A}^ssistance
^Requirement^{Requirements (Section 471)}^a
^{Title IV-E adopti}^{on assistance agr}^eement^between^{state and adopti}^{ve pare}^{nts. (The coverage}
^{may be}^{Medicaid or comparable s}^{tate medical assistance plan a}^{nd in determining cost-s}^haring
^{state should consider circ}^umstan^{ces of adopting pare}^{nt(s) and}^nee^{ds of child.)}
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service (CRS) based on statu}^{tory language.}
^a.^{Unless otherwise noted all refere}^{nces to titles or sections in t}^{his table refer to t}^{he Social Security Act.}
^b.^{States are req}^{uired to su}^{bmit cas}^{e level data concerning all children in or adopted out of foste}^{r car}^{e, whether or}
^{not they r}^{eceive a federal s}^ubsidy^{. (See Secti}^{on 47}^{9(b)and (c) and t}^he^{Code of Federal Regulations}⁴⁵^C.F.R^.
^§135^{5.40, Ap}^{pendices A-E.)}
Table 7 lists requirements related to funding for foster care independence services authorized ¹⁶
under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. These include a variety of services designed to
enable youth who are expected to “age-out” of foster care and those who have recently aged out
of foster care to make a successful transition from state foster care custody to independent living.
Funds for a wide variety of services to these youth (including education and training) are
authorized as a capped entitlement; funds specifically provided for education and training
vouchers only are authorized on a discretionary basis. The federal government provides funds
under these programs on a matching basis (80% federal share). FY2007 CFCIP: $140 million;
FY2007 vouchers: $46 million.
Table 7. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) and Education and
Training Vouchers, under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care Independence P}^rog^{ram Requirements}^a
^Requirement^{(Section 477 (b))}
^Plann^ing^—^{Specify which}^{state agenc}^{y or a}^{gencies will administer, supervise, or oversee the}^program^s
^serv^ices^:^{of this plan.}
^adminis^tra^ti^on,^{—Describe how state will design and deliver programs to ac}^hieve^{the p}^u^r^{poses of the}^foster
^organ^iza^tio^n,^{care indepe}^ndence^program.
^and^b
^coordi^nat^ion^—Ens^{ure t}^{hat all political subdivis}^{ions of the state ar}^{e served}^{by t}^h^e^{program (t}^hough^not
^{necessarily in a}^{uniform ma}^nne^r).
^—Ens^{ure involvemen}^{t of p}^{ublic a}^{nd private se}^{ctors in h}^{elping adolescents in}^{foster car}^{e to}
^{achieve indepe}^{ndence a}^{nd cons}^{ult widely with public and}^{private organizations in developing}
^{the CFCIP plan.}^b
^{—Give all interested membe}^{rs of}^{the p}^{ublic at least 3}⁰^{days to s}^u^b^{mit comments on t}^he
^{CFCIP plan.}
^{—Make every}^{effort to coordinat}^{e CFCIP services with othe}^{r fede}^{ral and state p}^{rograms for}
^{disabled youth (especially shelter}^{ed workshops) and}^{for youth}^{(especially transitional liv}^ing
^{youth p}^{rojects fu}^{nded unde}^{r the}^{Runaway a}^{nd Homeless Youth A}^{ct), abstinence ed}^ucation,
^{and local housing and sc}^hool-to^{work services (offered}^{by hig}^{h sc}^{hools or local w}^orkforce

¹⁶^For^m^o^r^e^inf^o^r^m^a^{tion o}ⁿ^the^s^e^pr^og^r^a^m^s^s^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^S²²⁵⁰¹^,^Chⁱ^l^d^Wel^f^a^{re: T}^h^{e Cha}^f^{ee F}^o^st^{er Ca}^re
^I^nde^peⁿ^d^eⁿ^c^e^Pr^o^g^r^a^m⁽^C^FC^I^P⁾^,^by^A^d^rⁱ^e^nne^L^.^Fe^rⁿ^aⁿ^de^s^.

^{Kind of Plan}^{Foster Care Independence P}^rog^{ram Requirements}
^Requirement^{(Section 477 (b))}^a
^agencies).
^{—Consult with Indian t}^{ribes in t}^h^e^{state about}^programs^{to be ca}^r^{ried out under}^{plan a}^nd
^{make effort to coordinate progra}^{ms with thes}^{e tribes.}
^{—Establish a}^{nd enforce}^standard^{s and p}^{rocedures to}^preve^{nt fra}^u^d^{and abus}^{e in p}^rograms
^{carried out u}^{nder the}^plan.
^—Ens^{ure t}^{hat no fede}^{rally allotte}^{d money for this}^{program ma}^{y be}^spent^{on room or board}
^{costs for child who is not yet}¹⁸^{years of age a}^{nd no more t}^han³^{0% of t}^{he allotment may be}
^spent^{for room or board of c}^{hildren w}^{ho left foster care}^{at age}¹⁸^{but a}^{re not yet}^{age 2}^1.
^—Ens^{ure t}^{hat state}^{has a}ⁿ^Edu^cat^{ion and Training Voucher P}^{rogram that complies with}
^{conditions in Section 477(i).}^d
^{—Describe methods}^{used to ens}^{ure t}^{hat educational assistance of}^{fered doesn’t exceed}
^{maximum allowed and that}^benef^{its offered do not duplicate those}^{granted b}^y^other^federal
^{of federally assisted programs.}
^{Data c}^o^l^lect^ioⁿ^—^{Cooperate in national evaluations of the e}^{ffects of t}^he^program^{s in achieving t}^{he p}^u^r^poses
^{and repor}^ti^ng^{of the federal indepe}^{ndent living}^services.^d
^Child^—^{Design and conduct}^{program t}^o^ensure^that^participants^recogn^{ize and accept th}^eir
^protec^tio^ns,^{personal res}^{ponsibility for pre}^par^{ing for and th}^{en making}^{the t}^rans^{ition from adolescence to}
^serv^{ices a}^nd^{adulthood and that meets othe}^r^{defined pur}^{poses, including}
^{programs to be}^•^{identifying children who are likely to remain in foster}^care^{until 18}^{years of age a}^{nd for}
^provided^{those children a}^{nd youth, offer}^s^{ervices related to educational an}^{d vocational attainment}
^{(including gaining a highsc}^{hool dip}^{loma, preparing for a}^{nd ente}^ring^{post-secondary}
^{schools, career ex}^{ploration and job placement a}^{nd rete}^{ntion); life skills (}^including
^{budgeting a}^{nd financial manage}^me^{nt); and su}^bstan^{ce ab}^use^preve^{ntion and health}
^{activities (e.g}^{., smoking avoi}^{dance, nutrition education and}^preg^nan^{cy prev}^ention);
^•^{offering, for children w}^{ho are aging out of foster}^{care, men}^toring^{services (to provide}
^{personal and emotional su}^pport^{and promote interactions wit}^{h dedicated adults);}
^•^{making available, for children wh}^{o have aged out of foster}^{care (g}^{enerally betwee}^{n ages}
^18-2^{1) vouc}^{hers for}^{education an}^{d training, including postsecondar}^{y training and}
^{education; and ap}^{propriate s}^u^p^{port and ser}^{vices including those}^re^{lated to finances,}
^{housing, counseling, em}^{ployment, education.}
^—Ens^{ure t}^{hat p}^{rograms se}^{rve c}^h^{ildren of various ages and at va}^{rious stages of indepe}^ndence
^{and that assista}^{nce and}^{services a}^{re offered to children w}^{ho age o}^{ut of foster ca}^{re and w}^ho
^{are not yet}²¹^{years of age.}
^{—Make be}^{nefits and}^{services avai}^{lable to Indian children in t}^{he stat}^{e on the sa}^{me basis as}^to
^{other children in t}^{he state.}
^{—Use objective criteria for deter}^{mining eligibil}^{ity for benefits a}^nd^{services u}^{nder t}^he
^{programs, and to en}^sur^{e fair and}^{equitable treatm}^{ent of}^bene^{fit re}^cipients.
^—Ens^{ure t}^{hat adolescents se}^rved^{by this}^program^{participate direc}^{tly in designing their own}
^{activities that prepa}^{re th}^{em for i}^ndepende^{nt living and that}^{they a}^ccept^{personal res}^ponsibility
^{for living up to their}^{part of t}^he^p^rogram.
^{—Use federal training f}^unds^{paid under}^{federal foster car}^{e and adoption assistance to}^help
^{foster pare}^{nts, adoptive pare}^nts,^{workers in grou}^{p homes, a}^{nd cas}^{e managers}^u^{nderstand a}^nd
^{address the issue}^{s conf}^{ronting ad}^{olescents pre}^paring^{for indepe}^{ndent living, and coordinate}
^{this training with t}^{he indepe}^nden^{t living program (to extent}^possib^le).
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service (CRS) based on statu}^{tory language.}
^a.^{Unless otherwise noted all refere}^{nces to titles or sections in t}^{his table refer to t}^{he Social Security Act.}

^b.^{States are to develop a 5-}^{year C}^h^{ild and Family}^{Services Plan when}^{applying for t}^hese^fu^{nds. The Ch}^{afee Foster}
^{Care Indep}^enden^{ce Program a}^{nd its associated Education and Training Vouche}^{r Program are i}^nclud^{ed in this}
^{plan. Other}^program^{s that a}^{re c}^u^{rrently re}^{quired to}^{be included in}^{the Child and Family Services Plan are}
^{CAPTA’s basic state grants, and t}^{he Child Welfare Services and Pr}^{omoting Safe Stable Famil}^{ies programs (u}^nder
^{Title IV-B}^{of the Social Security Act).}
^c.^{The following condit}^{ions apply: States may offer}^vouche^{rs for ed}^u^{cation or training program}^{s for y}^{outh who are}
^{eligible for services under t}^{he C}^h^{afee Foster Care I}^ndepe^{ndence P}^{rogram and for yo}^{uth w}^{ho are w}^{ere adopted}
^{from foster car}^{e at age}^{16 or older. Youth remain eligible for thes}^{e services u}^{ntil they r}^{each age}²¹^{(or up}^until
^{age 23 if t}^{hey a}^{re en}^{rolled in the voucher}^{program a}^{nd are}^making^{satisfactory progre}^{ss in a}ⁿ^educa^{tion and}
^{training program}^{on their}²¹^st^bir^{thday). The vouche}^{rs may}^be^pro^{vided for the cost of attenda}^nce^{at an}
^{institution of higher ed}^{ucation an}^{d must not e}^{xceed $}^5,00^{0/ yea}^r^{or the cost of atte}^{ndance, which}^{ever is less.}
^{This voucher a}^ssistance^{may be}^{disregarded when}^{calculating eligibility or benefits under}^{any ot}^{her f}^{ederal or}
^{federally support}^{ed assistance (e}^{xcept t}^{hat t}^{he total amount of ed}^{ucational assistance offered to a}^{youth ca}^n’t
^{exceed the}^{cost of attenda}^{nce an}^{d the state age}^{ncy m}^{ust take}^step^{s to preve}^{nt du}^{plication of benefi}^{ts). (The}
^{terms “institution of}^{higher edu}^c^{ation” and “cost of attendance”}^a^{re defined in the}^Higher^Educatio^{n Act of}
¹⁹⁶^{5, sections}¹⁰^{2 and}⁴⁷^{2, resp}^{ectively). Final}^{ly, the state is requ}^{ired to coordinate the voucher}^p^{rogram with}
^{other ap}^{propriate edu}^{cation and}^{training program}^s.
^d.^{P.L. 106-1}^{69 r}^e^q^{uires the}^{establishment of a}^{data system to tra}^{ck y}^{outh serv}^{ed unde}^{r this}^program.^{In J}^{uly 2}⁰⁰^6,
^{the U.S. Depar}^{tment of H}^{ealth a}^{nd Huma}^{n Services (H}^{HS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)}
^{that seeks to esta}^{blish the}^Nation^{al Youth in Transistion Database.}^{For more information on this}^N^{PRM and the}
^{proposed database, whic}^{h would require}^{states to collect case-level data on services p}^{rovided and outcomes}
^{achieved, reque}^{st a copy of CRS}^{Congressional Distribution Mem}^{orandum CD0}⁶¹⁰⁵^{2 “Notice of}^Proposed
^{Rulemaking to Implement}^{the C}^h^{afee Foster Care I}^ndepe^ndence^{Act database,” Augu}^{st 2}^{8, 20}^06,^{by Adrienn}^e
^Fernandes.
Table 8 includes definitions critical to understanding state responsibilities to children in its care.
Most of these definitions are included in Section 475 of the Social Security Act and apply to both
Title IV-E and Title IV-B child welfare programs. For instance, children in state-supervised foster
care, who are receiving services under Title IV-B or Title IV-E, must be part of a state operated
case review system and have their own case plan. These, and related terms, are given detailed
definition in the statute. Please note that some of the terms included below are defined within the
extensive definition given to case review system. They are listed separately in Table 8 for clarity
and ease of reference.
Table 8. Important Definitions in the Social Security Act
⁽^{Text in}^italics^{was a}^dde^{d or}^a^m^{ended by}^{P.L. 109-239 or P.L. 109-28}⁸⁾
^Term^{Statutory definition or descri}^ption^a
^Reasonable^{—Before a child can be}^{placed in}^{foster care}^reasona^{ble efforts}^{must b}^e^{made to pr}^event
^efforts^{or eliminate the need for}^{removing the}^{child from the}^{home; after}^{a child is removed}
^{Note: This is a}^{reasonable eff}^orts^must^be^ma^{de to make it possible for a child to return}^{home sa}^fely.
^description^of^{—In determining}^reason^{able eff}^orts^{, the pa}^ramount^concer^{n is c}^{hild’s health and safety.}
^reasonable^—If^reaso^{nable effo}^rts^{to pres}^{erve or re}^{unite a fa}^{mily are foun}^{d inconsistent with a}
^{efforts as it is}^{child’s permanen}^{cy plan, r}^easona^{ble efforts m}^ust^{be made to com}^{plete the ste}^ps^necessa^ry
^{included in the}^{to make a timely placement of t}^h^e^{child (}^{including, if appropri}^{ate, thr}^{ough an interstate}
^{Title IV-E foster}^placement^{) and to finalize a perm}^anent^placement^{for the}^child.
^{care and adoption}
^{assistance plan}^—^{Reasonable effo}^rts^{to place}^{a child for adoption or with a legal guardian,}^including
^requirem^ents.^{identifying appropria}^{te in-State and}^{out-of-State placements,}^may^{be m}^{ade concurr}^{ently with}
^{There is no formal}^{reasonable effort}^{s to pre}^{serve or}^reu^{nify the}^family.
^{definition oZf the}^—^{Reasonable effo}^rts^{to prese}^{rve or re}^{unify t}^{he family are}^no^t^r^{equired if court}^has^found
^{term given}^{the pa}^{rent of a}^{child has (1) s}^ubje^{cted the c}^{hild to aggravated circumstances, whic}^{h may}

^Term^{Statutory definition or descri}^ption^a
^{in the stat}^ute.^{include abandonme}^{nt, torture, c}^h^{ronic abuse, a}^{nd sex}^{ual ab}^{use, as}^{defined by state law; (2)}
^{The description}^{had his or he}^{r rights}^{to be t}^{he pa}^{rent of a sibling of t}^{he c}^{hild invol}^{untarily terminated; (3)}
^{is included}^{has committed murde}^{r or volunt}^{ary manslaug}^{hter of}^another^{child of his or her}^{own; (4)}
^{separately for}^{has aided, abetted, attempted or}^{conspired to commit suc}^{h a m}^u^r^{der or voluntary}
^convenient^manslaughte^{r; or (5) ha}^{s committed a felony assault that}^res^{ults in}^{serious bodily injury to}
^refere^nce.^{the child or anothe}^{r child of the}^parent.
^{—If court dete}^{rmines t}^hat^reas^o^{nable efforts}^{to p}^reserve^{or re}^{unify a}^{family are not}
^{required (ba}^{sed on earlier court}^f^{inding of parental wro}^{ngdoing as described above), a}
^perma^nency^hearing^must^be^{held within 30 days}^and^reas^onabl^{e efforts}^must^be^{made to}
^{complete steps}^necessa^{ry to plac}^{e the c}^{hild in a timely manner a}ⁿ^d^{to finalize a permanent}
^placement.^{This permanency hearing must con}^{sider in-state and out-of-state placem}^{ent option}^{s for}
^{the child.)}
^{Case plan}^{A written docume}^{nt that i}^nclude^{s, at least, the follow}^ing:
^{Section 475(1)}^{—Description of type of}^{home or institution whe}^{re child is placed. (Must include discussion}
^and^{of safety and a}^p^p^ropriateness^{of t}^{he placeme}^{nt and}^{how the age}^nc^{y respon}^{sible for the}^child
^{see also Section}^{plans to carr}^{y out th}^{e voluntar}^y^{placement agr}^eement^{or judicial}^{determination to remove}^b
⁴⁷⁵^(5)(A)^{child from home, including makin}^g^{reasonable eff}^orts^{on t}^{he chi}^{ld’s behalf.)}
^{—Plan to assure c}^{hild receives sa}^{fe and p}^{roper ca}^re.
^{—Plan to assure t}^{hat services a}^r^e^{provided to the pare}^{nts, child, and foster pa}^rents^{to (1)}
^{improve conditions in the}^parent^{s’ home; (2) facilitate return}^{of ch}^{ild to his own safe home}
^{or the pe}^rmane^nt^{placement of t}^{he child; and (3) address t}^{he ne}^e^{ds of the child while in}
^{foster care, including a discus}^{sion of appro}^priateness^{of services t}^h^{at have}^been^{provided to}
^{the child unde}^{r the}^plan.
^{—Health and edu}^{cation records}^{of the child. (Including}^{the m}^{ost re}^{cent information available}
^regardi^ng^{(1) names and address}^e^s^{of child’s health and educational}^{providers; (2) child’s}
^{grade level performa}^{nce and s}^c^h^{ool record; (3) assurance t}^{hat c}^{hild’s foster care placement}
^{takes into account location of sc}^{hool child is enrolle}^{d in at the time of placement; (}⁴⁾
^{record of child’s immunizations,}^{known medical problems, and m}^e^{dications; and (5) any}
^{other relevant}^{health a}^{nd educati}^{on information about t}^{he c}^{hild d}^{etermined to be}^c
^approp^{riate by t}^{he state ag}^ency.)
^{—If child is age 16}^{or over (whe}^r^e^app^{ropriate), a written descript}^{ion of the program}^{s and}
^{services that will help}^him/her^pr^{epare for t}^{ransition from}^{foster c}^{are to independe}^{nt living.}
^{—If child’s}^{permanency pla}ⁿ^{is adoption or placement in a}^nothe^{r perma}^ne^{nt home:}
^{documentation of step}^{s agenc}^{y is taking to (1) find an adoptive fa}^{mily or other perma}^nent
^{living arrangement; (}^{2) place th}^e^{child with an adoptive family, a fit and willing relative, a}
^{legal guardian, or in another}^plan^{ned per}^mane^{nt living arrange}^men^{t; and (3) finalize the}
^{adoption or legal guardianship. At a minimum docume}^{ntation mu}^s^t^{include child specific}
^recruitme^{nt efforts}^{(e.g., use of state, regional, and national adopti}^{on excha}^{nges, including}
^{electronic excha}^{nge sy}^stems)^{to f}^{acilitate orderly an}^{d timely in-state and interstate placements}^.
^{—If a child is placed in a foster}^fa^{mily or child care institution a su}^{bstantial distance from}
^his/her^pare^{nts (or in anot}^{her sta}^{te than}^his/her^{home state), mu}^st^{give reasons w}^{hy this}
^{placement is in t}^he^{best intere}^st^{of the child.}
^{—If child is placed in foster ca}^re^{out-of-state, at least once every}^{6 months}^{a ca}^seworker
^{must visit the c}^{hild in this placem}^{ent and s}^{ubmit a}^{report of t}^{he vis}^{it to the state agenc}^y
^{where t}^{he c}^{hild’s parent’s live. T}^{he caseworker}^may^{be em}^{ployed by th}^{e agenc}^{y of the}^state
^{where t}^{he pa}^{rent’s r}^{eside, the agency of t}^{he state w}^{here t}^{he c}^{hild now resides}^{or be}
^{employed by a private agency under contract with either state agency.}
^{Case review}^{Procedure for ass}^{uring t}^hat
^system^{—Each c}^{hild has a}^c^{ase plan}^des^{igned to achieve placemen}^{t in a s}^{afe setting. The setting}
^{Section 475 (}⁵⁾^{must b}^e^{the least}^{restrictive (most family-like)}^{, most appropriate s}^{etting available, and in}
^{close proximity to the pa}^{rents’ h}^{ome (consistent with b}^{est interes}^{t and special needs of}

^Term^{Statutory definition or descri}^ption^a
^{child). (}^See^addit^ional^{case plan}^requirem^{ents in}^{definition above).}
^{—Status of child is reviewed at least every}^{6 mont}^{hs b}^y^{either a}^{court or}^by
^{administrative revi}^ew^{to determine (1) safet}^{y of child; (2) continued n}^{eed or}
^approp^{riateness of}^{placement; (}^{3) extent}^{of compliance with t}^he^c^{ase plan}^{; (4) exte}^{nt of}
^{progress made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes}^that^ma^{de foster care}^placement
^necessar^{y; and (5) to p}^{roject a likely date by whic}^{h the}^{child may b}^e^{safely retu}^rned^home
^{or placed for adoption or legal guardianship.}
^{—Each c}^{hild in state-supe}^{rvised f}^{oster care rec}^{eives a pe}^rmane^nc^{y hearing, no later t}^han¹²
^{months afte}^r^{date child enters}^{foster ca}^re^{, to determine the c}^hild’s^perma^{nency pl}^an^.
^{After this initial hearing, a pe}^rma^nency^hearing^must^be^{held at least once ever}^{y 1}²^mont^hs
^{for as long as the}^{child remains in}^{foster care. (See fu}^rthe^{r descript}^{ion of}^permane^{ncy plan}
^and^{permanency h}^ear^ing^below.⁾
^—^{Parental rights, pertai}^{ning to (1}^{) removal of child from home of}^his/her^pare^{nts; (2) a}
^{change in}^{the c}^{hild’s placement; a}^{nd (3) any dete}^{rmination affectin}^{g pare}^{nts’ visiting}
^{privileges, are safeguarded.}
^{—Child’s health and education re}^{cord is reviewed, updated and}^a^{copy of the record is}
^sup^{plied to the foster pa}^{rent or}^c^{are provider at t}^{he time (and eac}^{h time) child is placed}
^{and is supplied to the child (at no c}^{ost) at the time}^{he/she leaves}^foster^{care because of reaching}
^{the state age of majority}⁽^{“ages out}^”^).
^{—Unless certain}^exceptions^app^{ly (see description below), if child}^{has b}^{een in}^state-
^supe^{rvised foster care}^{for 1}⁵^{of t}^{he past}²²^month^{s the}^{state m}^ust^{file a petition to}
^{terminate pa}^{rental rights}^{of child’s pare}^{nts (or seek to join any alr}^{eady filed petition) and, at}
^{the same time, to identify, recr}^{uit, process, and ap}^{prove a}^{qualified family for adoption.}
^{—Unless certain}^exceptions^app^{ly (see description below), if a court of comp}^etent
^{jurisdiction has determined a chil}^{d to be an a}^{bandoned infa}^{nt or h}^{as determined that t}^he
^parent^{has (}^{1) committed murde}^{r or voluntary}^manslaug^{hter of a}ⁿ^{other child of the}^paren^t,
^{(2) aided, abetted, conspired, attempted, or solicited to comm}^{it such a}^murde^{r or voluntar}^y
^manslaughte^{r; or (3) committed a}^{felony assault that}^res^{ulted in se}^{rious bodily injury to the}
^{child or to another child of the}^p^{arent, the s}^{tate mu}^{st file a petition to terminate}^pare^ntal
^{rights of child’s parent}^{s and, at th}^{e same time, to identify, recruit, process, and a}^{pprove a}
^{qualified family for adoption.}
^{—A child’s foster parent}^{s, any}^pr^{e-adoptive parent, or a relative c}^{are-giver, receive notice}
^of^{and a right to be heard}^{in any re}^{view or}^proceeding^{held with res}^p^{ect to the c}^hild.
^{However, state is not re}^{quired t}^o^all^{ow this person(s) to be}^{made a party}^{to suc}^{h a review}^d
^or^proceeding^.
^Exceptions^to^{—Child is being cared for by}^rela^{tive (state option).}
^{mandated filing}^{—State agency ha}^{s document}^{ed in the}^{child’s case plan, which is a}^{vailable for court review,}
^{for termination}^{a compelling reason that}^{filing for termination of par}^{ental rights w}^{ould not be in child’s best}
^{of parental rights}^interest.
^{Described within}^{—State has not p}^{rovided the fam}^{ily of the child, timely services, consistent with case}^plan,
^{definition of case}^{that the}^{state deems}^necessa^{ry fo}^{r safe ret}^ur^{n of c}^{hild to child}^{’s home. (This exception}
^{review system.}^{applies only if}^reasona^{ble effor}^ts^{to reunite the}^{family are re}^qui^red.)
^{See Section}
⁴⁷⁵⁽^5)(E)(i-ii^i).
^Permanen^cy^{Includes w}^hethe^{r and, if ap}^{plicable when, c}^{hild wil}^{l be (1) retu}^rned^{to the par}^{ent; (2)}^placed
^plan^{for adoption and the state}^{will petition for termination of pare}^{ntal rights; (3) refe}^{rred for}
^{Described within}^{legal guardianship; or (4) placed i}ⁿ^anothe^{r plan}^{ned pe}^rmane^{nt living arra}^ngeme^nt.”
^{definition of case}^{(The last option may only be}^use^{d as a perma}^nen^{cy plan}^whe^{n the}^{state child welfare agenc}^y
^{review system. See}^{has docume}^{nted to the cou}^{rt a c}^{ompelling reason that it would n}^{ot be in the}^{best int}^erest
^{Section 475 (}^5)(C)^{of the child to pu}^{rsue o}^{ne of the}^{other thr}^{ee pe}^rmane^{ncy options}^{or for the c}^{hild to be}
^{placed with a “fit and willing relative.”)}

^Term^{Statutory definition or descri}^ption^a
^Permanen^cy^{—Must occ}^ur^{no less fre}^que^ntly^{than eve}^{r 1}²^mont^{hs (duri}^{ng the}^{time a child is in foster}
^hear^ing^{care) (see definition of}^{case review system}^above).
^{Described within}^{—Are to be}^{held in family, juvenile, tribal or another cou}^{rt of com}^{petent ju}^{risdiction or by}
^{definition of case}^{administrative body appointed by}^{the court.}
^{review system.}^{—Must deter}^{mine th}^e^{permanency plan}^{for the child. (See desc}^{ription above.)}
^{See Section}
⁴⁷⁵⁽^5)(C)^—^If^permane^{ncy plan}ⁱ^{ndicates a child will not be returne}^{d to his/her parents, must consider in-}
^{state and out-of-state place}^{ment o}^p^tions.
^{—If child is placed in foster ca}^re^{outside the state w}^here^his/her^p^{arents live, must}
^{determine if this out-of-state plac}^{ement contin}^{ues to b}^e^ap^propria^{te and in the}^{child’s best}
^interest.
^{—If child is age 16}^{or older, must determine ser}^{vices needed to as}^{sist child to make}
^{transition from foster}^{care to ind}^ependent^living.
^—^{Procedural safeguards must be applied to ensure that the court or administrative body}
^{conducting the hearing consults, in an age-appropriate manner, with the}^{child regardi}^{ng the}
^proposed^{permanency or transition plan for the child.}
^{Date c}^hⁱ^{ld ente}^rs^{—Whichever is ea}^{rlier: (1) date of first judicial finding that the c}^{hild had been s}^{ubjected to}
^{foster c}^are^{maltreatment; or (2)}^{60 days a}^fte^{r date the c}^{hild is removed from}^{the home.}
^{Described within}
^{definition of case}
^{review system.}
^{See Section 475(5)(F)}
^{Administrative}^{—Open to t}^he^{participation of th}^{e pare}^{nts of th}^{e child and conduc}^{ted by a pa}^{nel of}
^review^approp^{riate per}^{sons (at least one}^{of whom is not res}^{ponsible for t}^{he case ma}^nageme^{nt of,}
^{Section 475 (}⁶⁾^{or the delivery of services to eith}^{er the c}^{hild or the pa}^rents^{who a}^{re the s}^{ubject of t}^he^review).
^{Foster care}^{—Payments to cover t}^{he cost of}^{(and the cost of}^{providing) food,}^{clothing, shelter, daily}
^maintenance^supe^{rvision, school supplies, a child’s personal incidentals, liabi}^{lity i}^nsura^{nce with}^res^{pect to}
^payment^{a child, and reasonable travel to t}^{he child’s home for visitation.}
^{Section 475(4)}^{—In the}^{case of institu}^{tional care, payment m}^{ust incl}^{ude the}^{reasonable costs of}
^{administration and operation of t}^{he institution that}^are^necessar^{y t}^o^{provide the items}
^listed.
^{—If a foster}^{care mainte}^nanc^{e pa}^{yment is bei}^{ng made on}^{behalf of}^{a child who is also a}
^parent^{and th}^{e par}^{ent a}^{nd child are living in the same}^{home or inst}^{itution, the payme}^nt
^{must cover}^{costs (for the listed items) for both}^children.
^Adoption^{—A written and}^{binding agreeme}^{nt betwee}^{n t}^{he state age}^{ncy, oth}^{er relevant age}^{ncies and}
^assistance^{the p}^{rospective adoptive pa}^rents^{of a minor child.}
^agreement^{—Must s}^{pecify t}^{he nat}^ure^{and a}^{mount of an}^{y pay}^{ments, se}^rvices^{and assistance to}^be
^{Section 475(3)}^{provided under t}^{he agree}^ment.
^{—Must stip}^{ulate that t}^{he agr}^eem^{ent remains}^{in effe}^{ct regardless o}^f^{the state}^wher^{e the}
^{adoptive parents}^{are living at a given time.}
^{—Must mak}^{e p}^{rovisions for the}^{protection (under}^{an inte}^{rstate c}^{ompact ap}^{proved by t}^he
^{HHS secretar}^{y or otherwise) of t}^{he interest}^{s of the}^{child in cases}^{where t}^{he adoptive}
^parent^{s and c}^{hild move to another state while the}^agreeme^{nt is ef}^fective.
^Parents^—Bio^logica^{l or adoptive parents}^{or legal guardians, as determined}^{by ap}^{plicable state law.}
^{(Section 475 (2)}
^{Legal guardians}^hip^{—Judicially created relationship b}^{etween c}^{hild and caretaker t}^{hat is intended to be}
^{Section 475(7)}^perma^{nent a}^{nd self-sustaining}^as^{evidenced by t}^{he tra}^nsfer^{to the}^{caretaker of t}^{he following}

^Term^{Statutory definition or descri}^ption^a
^{parental right}^{s with re}^{spect to t}^h^e^{child: (1) protection; (2) educat}^{ion; (3) care and control}
^{of the pe}^{rson; (4) c}^{ustody of the}^{person; a}^{nd (5) decision making.}
^{Legal guardian}^{—The caretaker}^{in a legal guardianship.}
^{Section 475(7)}
^Source:^{Table pr}^epared^{by Con}^{gressional Research Service (CRS) based on statu}^{tory language.}
^a.^{Unless otherwise noted, all refer}^{ences to titles or sections in t}^{his table refer to t}^{he Social Security Act.}
^b.^{The continued stat}^{utory link}^her^{e to the “reasona}^{ble efforts”}^req^{uirement is}^pres^{umed . However,}^{it appears}^to
^{have be}^{en lost beca}^{use of othe}^r^changes^{made to Title IV-E by}P.L. 109-171^{. A conformi}^{ng ame}^{ndment may}^be
^necessar^y.
^c.^{P.L. 109-2}^{39 deleted the}^qualifyin^{g phra}^{se “to the e}^xte^{nt available and accessible” from t}^{his re}^quire^ment,
^strengt^{hening t}^{he re}^quire^{ment t}^h^{at the case}^{plan include}^{health a}ⁿ^d^{education records.}
^d.^{P.L. 109-2}^{39 f}^urt^{her ame}^{nded th}^{e Court Im}^proveme^{nt Program (}^{CIP, Section 438 of t}^{he Social Sec}^{urity Act) to}
^{require state}^{highest c}^ourts^{that r}^{eceiving funding}^unde^{r the C}^{IP to have in e}^{ffect a}^{rule re}^quiring^sta^{te courts to}
^ensu^{re that}^{foster pa}^rent^{s, pre-a}^{doptive parents, a}^{nd relative care}^{-givers of a child in foster care (}^u^{nder the}
^{responsibility of the state) a}^{re no}^{tified of any proceeding to be}^hel^{d with respect}^{to the c}^hild.
^E^m^{ilie S}^t^o^ltzf^u^s
^Specialis^{t i}ⁿ^{Social P}^o^lic^y
^es^t^o^l^t^z^fu^s@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,^7-²³²⁴