Federal Developments Impacting Children, Families, and Communities
Each week, FFTA members receive timely policy updates, resources, and analysis designed to help organizations navigate a rapidly changing child and family serving landscape. Below are a few of the key developments highlighted during September.
New Federal Investments Support Prevention, Kinship Care and Foster Family Licensing
September brought several new federal investments aimed at strengthening child welfare systems and expanding support for children and families.
ACF awarded $7.3 million to 10 states to strengthen implementation of evidence-based Title IV-E prevention services. Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina received funding to support areas such as provider capacity, referral pathways, data systems, training and Title IV-E claiming infrastructure.
Additional funding is focused on foster family licensing and kinship care. Approximately $2.2 million was awarded to 14 state and Tribal recipients to improve fingerprinting, background check systems, training and other licensing processes. ACF also announced $5.1 million for Kinship Navigator programs, including six replication awards and five awards supporting adaptation of navigator models for Tribal communities.
Together, these investments continue the federal focus on strengthening prevention services, supporting kin caregivers and reducing barriers to family-based placements.
ACF Expands Opportunity for Prevention Services to Expectant Parents
On September 29, the Administration for Children and Families clarified that states may provide approved Title IV-E prevention services to expectant mothers and fathers when the child welfare agency determines that the unborn child is a candidate for foster care.
Eligible services can include approved mental health, substance use and in-home parent skill-based programs available through the Family First Prevention Services Act.
The clarification creates an opportunity for states to provide services even earlier, potentially addressing family needs before a child enters foster care. Implementation will vary by state, and states will need to determine how expectant parents fit within their Title IV-E prevention plans and establish appropriate eligibility, referral and service pathways.
Child Welfare Policy Manual Gets a Major Update
ACF released a substantially streamlined version of the federal Child Welfare Policy Manual, reducing its length by approximately 30 percent. The revision removes obsolete questions, combines duplicative information and incorporates statutory and technical updates.
Importantly, ACF has indicated that the removal of material should not automatically be interpreted as a change in federal policy or a reduction in flexibility for states and Tribes. The manual is intended to provide guidance but is not an exhaustive statement of everything permitted under federal child welfare programs. Federal law, regulations and applicable award requirements continue to govern.
States and providers will want to watch how the revised manual is interpreted and whether state agencies make corresponding changes to policies, training, fiscal procedures or provider guidance.
Federal Analysis Looks at Rising Adoption Finalization Costs
A new analysis from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation examines the federal reimbursement available to families for nonrecurring adoption expenses.
Federal law currently allows reimbursement of up to $2,000 per child for eligible expenses associated with adoption finalization, including certain legal, court and other costs. That maximum has remained unchanged for decades while the costs associated with completing an adoption have increased.
The analysis does not change the current $2,000 limit, but it raises an important policy question about whether the longstanding federal maximum continues to reflect the actual costs families may face when finalizing an adoption. The findings may also provide an opportunity for states, providers and families to document current costs and identify financial barriers that can make achieving permanency more difficult.
Stay Informed
These highlights represent only a portion of the policy developments covered in FFTA's weekly member policy alerts. Members receive regular updates on federal and state policy, funding opportunities, emerging initiatives, legislative developments, and resources impacting children, families, and communities nationwide.
Writer: Treva Johnson, FFTA
