Administration for Children and Families September 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 13 of 13
Separate Licensing or Approval Standards for Relative or Kinship Foster Family Homes
This rule finalizes revisions to the definition of ``foster family home'' proposed on February 14, 2023 (here after referred to as the February 2023 NPRM). Title IV-E agencies may choose to claim title IV-E federal financial participation (FFP) for the cost of foster care maintenance payments (FCMP) on behalf of an otherwise eligible child who is placed in a relative or kinship licensed or approved foster family home when the agency uses different licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes and non-relative/ non-kinship foster family homes. In addition, the final rule requires title IV-E agencies to periodically review the amount of FCMPs to also ensure that the agency provides a licensed or approved relative or kinship foster family home the same amount of FCMP that would have been made if the child was placed in a non-related/non-kinship foster family home.
Foster Care Legal Representation
ACF proposes to allow a title IV-E agency to claim Federal financial participation (FFP) for the administrative cost of an attorney providing: legal representation in foster care proceedings of a title IV-E agency or any other public agency or tribe that has an agreement in effect under which the other agency has placement and care responsibility of a title IV-E eligible child; independent legal representation of a child who is either a candidate for title IV-E foster care, or in title IV-E foster care (hereafter, referred to as a child ``who is eligible for title IV-E foster care''), the child's parent(s), and the child's relative caregiver(s) in foster care and other civil legal proceedings when such legal representation is found necessary by the Secretary to carry out the requirements in the title IV-E agency's title IV-E foster care plan; and legal representation of an Indian child's tribe, when the child's tribe intervenes in any state court proceeding for the foster care placement or termination of parental rights of an Indian child who is in title IV-E foster care or an Indian child who is a candidate for title IV-E foster care when such legal representation is found necessary by the Secretary to carry out the requirements in the title IV-E agency's title IV-E foster care plan.
Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements for Titles IV-E and IV-B
Federal law requires that state and tribal title IV-E/IV-B agencies (``agencies'') ensure that each child in foster care receives ``safe and proper'' care and has a case plan that addresses the specific needs of the child while in foster care to support their health and wellbeing. Federal law also requires that for children ages 14 and over, agencies must consult with them about their case plans. To ensure agencies meet these and other related statutory requirements, ACF proposes to specify the steps agencies must take when implementing the case plan and case review requirements for children in foster care who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, as well as children who are non-binary, or have non-conforming gender identity or expression (all of whom are referred to under the umbrella term LGBTQI+ for purposes of this regulation).
Proposed Reallotment of Fiscal Year 2022 Funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Service (OCS), Division of Energy Assistance announces a preliminary determination that funds from the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are available for reallotment to States, Territories, Tribes, and Tribal organizations that received FFY 2023 direct LIHEAP grants. The purpose of this award is to redistribute FFY 2022 annual LIHEAP funds that grant recipients were unable to obligate or carry over to FFY 2023. No sub-recipients of these grant recipients or other entities may apply for these funds.
Parentage Establishment in the Child Support Services Program
Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) proposes to replace the gender-specific term ``paternity'' with the gender-neutral term ``parentage'' throughout the Child Support Services Program to be inclusive of all family structures served by the child support services program. While title IV-D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) requires States and Tribes to have laws permitting the establishment of paternity and requiring genetic testing in contested paternity cases, OCSS also recognizes that title IV-D does not preclude States and Tribes from having parentage establishment laws and procedures for all families. The proposed changes to chapter III of the child support regulations recognize developments in State laws regarding parentage establishment and provide States and Tribes optional flexibility to establish parentage for all children in accordance with their laws, regardless of the gender of their parents or family structure.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0551)
The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) is accepting mandatory formula grant applications and State plans from States and Territories for the development of and implementation for Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program. The Title V State SRAE Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) sets forth the application requirements for recipients. This request is to extend Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the request for information. No changes are proposed.
Submission for OMB Review; Office of Refugee Resettlement Annual Survey of Refugees (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0033)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks an update to the existing data collection for the Annual Survey of Refugees. The Annual Survey of Refugees is a yearly sample survey of refugee households entering the U.S. in the previous 5 fiscal years. The requested update is based upon results of a multi-year effort in instrument redesign and field testing. ACF estimates the proposed changes will increase response burden from 48 to 50 minutes per respondent.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Reporting for Work Participation (OMB #0970-0338)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting to extend approval of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Reporting for Work Participation, with proposed revisions. Revisions are intended to improve the clarity of the instructions, streamline reporting, and ensure all instructions are up- to-date.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Expenditure Report, Form ACF-196R
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Family Assistance (OFA) is requesting a 3-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Expenditure Report, Form ACF-196R (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0446 expires February 29, 2024). ACF is proposing minor updates to the form to update references to lapsed timeframes, demonstrative tables that aid in a recipient's comprehension of reporting requirements and minor edits to the instructions and formatting to improve presentation.
Submission for OMB Review: Strengthening Child Welfare Systems To Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes Evaluation (New Collection)
The Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is proposing to collect data for a new process and outcome study, Strengthening Child Welfare Systems to Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes (SCWS) Evaluation.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Serious Medical Procedure Request (SMR) Form (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0561)
The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Refugee Resettlement is requesting a 3-year extension of the Serious Medical Procedure Request (SMR) Form (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0561, expiration February 29, 2024). Revisions are proposed to the currently approved form.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Financing for Early Care and Education: Quality and Access for All (New Collection)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks approval to collect information to explore the role of Head Start in the early care and education (ECE) financing landscape, as well as how the use of multiple funding sources within a single Head Start program may be associated with the provision of Head Start's comprehensive services and with state-level differences in ECE funding. Survey data will be collected from Head Start program directors and state government administrators.
Submission for OMB Review; Judicial, Court, and Attorney Measures of Performance: Feedback and Implementation (New Collection)
The Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to collect data for a new descriptive study, Judicial, Court, and Attorney Measures of Performance (JCAMP): Feedback and Implementation. This expands on earlier work around technical assistance, as approved under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0593.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
