Foster Care-Title IV-E (93.658)

 

Program

93.658 Foster Care-Title IV-E

 

Federal Agency

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Authorization

Social Security Act, as amended, Title IV-E, Section 470, et seq.

 

Program Number

93.658

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

The object of the Foster Care program is to help States provide safe, appropriate, 24-hour, substitute care for children who are under the jurisdiction of the administering State agency and need temporary placement and care outside their homes; and to provide Federal Financial Participation (FFP) in costs related to the program.

 

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used for FFP in State or local foster care maintenance payments on behalf of eligible children, and for administrative and training costs; and costs related to design, implementation and operation of a statewide data collection system. Funds may not be used for costs of social services provided to a child, the child's family, or the child's foster family which provide counseling or treatment to ameliorate or remedy personal problems, behaviors, or home conditions.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Beneficiary Eligibility

States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 74.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Consultation is available to States from Regional Administration for Children and Families (ACF) offices. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Applications (State plans) must be submitted to the Regional Administrator, ACF for approval. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program.

Award Procedure

Quarterly awards are made on the basis of estimated expenditures that are later revised accordingly to include only actual allowable expenditures. Final decisions and awards are made by the Headquarters Office. Letter-of-credit is issued by the HHS Payment Management System (PMS).

Deadlines

State estimates must be received quarterly (July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30) by the Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR, Part 16.

Renewals

Awards remain effective without renewal but State plans may be amended as necessary.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

FFP for foster care maintenance payments is equal to the medical assistance percentage, i.e., the Federal share of payments is from 50 percent to 83 percent, depending on the State (Sec. 474(a)(1) and 1905(b) of the Social Security Act). Training and other administrative expenditures are matched at 75 and 50 percent Federal share, respectively (Sec. 474(a) of the Social Security Act).

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are paid quarterly through a letter of credit.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Expenditure reports must be submitted 30 days after the end of each quarter (January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30) to Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Washington, DC.

Audits

Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74.

Records

States must maintain records which substantiate eligibility determinations, allocated and direct costs, and grants made.

 

Program Accomplishments

Payments were made on an average of estimated 265,600 children per month in fiscal year 2002. There were 52 grants made in fiscal year 2002. It is estimated that 52 grants will be made in fiscal years 2003 and 2004, serving approximately 253,300 children per month in fiscal year 2003 and 249,400 in fiscal year 2004 respectively.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1545-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $5,055,500,000; FY 03 est $4,884,500,000; and FY 04 est 4,974,200,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In fiscal year 2002, from $2,490,768 to $1,088,647,403; $82,536,976. In fiscal year 2003 and FY 2004, from $2,560,863 to $1,199,284,091.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

45 CFR 1355 - 1356.

 

Related Programs

93.556, Promoting Safe and Stable Families; 93.560, Family Support Payments to States_Assistance Payments; 93.645, Child Welfare Services_State Grants; 93.659, Adoption Assistance.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Consult Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office

Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 205-8618. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Not applicable.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.