Generations United prepared 10 questions and answers concerning this new Model, the NARA Model on which it "relied heavily" and Family First Act reporting requirements (2019). 

Webinar on how and why to comply with mandatory March 31st Family First Act licensing requirements, and the important role grandfamilies’ advocates play in that process.  The webinar explores the new national model foster family home licensing standards released by the Children’s Bureau on February 4th, the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) model family foster home licensing standards on which the Children Bureau “relied heavily,” and the specific reporting requirements for states and tribes.

This is our collective chance to eliminate unnecessary licensing barriers so more relatives caring for children in foster care can become licensed and receive ongoing monthly financial assistance, supports, and pathways to exit the system with monthly assistance.  These model standards address all foster family homes, so addressing unnecessary obstacles will facilitate the licensing of more non-relative foster family homes as well.  Cultural considerations for tribes are explored on the webinar, as well as specialized standards for family-based treatment foster care.

Power Point Slides

Recording

A Letter from the Children's Bureau on the use of federal funds to assist with the purchase of cell phones and plans to facilitate and maintain contact, and to purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) as an allowable cost.

The U.S. Children's Bureau released a letter for child welfare legal and judicial leaders on Friday, March 27 addressing priority court hearings, parent-child visitation and family time, access to services, and compelling reasons to refrain from filing a TPR petition after a child has been in care for 15 months.

Complete text of the final rule (released 9/28/23) allowing states to use different licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes and nonrelative/non-kinship foster family homes. The rule also requires title IV–E agencies to periodically review the amount of Foster Care Maintenance Payments (FCMPs) to 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 nonrelated/non-kinship foster family home.