On November 30, 2018, the Children’s Bureau issued a program instruction on how title IV-E agencies may participate in this new title IV-E program.

This Program Instruction provides state, territorial, and tribal title IV-E agencies with the revised form and instructions approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for reporting quarterly financial information on the title IV-E Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Guardianship Assistance, Kinship Navigator and Prevention Services Programs. This PI also provides continuing guidance for the submission of the Annual Adoption Savings Calculation and Accounting Report.

Attachment A – Children’s Bureau Regional Program Managers and ACF Regional Grants Officers

Attachment B - Copy of the Form CB-496

Attachment C - Instructions to complete Form CB-496

Program instructions issued 7/18/19 with instructions and checklist on how a state may submit a request for transitional payments for a title IV-E prevention program or service which has not yet been rated by the Clearinghouse. The state must submit this checklist as part of the five-year plan, or as an amendment to an approved five-year plan by October 1, 2021.

Program Instruction that provides information about flexibility in Title IV-E program requirements that are available under the Stafford Act regarding the extension of foster care to 19, 20, or 21;  suspension of work and education requirements for extended foster care; allowance for unaccredited residential treatment centers to bill as QRTPs, provided they meet all other statutory requirements, if they are unable to meet accreditation standards during the crisis; and the ability of IV-E agencies to claim Title IV-E reimbursement for provisionally licensed families if the disaster precludes completion of the licensing process.

ABA article by Angie Schwartz and Cathy Krebs explaining hidden foster care, related legal issues, and its human impact, and offering potential solutions.