HHS Guidance

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.

On February 4, 2019, the Children’s Bureau released final National Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards (National Model), as required by the Family First Prevention Services Act.  The Children’s Bureau used the NARA Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards (NARA Model) as the “main source” for its proposed National Model, and then accorded it “considerable deference” in deciding whether to modify the proposed National Model.  See Generations United's FAQ on the National Model, the NARA Model and the Family First Reporting Requirements (2019).

The Handbook describes the Prevention Services Clearinghouse’s:

1. procedures for identifying programs and services and associated research studies for review or re-review;
2. standards for assessing the design, execution, and findings of research studies and for rating programs and services; and
3. definitions of key terms.

The Children’s Bureau letter released June 2019 to child welfare leaders providing an update on the new Title IV-E Prevention Program, created under the Family First Prevention Services Act, specifically as it relates to how states can claim transitional payments for prevention services not yet reviewed and rated in the Clearinghouse if the state submits sufficient documentation that demonstrates how the service meets the evidence-based criteria outlined in Family First. The Children’s Bureau will be issuing further guidance on these transitional payments. 

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.