Switch to Tribal Foster Care Less Costly to Kids

Switch to Tribal Foster Care Less Costly to Kids

WASHINGTON (CN) - Transferring a child from state to tribal foster care no longer affects the child's eligibility for federal foster care benefits or Medicaid, according to a new regulation.
The new Administration for Children and Families regulation also makes it so the transfer does not affect "in-kind expenditures from third-party sources for the tribal share of administration and training expenditures under Title IV-E; and other provisions to carry out the tribal-related amendments to Title IV-E."

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

NEWLY PUBLISHED REGULATIONS

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ADMINISTRATION (ACF)

Tribal child welfare: Interim final rule, published Jan. 6, 2012, effective Feb. 6, 2012, comments by March 6, 2012
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The Administration for Children and Families implements statutory provisions regarding the tribal Title IV-E program. Effective Oct. 1, 2009, Section 479B(b) of the Social Security Act authorizes direct federal funding of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia that choose to operate a foster care, adoption assistance and, at tribal option, a kinship guardianship assistance program under Title IV-E of the Act. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act requires the agency to issue interim final regulations which address procedures to ensure that a transfer of responsibility for the placement and care of a child under a state Title IV-E plan to a tribal Title IV-E plan occurs in a manner that does not affect the child's eligibility for Title IV-E benefits or medical assistance under Title XIX of the Act (Medicaid) and such services or payments; in-kind expenditures from third-party sources for the tribal share of administration and training expenditures under Title IV-E; and other provisions to carry out the tribal-related amendments to Title IV-E. This interim final rule includes these provisions and technical amendments to implement a tribal Title IV-E program.