What is Title IV-E, and why is it such a critical issue?

An Introduction to Child Welfare Funding, and How States Use It | Child Trends:
What is Title IV-E, and why is it such a critical issue?
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act is the largest federal funding stream for child welfare activities. Of $12.7 billion in federal funds for child welfare in SFY 2012, nearly $6.5 billion were from Title IV-E. The funding stream supports foster care, adoption assistance, and guardianship assistance programs; states receive a level of reimbursements from the federal government for eligible claims. It also includes the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, a capped entitlement for which states are entitled to reimbursement for claims it submits to the federal government, up to a certain level.4 





Although Title IV-E provides the majority of federal funds to child welfare programs across the country, leaders did note some challenges accessing these dollars. To be eligible for the Title IV-E Foster Care Program, the vehicle through which states receive Title IV-E funds for children in foster care, children must: 

Comment: This is the reason CPS/DCYF does NOT place children with relatives. They would LOSE money!

be in out‐of‐home placements,

have been removed from families that are considered “needy” (based on measures in place in 1996 under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program),

have entered care through a judicial determination or voluntary placement, and be in licensed or approved foster care placements.5 

An Introduction to Child Welfare Funding Where does the money come from?

An Introduction to Child Welfare Funding, and How States Use It | Child Trends:

Where does the money come from?

Funding for child welfare services, supports, and programs comes from a combination of federal and state or local dollars. Historically, about half of annual child welfare expenditures ($12.7 billion out of $28.2 billion in SFY 2012) have been from federal sources, and our most recent estimates predict similar ratios for SFY 2014. While the remaining half of child welfare expenditures come from state and local sources (10.9 billion and $4.6 billion respectively, in SFY 2012), much more is known about expenditures of federal dollars, due to the highly regulated nature of the funding streams.

An Introduction to Child Welfare Funding, and How States Use It

An Introduction to Child Welfare Funding, and How States Use It | Child Trends:

Child welfare agencies in the United States are charged with ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children who have been abused or neglected, and those who are at risk of abuse or neglect. The services provided by states and by counties vary widely, and include services for children and families to prevent abuse and neglect, child protective services such as family assessments and investigations, providing payments and supports for out of home placements such as foster care or kinship care, and adoption and guardianship services and supports for children and families.

Texas Fights Back Against Judge's Foster Care Reforms

Texas Fights Back Against Judge's Foster Care Reforms | The Texas Tribune:

Despite a federal judge's scathing findinglast month that Texas has failed to protect foster children in its care, reform advocates are steeling themselves for a lengthy battle to force state officials to make fixes ordered by the court.

Lawyer: State law makes parental rights difficult for grandparents

Lawyer: State law makes parental rights difficult for grandparents | WINK NEWS:

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Chance Walsh’s grandparents believe they could’ve made a difference in the infant’s life – if state laws were different.

State officials want foster care reform requirements blocked

State officials want foster care reform requirements blocked | www.mystatesman.com:

State officials are asking a federal appeals court to suspend a series of requirements that a federal judge ruled were needed to improve the troubled Texas foster care system.

Foster care children at risk for sex trafficking predators

Foster care children at risk for sex trafficking predators - Story | KTBC:

January is Human Trafficking and Awareness and Prevention Month across the country. And in Austin on Wednesday, state and local agencies joined forces to learn how to better identify the signs.

The Center for Missing and Exploited Children says the number of kids reported to them as missing in 2015 were also likely to be sex trafficking victims. And out of those victims, 74% were in foster care.