FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, as amended, Title IV-E, Section 470, et seq.

The object of the Foster Care program is to help States provide safe, appropriate, 24-hour, substitute care for children who are under the jurisdiction of the administering State agency and need temporary placement and care outside their homes; and to provide Federal Financial Participation (FFP) in costs related to the program.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds may be used for FFP in State or local foster care maintenance payments on behalf of eligible children, and for administrative and training costs; and costs related to design, implementation and operation of a statewide data collection system. funds may not be used for costs of social services provided to a child, the child's family, or the child's foster family which provide counseling or treatment to ameliorate or remedy personal problems, behaviors, or home conditions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   States and the District of Columbia will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 74.

Pre-application Coordination:   Consultation is available to States from Regional Administration for Children and Families (ACF) offices. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Applications (State plans) must be submitted to the Regional Administrator, ACF for approval. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program.

Award Procedure:   Quarterly awards are made on the basis of estimated expenditures that are later revised accordingly to include only actual allowable expenditures. Final decisions and awards are made by the Headquarters Office. Letter-of-credit is issued by the HHS Payment Management System (PMS).

Deadlines:   State estimates must be received quarterly (July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30) by the Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Up to 90 days for State plans/amendments.

Appeals:   Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR, Part 16.

Renewals:   Awards remain effective without renewal but State plans may be amended as necessary.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   FFP for foster care maintenance payments is equal to the medical assistance percentage, i.e., the Federal share of payments is from 50 percent to 83 percent, depending on the State (Sec. 474(a)(1) and 1905(b) of the Social Security Act). Training and other administrative expenditures are matched at 75 and 50 percent Federal share, respectively (Sec. 474(a) of the Social Security Act).

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Funds are paid quarterly through a letter of credit.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Expenditure reports must be submitted 30 days after the end of each quarter (January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30) to Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Washington, DC.

Audits:   Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74.

Records:   States must maintain records which substantiate eligibility determinations, allocated and direct costs, and grants made.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1545-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $4,291,922,757; FY 02 est $5,055,500,000; and FY 03 est $4,884,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   In fiscal year 2001, from $2,108,155 to $1,107,150,883; $82,536,976. In fiscal year 2002 and FY 2003 ,from $2,256,547 to $1,185,082,925; Average: $88,346,731.

Payments were made on an average of estimated 265,600 children per month in fiscal year 2001. There were 52 grants made in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 52 grants will be made in fiscal years 2002 and 2003, serving approximately 253,300 children per month in fiscal year 2002 and 249,400 in fiscal year 2003 respectively.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 1355 - 1356.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Consult Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office:   Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 205-8618. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address:   http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.